MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Blueberry Festival makes its way back to downtown Marquette on July 25, celebrating everything blueberries. 2025 marks 26 years of the beloved festival, gaining more and more traction each time around.
“It started as Crazy Days, kind of like a downtown business specific sidewalk sale, but the DDA picked it up, and it’s just been growing,” said Marquette DDA Business Outreach and Promotions Director, Michael Bradford. “It’s expanded to include more than just businesses, but regional vendors travel from all over.”
Thousands of visitors from across the region make the trip every summer, expecting roughly 8,000 people in attendance this year.
The one-day event takes place during peak blueberry season, selling thousands of pounds of fresh blueberries throughout. Picking season has been reportedly difficult for the Upper Peninsula this year due to weather, but with help from lower Michigan farmers, there’ll be more than enough to go around.
“”The Upper Peninsula has been a bit delayed, I think they’re just now starting to come out,” said Bradford. “However, thankfully, we do have vendors coming from downstate where the season hit a little earlier.”
This year’s festivities have been expanded, needing more space, with street closures starting from the 100 block of West Washington, wrapping all the way down to West Baraga.
The following streets will be closed to traffic on Friday, July 25, 2025, from 6:00 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. for the Blueberry Festival:
- Washington Street from Third Street to Front Street
- Front Street from Washington Street to Spring Street
- Front Street from Baraga Avenue to Spring Street
The following streets will be closed to through traffic:
- Front Street from Bluff Street to Washington Street
- Main Street from Third Street to Lakeshore Boulevard
Traffic will be detoured using Baraga Avenue, Third Street, and Bluff Street.
As pets are also welcome to the festival, the DDA reminds people to always be cautious of their animals during the long day.
“We like to get the word out, that if you do plan on bringing your pets, just take precautions to make sure they’re hydrated and that their paws are protected,” said Bradford.
The Blueberry Fest will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, and will wrap up at 7 p.m. To view a full map of vendors, visit downtownmarquette.org.
