August/September Up North Action Magazine

UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

1

Wisconsinn Winery Wisconsi Co-op

Earn your own Wisconsin Winery Co-op glass by completing the Wisconsin Winery Co-Op Trail Book. Learn how to earn yours at one of our participating wineries.

info@wisconsinwineryco-op.com

WisconsinWineryCo-op.com Winery Co-op Bucks can be used at any of our co-op wineries!

They make the perfect gift!

To purchase your Winery Co-op Bucks go to

WisconsinWineryCo-op.com

2

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

Editor’s Column Have You Made Your Northwoods Memories Yet? Lots to read about in this issue of Action magazine – your travel and event guide to all the fun things to see and do in the Northwoods.

I continue to be amazed to how much the region has bounced back since the COVID-19 pandemic. All the attractions from zip lines and wildlife zoos to racetracks and whitewater rafting vendors are busy with customers.

Of course, the natural beauty hasn’t changed. The forests and woods are as green as ever, the lakes are deep and clear, the air is refreshing, and the stars shine just as brightly.

Whether you are up for a day or two, or a week or two, you will discover a near endless array of fun things to do, from ATVing and road biking, to paddling quiet waters and wildlife observations. There’s no disputing the Northwoods holds a world-class fishery, whether you’re after brook trout or musky or walleye.

Don’t wait for a rainy day to take the family to a nearby historical site or museum. Whether large or small, they pack a lot of history within their confines. Some displays are fascinating just for their beauty, while others reveal the implements, tools and household items that early settlers, lumberjacks and Native Americans employed in a bygone era.

Explore all those memorable possibilities within the pages of this issue of Action, or visit our GoNorthAction.com website for even more suggestions for family fun in the land they call “Up North.”

- Dean Acheson, Editor

Inside this issue Wisconsin Winery Co-op.........................................................................................................Inside Front Cover Rollie & Helen’s Musky Shop.........................................................................................................................Page 3 Editor’s Column.................................................................................................................................................Page 4 Iron County Michigan Lodging Council & Iron County Economic Chamber Alliance.... Back Cover

GET PUBLISHED Want to see your stories and photos in Up North Action magazine? Show us what you love about northern Wisconsin and U.P. Michigan for an opportunity to be published!

For more information, go to the Get Published tab at

UpNorthAction.com!

NOW HIRING

Advertising Sales Associate

Are you interested in a career that promotes the success of the valuable businesses of northern Wisconsin and U.P. Michigan?

Join our team as an Advertising Sales Associate. To learn more, go to the Careers tab at UpNorthAction.com.

Published By: 5 Star Marketing & Distribution 409 Southpark Drive • P.O. Box 10 • Tomahawk, WI 54487 715-453-4511 • E-mail: info@5starupnorth.com Owner/CEO Al Hanley alh@5starupnorth.com Editor Dean Acheson

4

Accounting Jackie Blodgett Sales Associate Al Hanley Teresa Mead

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

Production Manager Sam Bartz info@5starupnorth.com Project Manager & Senior Graphic Designer Danelle Pretasky

Drivers Gary Harlander Brian Wiedeman

Map & Index

CENTRALREGION REGION- -page page86 CENTRAL

NORTHWEST REGION - page 36

Covering the following county: Portage

Covering the following counties: Ashland • Bayfield • Douglas • Burnett Washburn • Sawyer • Rusk • Barron Polk • St. Croix • Dunn • Chippewa

NORTHEAST REGION - page 11

Covering the following counties: Florence • Forest • Marinette Oconto • Menominee • Shawano NORTHCENTRAL REGION - page 14

U.P. MICHIGAN REGION - page 44

Covering the following counties: Gogebic • Ontonagon • Houghton • Iron Dickinson • Menominee

Covering the following counties: Iron • Vilas • Price • Oneida • Lincoln Langlade • Taylor • Marathon

UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

5

Photo by Bob Kovar

Cranberry Fields Forever Tart and Tiny this Native Fruit has Wide Appeal

Come September we’re on the cusp of cranberry fever here in Wisconsin. Field workers will be extra busy as they prep Wisconsin’s 21,000 acres of cranberry marshes for harvest.

T

he cranberry, once called “crane berry” by settlers because of its blossom’s resemblance to the head and neck of a sandhill crane, was first commercially harvested in Wisconsin around 1860 by Edward Sacket in Berlin.

We’ve come a long way from when European settlers first discovered the bright red berry was tart but tasty. Of course, the Native people already knew that, spreading maple sugar over the fruit to make it into a sauce. They also used it with dried meat or fish to make pemmican.

Today, the Badger State produces more than 60 percent of the country’s crop. More than 250 Wisconsin growers produce cranberries across 20 counties. In addition to central Wisconsin, cranberry farms can be found in northern Wisconsin, primarily around Manitowish Waters, Eagle River, Spooner, Stone Lake and Hayward.

Wisconsin’s cranberry industry’s impact flies under the radar for many, even in Wisconsin. Not only is it Wisconsin’s official state fruit, it’s also the top fruit crop, both in size and economic value, according to the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association. In 2018, the harvest was estimated at 5.9 million barrels, with a val-

6

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

ue at just under $1 billion and giving Wisconsin the top producer honors in the nation.

