ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – The 2024 U.P. State Fair is scheduled for August 12 – 18 in Escanaba. While the weeklong event always means food, rides, entertainment, and fun, there will be even more for attendees to enjoy this year.
“In addition to all the fair favorites that we have, we have new things going on that we’re really excited to introduce,” said Delta County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Vickie Micheau. “Some are new; some are an expansion and enhancement of some of the things that we’ve offered before.”
On Tuesday, the midway will be sensory-friendly from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“We’re starting a little bit small just to see how it’s accepted by the community,” Micheau explained. “We’re offering a little bit of reduced noise for anybody who might have a little bit of a problem with all the noise and lights that are typically part of the U.P. State Fair.”
For Wednesday’s Senior Citizens Day, the Wellness Fair is returning from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The theme is “Putting the pieces together for a healthier you.”
“That’s sponsored by the [Menominee-Delta-Schoolcraft] Community Action Agency,” said Micheau. “We’re excited to have a little bit more of a wellness clinic and then, of course, a congregate meal that our seniors typically enjoy.”
Each year, Honored Citizens Day draws a large crowd on Thursday, with the U.P. Veteran of the Year ceremony, the Governor’s Luncheon, and the Native American Celebration. This year, the Escanaba City Band will participate in the Governor’s Luncheon as part of its 100th season.
On Friday, both Ladies’ Day and Men’s Night are expanding. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Men’s Night will feature hunting and golf simulators, chair massages and blackjack courtesy of The Island Resort & Casino, prize drawings, and drinks served by South City Pub. The Ladies’ Day program begins at 10 a.m. The highlight this year is a recipe contest with entries featuring ingredients cultivated in the Upper Peninsula.
“The cooking show going to be a ‘Taste of the Island,'” Micheau said. “We have three chefs that will have presentations, we’ll have raffle prizes and door prizes that we’ll be giving away, and a lot of vendors will be set up. It’s going to be a lot of fun!”
On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Dog Show Spectacular will make its triumphant return to the U.P. State Fair. The event is sponsored by D&D Dog Dynamics and will feature nosework demonstrations, a lure course, a mock fetch competition, and contests in categories like best dressed, best trick, and cutest.
Between new developments, revamped classics, and beloved traditions, Micheau says fair organizers are looking forward to another year of “affordable family fun.”
“We want to make sure that we keep that going because people have expectations,” she said. “We don’t want any disappointment with people showing up and thinking, ‘I usually found this food vendor’ or ‘I usually go to the livestock exhibits.’ There are new things, but certainly a lot of the old favorites.”
Click here to sign up for the Ladies’ Day recipe contest. The pre-entry deadline is August 1. To enter the D&D Dog Show Spectacular, click here. The full schedule of events at the 2024 U.P. State Fair is available at upstatefair.net.
WZMQ 19 is once again a proud sponsor of the U.P. State Fair. Stay tuned for live reports from the fairgrounds beginning August 12.
