ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Escanaba Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is gearing up for a full lineup of events in 2026.
This spring, the Krusin’ Klassics Car Club is passing on its annual event to the DDA. On May 29 and 30, the Ludington Street Cruise will take over the downtown.
“Krusin’ Klassics asked if we could continue what they built,” explained DDA Director Craig Woerpel. “The most important part is we still have the parade on Friday. Then, we’re lining Ludington Street with a car show on Saturday.”
June 27 marks the return of the Escanaba LogJam Music Festival, featuring live bands, food vendors, a lumberjack show, and log rolling competitions. Last year’s inaugural festival was such a success that this year’s event will be even bigger, with eleven musical acts—like blues group Altered Five, featuring Escanaba native Steve Huebler—are slated to perform on Ludington Street.
“Putting it on the street is much different than having it in Ludington Park, where a lot of our music is done,” Woerpel said. “People like the idea of it being a festival where we’ve got access to all the businesses, food trucks, restaurants, the bars. It was just a fun event.”
The Escanaba Farmers Market will take place each Wednesday and Saturday from June through October. Other annual events the community can look forward to include the weekly Lunch on Ludington concert series beginning June 10, Marina Fest on July 25, and the Labor Day Celebration on September 7.
Other events include the Patriotic Polka Party in the Park on July 3, Spooktacular Trunk-or-Treat on October 18, and the Christmas Tree Lighting on November 24. New this year is the Nibiikaa Pow Wow at the Municipal Dock on August 29.
“When we started doing this three years ago, the DDA only had two events—the Farmers Market and the Christmas tree lighting,” said Woerpel. “Now, we’ve got into all kinds of other things, like youth art, trunk-or-treat, certainly music. We’ve been trying to focus on making Escanaba ‘Music City, U.P.,’ and just kind of working with that, and people are really enjoying it.”
At the Marketplace, the Bonifas Arts Center will host nine weeks of free youth art programming during Art Week, which is scheduled for July 26 through August 1. Artists and vendors can also participate in the Pop-Up Market on Thursdays in June, July, and August.
The DDA’s schedule also includes five promotional events designed to support downtown businesses. Restaurant Week runs February 22 through 28, followed by Spoil Mom Week from May 3 – 10. Sidewalk Sales, now renamed Sizzlin’ Summer Sales, will be held July 24 and 25. Downtown Day returns on September 26, and Black Friday on Tuesday will take place on November 24. The DDA will conclude 2026 with the annual Christmas Parade in December.
Downtown Escanaba events are made possible by local volunteers and sponsors. To inquire about supporting an activity this year, contact the DDA at (906) 789-8696 or dda@escanabadowntown.com.
For a full list of 2026 Downtown Escanaba activities, visit escanabadowntown.com.