Growing and Harvesting Cranberries Wisconsin’s cranberry harvest starts in late September and runs through most of October, adding a sea of red to the fall landscape.

Contrary to popular belief, cranberries do not grow in water. A perennial plant, cranberries grow on low running vines in sandy bogs and marshes.

Cranberry marshes are flooded with water to aid in harvesting.

Because the berries contain tiny pockets of air, when the marsh is flooded the berries float to the surface to be picked up by harvesting equipment. Being a perennial plant, some cranberry vines are over 50 years old and continue to be high yielding plants.

A staple over Thanksgiving dinner, cranberries can be enjoyed throughout the season. The cranberry is an antioxidant rich “superfruit” that can be found in juices, sweetened dried cranberries and other products around the world. Cranberries are ingredients in more than 1,000 food and beverage products on the market.

Only 5 percent of Wisconsin’s cranberry crop is sold as fresh berries; the other 95 percent is made into sauce, juice, dried fruit and other food.

Whether you want to get up close and personal with the berries on a marsh tour, taste your way through a cranberry festival, or drive the Cranberry Highway, you’re sure to find something you enjoy. Here are a few notable cranberry celebrations to consider visiting this fall:

Stone Lake Cranberry Festival -- Sept. 30-Oct. 3 The Stone Lake Cranberry Festival salutes the cranberry growing region in northwest Wisconsin. Events include wine tasting, cranberry bake-off contest, cranberry marsh tours, pancake breakfast, pie social and bake sale, crafts, a parade, live street entertainment and a Krate Derby. stonelakecranberryfestival. com

Cran-A-Rama -Oct. 2 Cran-A-Rama in Manitowish Waters celebrates the start of fall color and cranberry harvest season. Events include arts and craft fair, cranberry cooking contest, “Taste of Harvest” concessions featuring local restaurants and vendors, free cranberry marsh tours, free fall color pontoon boat rides, bake sale, fresh cranberry sales, self-guided fall color tours, cranberry samples and more. manitowishwaters.org

Eagle River Cranberry Festival -- October 2-3 The Eagle River Cranberry Festival has something for everyone.

Events include a huge arts and craft show, the world’s largest cranberry cheesecake, cranberry cook-off, a fitness run/walk/bike tour, cranberry marsh and winery tours, farmers market, chainsaw carvings, fresh cranberry sales, antique market and much more. Eagleriver.org.

Northern Wisconsin Cranberry Marsh Tours Lake Nokomis Cranberries (Eagle River) Join the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce for a tour of the farm and cranberry marsh. Tours leave at 11 a.m. and noon on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations are not necessary unless it is a larger group. Tours are weather permitting. Call for exact times and dates.

Manitowish Waters Cranberry Marsh Tours (Manitowish Waters)

Warrens Cranberry Festival -- Sept. 24-26 Warrens Cranberry Festival – the world’s largest cranberry festival – is a three-day celebration of Wisconsin’s state fruit. Events include cranberry marsh tours, arts and crafts, antique and flea market, farmers market, food booths, a spaghetti feed, steak fry and pancake breakfast, a recipe contest, biggest berry contest, quilt block contest, needlework and quilt contest, photography contest and a parade. cranfest.com

Free cranberry marsh tours are held every Friday at 10 a.m. from Aug. 27 through Oct. 8. Join us for a 1-hour tour, rain or shine, starting from the Manitowish Waters Community Center. The tour includes a video, cranberry samples, prize drawings, educational display and Q&A; then motorcade in your own vehicle to the Vilas Cranberry Company marsh for an up-close look at the bogs – blooming, growing or being harvested – depending on the time of year visited. Pre-registration not required. Visit manitowishwaters.org and click on “Events” for more information.

One of the best ways to see a harvest is by driving the Wisconsin Cranberry Highway in the central part of the state. This self-guided drive extends 50 miles across Wisconsin’s cranberry growing region, stretching from Wisconsin Rapids to Warrens. Visit wiscran.org for details.

UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

7

ComeOverToPlover.com

Plover Wisconsin CONTACT: comeovertoplover@gmail.com VISIT: www.comeovertoplover.com

>>>> GOLDEN SANDS RACEWAY

Northeast Central Region Region

The racing hot spot for the past 50 years! Bring the whole family out for edge-of-your-seat entertainment! Action packed nights with kid friendly events, great food, great racing, and a great group of people!

8

Friday, July 9th - Mid-Season Championship Friday, July 16th - Triple Crown 2 Friday, July 30th - Portage County Friday, August 6th - Mid-Am Invasion Saturday, August 7th - Truck/Tractor Pulls Friday, August 13th - Triple Crown Championship Friday, August 27th - Season Championship Monday, September 6th - Tundra Saturday, September 11th - Fall Eve Saturday, October 2nd - The Harvest

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

>>>>

THE SANDBAR

The Sandbar is a unique and one-of-a-kind riverboat stopping at local river sandbars and cruising on miles of beautiful waterway, with seating for up to 40 people and is staffed with The Sandbar Crew to include our Captain, Cook, and Bartenders. Music plays throughout the Sandbar on our superior sound system and the boat lights up during evening cruises The lower deck towards the stern houses our compact, yet high-tech kitchen which serves a minimalistic tasty menu. Lower deck midship is our full bar that serves Icy Innovations such as Frozen Margaritas, and Sandbar Classics such as Pirate Punch and Painkiller. The beer section provides a full array of rotating premium, domestic and local Wisconsin beers. The lower level of The Sandbar has seating at the bar and at the bow. For those with bar seating you will certainly enjoy conversations surrounding the scaled depiction of the Wisconsin River - Biron Flowage that was hand-crafted into the bartop by none other than our very talented Captain. Upper deck starboard is the Captain’s helm and perimeter seating surrounds the upper deck for the best views of the River. Every seat on the upper deck has access to a bar top edge to hold your food and beverage. The Sandbar has private mens and womens restrooms on the lower deck.

The Sandbar Crew invites you to come have some fun while cruising the beautiful scenic Wisconsin River. Learn more at www.riversandbar.com or call us at (715) 315-1520 today to get out on the water...

Cheers!

The Sandbar Crew

>>>>

PLOVER BASEBALL TOURNAMENTS The first of two Plover baseball tournaments the third weekend in July is for 9U, 11U, 13U and 15U teams. The 9U, 11U and 13U are 8-12 team tournaments with pool winners and a wild card team advancing to bracket play. The 15U is a 6 team tournament with pool winners and a wild card team advancing to bracket play.

Central Region

The second boys tournament is held the last weekend in July for 8U, 10U, 12U and 14U teams. 8U is a one day, 8-12 team bracket , while the other age group consists of 12-16 teams, with pool winners advancing to bracket play.

The Plover Fastpitch Fall tournament, held the third weekend of September. 8U, 10U, and 12U divisions will host 32 teams for this event. 3 Game MINIMUM, Bracket Play format.

UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

9

ComeOverToPlover.com Registrations Open for Annual Forest Family Fun Run/Walk

TOWN OF PLOVER – You are invited to the Boston School Forest for the second annual Forest Family Fun Run/Walk on Friday, Aug. 27.

The event encourages families to spend time together by being active outdoors. This non-competitive 1.75-mile run/walk travels through the Boston School Forest, which has a combination of gravel, dirt, grass, and woodchip trails. Families can enjoy running, walking or strolling along the beautiful trails.

This free event will feature rolling starts so you can arrive anytime between 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. The event will conclude by 7 p.m.

The Town of Plover Tourism Commission is donating a free t-shirt to participants who register by Aug. 10. Snacks, water and juice will be available to all participants and spectators, courtesy of area businesses.

Register online at forms.gle/Z5d6oTAa65txigxi6. Contact Karla Lockman at bsf@pointschools.net for more information. Boston School Forest is located at 5084 Lincoln Ave., Plover.

Nearly 90 Vendors, Music Slated for Craft Show ARNOTT – Mark your calendar for a memorable shopping experience on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 9-10. Nearly 90 vendors will be at the Holiday “Spirits” Zor Funster Craft & Vendors Benefit for Shriners Hospitals at Arnott.

Central Region

The 15th annual event will feature 87 vendor booths inside the Arnott Hockey Arena, along with live stage entertainment, food, and for the children – a duck pond, Plinko and fishing booth. Craft show hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

10

A list of some of the merchandise includes soap products, leatherwork, toys, clothing, home décor, silverware, popcorn, furniture, crocheted items and much more. Each of the vendors donates an item to be raffled off. Proceeds will go to Shriners Hospitals. Co-coordinator Deb Williquette said they plan to raffle off 100 baskets this year. Proceeds from the Zor Funsters’s concession stand also goes to Shriners Hospitals.

The Shriners Hospitals specialize in orthopedics with several sites across

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

the U.S. providing burn care, spinal cord injury treatment and cleft lip and palate surgery.

This year’s event will feature seven entertainers inside the arena. Bring a lawn chair for the stage shows. Scheduled are Geoff Landon and Jeff Cannon, playing classic and today’s country; Elvis tribute artist Logan Ramey; Rod Stewart tribute artist Steve Bobbitt; The Blues Brothers; Buddy Holly tribute artist Christopher Lonsdorf, and country artist Sammy Ray. Special guest “Batman” is also scheduled to appear.

Northeast Region Iron Mountain Pays Homage to Twin Heritages IRON MOUNTAIN -- A pair of upcoming heritage celebrations will give you additional reasons to visit Iron Mountain – the Gateway to Dickinson County.

First up is the 14th annual Iron Mountain Italian Fest on Saturday, Aug. 14. Hours are noon to 11 p.m. Italian Fest is a family-friendly celebration of Iron Mountain’s strong Italian heritage, showcasing authentic and delicious cuisine, live music, fun activities and refreshing beverages.

Then mark the calendar for a return trip for Oktoberfest on Saturday, Sept. 25 in Iron Mountain. They will be celebrating an authentic Bavarian Oktoberfest in the downtown from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy continuous entertainment, polka dancing, delicious German food, sing-alongs and fun for all. For more information, visit downtownironmountain.com/oktoberfest.

Looking to work off some of those festival calories beforehand?

Check out the largest outdoor staircase in the United States! Located at the base of the giant Pine Mountain ski jump, these stairs have played host to thousands of visitors and local athletes.

Northeast Region

Recently redone, the “Pine Mountain 500” is a set of concrete stairs climbing nearly half of a mile straight up. The stairs are open year-round for public use, but make sure to watch for the weather and safety first!

The staircase will also be the site – and challenge – on Saturday, Aug. 7 for the Pine Mountain 500 King of the Mountain. Participants will start at the top of Pine Mountain at 9 a.m., race down Kramer Drive to Lower Pine Mountain Road/Hibbard Street before turning on Pine Mountain Road and racing to the Pine Mountain 500. The event is chip timed and participants will receive both an overall and a Pine Mountain 500 time. Dual Duel participants will do it twice!

The greater Iron Mountain area has a nice selection of accommodations for those wishing to extend their stay, ranging from locally owned small motels, to national chain hotels with many amenities, and even a cabin along the river.

UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

11

It’s Going to be a Festive Time in the Northwoods We’re loving autumn in the Northwoods! Gather the family or grab a shopping buddy and come visit one or more of the fall festivals. The leaf colors are changing by each day, until the woods and fields will become a spectacular mural of orange, red and yellow colors. The clear blue skies are reflected in the many lakes that dot the region. Check out the calendar of events in this issue of Action magazine for a list of those festivals. We’ve picked out three to get you going on your journey Up North!

Northeast Region

LENA -- Free ice cream at Dairyfest? We’re all over this festival, set for Saturday, Sept. 11 in Lena. Dairyfest kicks off with a 5K run/walk followed by an hour long parade featuring the Lena High School Band, the Pulaski Band and several veteran groups.

Activities will include a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, bouncers, food vendors, free ice cream, live music, and a truck and tractor pull. All events are free to the public. For more information, call Russ at 920-370-8052.

12

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

LAKEWOOD – The following week celebrate fall in the Northwoods by visiting Festi-Fall in Lakewood on Saturday, Sept 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be live music, crafts, food vendors throughout the Town of Lakewood. In addition, there will be more than 45 vendors with unique crafts and produce for you to take home. For more information call 715-276-3473 or e-mail northernperks@yahoo.com.

OCONTO – Oconto Area Chamber of Commerce announces its Harvest Fest will be on Saturday, Sept 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Along Main Street, there will be crafts, farm and garden produce, food, family activities, and music. This is another free event for locals and visitors to enjoy. For more information contact Kathy at 920-835-5348.

RIVERVIEW – Riverview’s Oktoberfest celebration begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 9 with crafters and beer garden at the Crooked Lake Community Center, 15445Cty Hwy W. There will be minnow races for young and old, free pumpkin decorating for the children, free hayrides through picturesque Crooked Lake and meat raffle that begins at 1 p.m. Dinner (including black forest cake!) will be served from 1-5 p.m. A disc jockey will supply music throughout the day.

Bring your lederhosen and join in the fun! For more information, call Cassie at 715-276-6196.

Northeast Region UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

13

Northcentral Region They Go All Out for You 5 Community Celebrations Worthy of a Road Trip LOON DAY MERCER – Mercer is a small town with a big heart for visitors, an equally big loon statue and its annual Mercer Loon Day celebration that showcases the wares of more than 250 art and craft vendors.

This year’s Loon Day will be Wednesday, Aug. 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The downtown celebration also features a flea market, sidewalk and bake sales, live music, raffles, food and refreshments and its world famous loon-calling contest at 1:30 p.m. Kids can sometimes outperform adults in this contest! There is a free shuttle bus from Carow Park to the downtown on Wednesday.

Don’t forget the street dance, held the night before, from 7-11 p.m. Tuesday, in the downtown. For more information, contact the Mercer Chamber of Commerce at 715-476-2389 or visit mercerloonday.com.

Northcentral Region

MUSKY JAMBOREE

14

Boulder Junction – Musky Jamboree is biggest summer event each year in Boulder Junction. The organizers have tapped the extended weekend of Aug. 6-8 for this year’s event.

NORTHCENTRAL REGION

Roasters begin cooking their signature beef before dawn. Herds of creative festival goers, some dressed in cow-themed costumes and hats, start packing downtown early for the 10K and 5K Rump Roast Run/Walk along Lake Minocqua. More are drawn in by the live music, food and drink sales, beef eating contest, cow pie deed event, and the “Prime Choice” craft show featuring more than 70 vendors.

The Main Street is closed to vehicular traffic, so there’s plenty of room to enjoy the festivities. Be sure to mooo-ve on down to Torpy Park and grab a roast beef sandwich. Check out Minocqua. org for updates and other details.

CRAN-A-RAMA FESTIVAL MANITOWISH WATERS – Cran A Rama Festival on Saturday, Oct. 2 celebrates the start of the fall color and cranberry harvest season in Manitowish Waters. Sponsored by the Manitowish Waters Chamber of Commerce, activities run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Activities at the Community Center include an arts and crafts fair, Lioness bake sale, fresh cranberry sales and samples, and “Taste of Harvest” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (area restaurants selling samples of their fare). There are also self-guided fall color tours. Hop on a bus (free and leaving from the Community Center every half hour) to tour an area cranberry marsh, or drive to the Blue Bayou Inn for a free tour of the lake chain.

CRANBERRY FESTIVAL

Friday brings a musky fishing workshop, open house at the DNR’ Escanaba Lake Check Station, and evening street party with live music. Saturday morning brings a 5K and 10K Musky fun run, musky dedication, Historical Society’s History Day, and evening live music. Sunday’s events include the arts and crafts show, flea market, car show, music, food, fly-in and kids activities.

EAGLE RIVER – The Cranberry Festival in Eagle River will be Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 2-3. This community event is one of largest of the fall season in this Vilas County city. It includes a large arts and crafts show, farmers market, entertainment, tours of a cranberry marsh and much more. Most activities will be at the Vilas County Fairgrounds and downtown Eagle River.

Be sure to snap a picture of the town’s signature musky mural.

Painted on a huge propane tank, it’s on Hwy. K just a bit north of the downtown.

While you are at Cranberry Fest, check out the food tent where you will find soups, cranberry brats, charbroiled chicken sandwiches and much more. Then visit the Information Headquarters tent where you can purchase fresh cranberry bakery goods and event souvenirs. Don’t forget to visit the cranberry beer and wine garden and taste local cranberry beer and wine.

BEEF-A-RAMA MINOCQUA – During Beef-A-Rama, presented by Let’s Minocqua Visitors’ Bureau and Chamber, the downtown of Minocqua swells with thousands of visitors, drawn by the heady aroma of beef roasting on grills. The 2021 version will be Saturday, Sept. 25.

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

How about taking home some fresh locally grown cranberries or craisins? Approximately 8,000 pounds of premium select cranberries will be sold during the festival.

Take a Walk in the Woods

Insects and fungi catacomb the wood and serve as food for many animals. Woodpeckers, chickadees and even flying squirrels ST. GERMAIN – Nothing beats having a knowledgeable guide nest inside carved out hollows. when trekking through the forests of northern Wisconsin. Armed Other markers and the guide point out differences between sugar with first-hand knowledge and plenty of patience, naturalists take maple and red maple, white pine and red pine, and American the time to explain the flora and fauna encountered on walks and White Birch and Quaking aspen. hikes.

From the intersection of Hwy. 155 & Hwy. 70 in St. Germain, The second best way to gain knowledge and understanding of plant continue west on Hwy. 70 approximately .5 miles to Eaglewatch and animals species and how they all interact is to travel a well- Ct. Rd. Turn right, then continue 200 feet to Trailhead Way. Turn marked nature trail with a handy “field guide” as reference. right on Trailhead Way and continue to trailhead at end of road.

When a naturalist-led walk isn’t available, the Awassa Nature Pre- A second parking area is located behind the elementary school. serve and Hiking Trails on Hwy. 70 West in St. Germain can satisfy your quest for knowledge. The town of St. Germain owns the trails, and the 230 acres of scenic woodlands.

The Awassa Trail offers visitors a system of level, shaded trails that meander through stands of mature pines, oaks, maples and a rich understory of balsam fir. Four hiking loops of varied lengths provide for pleasurable walking. A half-mile nature trail, with printed interpretive guide, is accessible to all, including wheelchair users.

The trail takes users through a pristine example of the Northwoods ecosystem.

Northcentral Region

Numbered sections in the guide correspond to 16 numbered markers along the trail. You’ll learn, for instance, that a dead tree is not necessarily “dead.” Some dead trees stay upright for years, providing shelter and supporting a wide variety of woodland creatures.

UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

15

Northcentral Region 16

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

Minocqua Museum Highlights Min-Aqua Bats MINOCQUA – Minocqua has a charming museum where you can learn more about community’s early days and the people who made a difference in the history of this flourishing resort community. There is something for everyone to discover, including a 1908 Cameron automobile and a very large model train layout with two running trains.

Displays on the Min-Aqua Bats, a water-ski club still active today after many decades, will be expanding this summer in observance of the club’s 70th anniversary.

Among the exhibits is one of the devastating fire of 1912 that wiped out a good portion of Minocqua’s business district. A scale model train display shows how the community looked before the fire. After the lumbering era was over, the town became attractive to people seeking fishing adventures and a quiet way of life.

Kids will get a kick out of the one-room schoolhouse display – no electronic devices here! There’s also an exhibit on the military.

Admission to the museum is free; donations welcomed. It’s open weekdays from June to Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and other times by appointment (715-356-7666). The museum is located at 503 Flambeau Street, on the Island of Minocqua.

Northcentral Region UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

17

18

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

It’s Time to Tackle the Twin Triathlon PHELPS – The seventh annual Twin Triathlon on Saturday, Aug. 21, hosted by the Phelps Chamber of Commerce, will give you a great introduction to the natural beauty of Phelps, nestled in the Northwoods – famous for its mighty forests and many lakes.

And none better will be found than North Twin Lake, the site of the paddle leg of the triathlon. You can hope for a calm day, but if the wind kicks up on this 2,871-acre body of water you will be going through waves and choppy water as you paddle the 8 km route around the lake. But the added challenge will be offset if you see one or more bald eagles soaring above!

The 16 km bike route is a mixture of surfaces, with significant gravel and not recommended for road bikes. The 5 km run course, which is midway through the bike course, also takes place on a mixture of surfaces, with very little pavement. Each traverses the Vista Lake Biking Trails, through heavily forested lands where you will enjoy a mixture of sun and shade and feel as if you are a thousand miles from civilization.

Individual registration for the Twin Tri is $35, a 2-person team is $60, and a 3-person team registration is $90. All participants will receive event t-shirts, with additional shirts available for order. For registration or more information, visit phelpswi.us or call 715-545-3800.

Northcentral Region UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

19

Dr. Kate Museum Honors a Local Legend WOODRUFF – Have your heard the story of the “Million Penny Parade,” or high school geometry teacher Otto Burich who was the force behind the 1953 parade, or that of Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb, widely known as the “Angel on Snowshoes?”

It’s all spelled out at the Dr. Kate Museum in Woodruff. The country doctor was the “Angel on Snowshoes” for reaching patients when winter roads were impassable for vehicles of the time. Her remarkable career was the subject of a 1954 episode of Ralph Edwards’ television show, “This is Your Life.” You can view that episode at the museum.

Nearby, at the corner of 2nd Avenue and Hemlock Street, is the “World’s Largest Penny,” constructed to commemorate the success of the “Million Penny” campaign in 1953 to raise funds to construct Lakeland Memorial Hospital, the area’s first hospital.

There’s more to see at the museum, including items about the Arbor Vitae-Woodruff grade school and high school and about the town of Woodruff itself. The museum also has exhibits about Nestledown,” a favorite Woodruff business of the past and a nostalgic look at the “Golden Age of Television,” a jukebox playing 1950s favorites, and a player piano.

Northcentral Region

The Dr. Kate Museum is open the second Monday in June through the Friday prior to Labor Day. Hours are Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is by donation.

20

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

21

Snowshoe Baseball Offers Great Fun for Families LAKE TOMAHAWK – The beloved, yet zany sport of snowshoe baseball returns to Lake Tomahawk after a year absence due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Snowshoe baseball is a game of softball played on actual snowshoes, using a 16-inch ball, and with no gloves.

As can be imagined, there are spills throughout the game when outfielders trip as they try to field grounders or fly balls, or when base runner’s speed is checked by the Bearpaw-style snowshoes. In addition to the local team, the Snowhawks, teams are drawn from surrounding communities.

The Lake Tomahawk Snowshoe Baseball 2021 season is half over (as of end of July), but there are plenty of games left for you and the family to enjoy at Snowshoe Park. Games are played each Monday night beginning at 7:30 p.m. The last game is Aug. 30.

Admission is free, though they do pass around a butterfly net midgame for donations. The league uses the donations for expenses and also for local charitable projects.

Homemade pies are the stars, with several varieties from apple and pumpkin to cherry scooped up by visitors that easily top a thousand per game. They also serve hamburgers, brats, hot dogs and popcorn.

Northcentral Region

For more information, contact manager coach Jeff Smith at 715499-0625.

22

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

2021 Mercer Events LOON DAY AUGUST 4, 2021 Mercerloonday.com FALL COLOR CLASSIC SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 MercerbyBike.com

PUMPKIN RUN OCTOBER 7-10, 2021 Mercerpumpkinrunrally.com 715.476.2389 • Info@mercercc.com • Mercercc.com

Northcentral Region UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

23

Spanning over 259 acres within Minocqua, WI is Wildwood Wildlife Park Zoo & Safari and all of its residents! The Giraffes and Penguins are the most popular, while visitors flock to partake in the giraffe encounter. Another must visit includes the Safari Tram ride populated by Eland, Ostrich, Kudu, Nyala, Beisa Oryx, Nilgai, Scimitar Horned Oryx, Wildebeest, Bongos, Emu, and much more!

Wildwood Wildlife Park is all about providing special experiences that last a lifetime with every visit no matter your age!

NorthcentralRegion Region Northcentral

OFFERING EXTRAORDINARY ANIMAL EXPERIENCES Hand Feeding: Goat, sheep, pig, aoudad, and camel. Whitetail deer are strolling leisurely throughout the park and visitors can feed them out of their hand.

Giraffe Encounter: Get nose to nose with the tallest animals in the world during the giraffe feeding.

You will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with these astonishing and fascinating giraffes. Guests will even get to meet the newest giraffe, Taji. We can’t wait for you to meet our baby giraffe.

24 24 Aug/Sept Aug/Sept2021 2021||UpNorthAction.com UpNorthAction.com

Parakeet Encounter: Enjoy the parakeet encounter, a wonderful experience for the entire family. Hear the children’s laughter and excitement as they hand-feed hundreds of brightly colored parakeets.

Penguin Cove: This new, immersive exhibit is home to a cozy colony of African penguins.

Siamang: A performance and sound that guests will never forget! You will have the opportunity to hear these silly monkeys as they fill up their air sack De Brazza’s Monkeyto call out, which can be Our De Brazza’s Darwin and Amyaya welcomed a healthy baby heard over 2 miles To their monkey family. Come check it out! away!

De Brazza’s Monkey: Our De Brazza’s Darwin and Amyaya welcomed a healthy baby to their monkey family. Come check it out!

Koi and Trout Feeding: Buy trout pellets from the feed machines and toss into the pond and see the entire surface come alive with a frenzy of trout or koi. Guests can just sit and relax in this peaceful and tranquil area.

Amphitheater: Learn about your favorite animals during our Zoo Chats and meet our animal ambassadors.

Northcentral Region Region Northcentral

Safari Tram Ride: Jump on the tram and enjoy a narrated journey winding through the sprawling woods. Spot Zebra grazing near a spring fed pond. Watch Eland studding across an open field.

Search for the camouflaged Scimitar Horned Oryx concealed in the thickets or the Wildebeest sunning on the savannah. There is nothing like this in the state of Wisconsin.

Wildwood Wildlife Park Zoo & Safari is home to over 2000 animals and acres of fun. You will find a million reasons to smile.

Come spend the day with us. We can’t wait to show you around.

UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

25

26

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

Discover the Outdoor Possibilities MANITOIWISH WATERS – Learn about the great outdoors and then spend time enjoying the outdoors at the North Lakeland Discovery Center in Manitowish Waters The nature-based education and community center offers a variety of workshops and programs for adults, families and children.

Depending on the season, the outings can encompass canoe trips, guided bird walks, snowshoe hikes and mushroom gathering.

Drop-in activities and trails include a 16-station interpretive trail, state-of-the-art bog boardwalk and learning platform, geocaching, family backpack program, and a 22-station Breeding Bird Interpretive Trail signage program.

The trails are free and open to everyone daily from dawn to dusk. Donations are welcomed. The terrain is gentle and the trails wind through the woods, along the lake, bog and nearby Manitowish River. Along the way you will discover a variety of habitats each with its own unique plants and animals.

“The Nature Playscape,” the first and largest of its kind in the Northwoods, is also open for kids and families to play in and explore. By becoming a member you can use the center’s canoes and kayaks to explore Statehouse Lake (no motors allowed).

From November through April, depending on weather, you can hike, fat bike, snowshoe or XC ski the trails. For current trail conditions, call 715-543-2085. For more information about the center itself, visit discoverycenter.net.

Dr. Kate Museum & State Historical Marker 923 Second Avenue, Woodruff, WI 715-356-6896 • Visit us on the web: drkatemuseum.org Monetary donations appreciated Mid-June through Labor Day: Open Monday – Friday 11am-3pm September Hours: Open Tuesday & Thursday 11am-2pm Group Tours by Appointment Affiliated with the State Historical Society of Wisconsin Across from the Lakeland Cinema on Highway 51 North Handicap Accessible

UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

Northcentral Region

Learn the inspiring story of Dr. Kate, Angel on Snowshoes

27

28

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

Planning a trip Up North? Visit

UpNorthAction.com for all your vacation planning needs.

Northcentral Region UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

29

Logging Lore Comes Alive at Scheer’s Lumberjack Shows

Northcentral Region

No matter how good a log roller is, he or she will end up in the water eventually. It’s a cold swim before those first few shows of the season.

30

WOODRUFF -- Weeks before the official start of summer, Scheer’s Lumberjack Shows begins preparing for the upcoming season. 2021 will mark the 36th year that Fred Scheer’s Lumberjack Shows has been entertaining area visitors on Woodland Lake in downtown Woodruff.

A spin-off of the famous Scheer’s Lumberjack Shows that began in Hayward, the Woodruff show features the same world-class athletes in a performance that is identical to the Hayward venue.

Preparing the site for the summer performances involves maintenance to guarantee the safety of performers, as well as guests.

The climbing poles that rise 60 to 90 feet into the air are inspected and the pads are secured in place.

“When you are climbing that pole at record speed, the last thing you want on your mind is its stability,” says Cassidy Scheer, world champion pole climber.

The log dogs on which the lumberjacks stand and swing razor sharp axes in the event called the underhand chop are checked for structural safety. The specially turned cedar logs used for the logrolling and boom-run events are pulled out of storage and replaced if necessary.

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

The gear and equipment used by the lumberjacks are also checked for safety. Steel-toed boots, leather leg chaps, climbing belts and gaffs (the spikes on the side of a climber’s shoes) must be in tiptop shape to protect the performers. They inspect and repair the special leather guards that are placed over a portion of saw blades to protect children as they cross-cut saw with the lumberjacks during the kids matinees.

In addition to the lumberjack gear, the show site is prepared for the throng of summer guests who arrive with the warm weather. Bleachers, walkways and the handicap ramp are checked and the landscaping is refreshed.

How about all the logs the lumberjacks saw and chop? Over 20 tons of aspen logs are hauled to the site throughout the summer.

Logs need to be uniform in diameter and stripped of bark – the same guidelines adhered to in the Lumberjack World Championships.

The season starts Memorial Day weekend and runs through Labor Day weekend. The Lumberjacks are eager to entertain and display the athleticism they’ve worked hard to keep tuned during the winter months.

With everything checked out, cleaned up, and the staff eager to get another season underway, there is one element of the shows that cannot be controlled. That is the temperature of the water in Woodland Lake or Lake Hayward.

“Logrolling and the boom-run are pretty darn cold events for us those first few shows of the season,” explains Zac Tom, show manager. “That lake doesn’t really warm up until the beginning of July. No matter how good you are at these events, you’re going to end up in the water at some point.”

UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

Northcentral Region

2 miles north of Minocqua at Hwys. 51 and 47, 1 block right

31

Artists Open Private Studios During Northwoods Art Tour Thirty-eight of northern Wisconsin’s finest artists will be taking part in the fall Northwoods Art Tour, opening their studios and galleries to the public Oct. 8-10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The tour is free.

During this open house, you will be able to visit private studios seldom open to the public. The studios and galleries are located in small communities scattered throughout Iron, Vilas, Oneida and Lincoln counties.

Each artist will be demonstrating aspects of their working process, what materials they use and how they approach the creative process. A robust array of art will be demonstrated, including paintings and drawings and works in clay, fiber, wood, gourds, glass, photography and designer jewelry in precious metals, and unique combinations of many media.

Northcentral Region

As the tour is self-guided, you are free to choose to visit as many or as few studios as your interest and time allow. Artists will have original art selections available for purchase. For a listing of the artists and their locations, visit northwoodsarttour.com.

32

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

Open Daily 11am

N12025 County Hwy. L, Tomahawk, WI

715-453-4984 OPEN DAILY AT 11 AM

Homemade Sandwiches, Burgers, Wraps, Salads & Chicago Style Thin Crust Pizza Happy Mon-Fri Half Price Drinks hour 2-5 PM Rail & Tap Beer THURSDAYS - AWARD WINNING

Baby Back Ribs & Smoked Chicken (Memorial Day - Labor Day)

Starting at 5 pm Outside Seating Available!

Music by Jeff Calhoun

FRIDAY FISH FRY ALL DAY LONG SATURDAY NIGHT

SUNDAYS - 10 AM TO 1 PM

ALL-U-CAN-EAT $11.99 BrUNCH Buffet $6.99

Large Patio Overlooking the Wisconsin River Live Music on the Patio Every Saturday from 4-7 and Sunday 2-5 (June 12th-Aug 8th) Friday Fish Fry All Day Long Saturday Night: BBQ Chicken and Ribs at 5pm (Memorial Day - Labor Day)

Sunday Fried Chicken All Day Long Full Service Catering for Weddings, Parties and Everything in Between 10 Large TVs, WIFi, ATM

Adults

8 & Under

6 Big Screen TVs! LIKE US ON ATM & Wifi Available BillyBobsSportsBarAndGrill.com

616 N. 4th Street, Tomahawk

(715) 224-3594

outboardsbarandgrill.com UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

Northcentral Region

Prime Rib Special Slow roasted Prime Rib with baked potato & fresh vegetable. $14.99

Happy Hour: Mon-Thur 2-5pm 1/2 off on all Drinks & Appetizers

33

34

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

Let’s Ride the Roads – Together ANTIGO—The Antigo/Langlade Chamber of Commerce invites everyone to take part in the 22nd annual Lakes and Leaves bike ride through northern Langlade County on Saturday, Sept. 18.

The Lakes & Leaves ride offers some of the most beautiful road riding in the Northwoods. The leaf color change will be on its way and with cooler early fall temps, the ride promises to be quite enjoyable. The bike ride’s four different route lengths follow paved roads with rolling hills and beautiful scenic views. All four routes are well marked, along with rest stops stocked with water, sports drinks, fruit and snacks.

The routes are suitable for all ages and abilities. For more information, including meeting time and place, visit antigochamber.com or call 715-623-4134.

Northcentral Region UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

35

Northwest Region

Northwest Region

36

‘Xtreme Bulls vs. Broncs’ Event Shaping Up to be a Wild Ride RICE LAKE – A special memorial edition of the Xtreme 2021 PRCA “Buckin Mania” Tour is coming to the Barron County Fairgrounds in Rice Lake for an action-packed night on Saturday, Sept. 11.

Professional cowboys will compete in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. A share of more than $30,000 in prize money will be the incentive for these riders to be at the top of their game. Of course, the bulls and broncs will be looking to send their riders flying onto the arena floor.

Also featured will be F-16’s flying over the site, Sergeant Dana Bowman parachuting into the rodeo arena, Miss Rodeo America, Miss Rodeo Wisconsin, BBQ Fest in afternoon and so much more.

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

It’s shaping up to be the best and largest PRCA-sanctioned Xtreme Bulls & Broncs Riding Event ever presented in Wisconsin, according to the event organizer. The rodeo will be televised on the Cowboy Channel. For more information and to purchase tickets in advance, visit barroncountyxtremebull.com or call 715403-5162. Gates open at 5 p.m.

Throughout the day there will be crafts and vendors, classic car show, antique tractor show, live music, raffles, kids bounce house, hayrides and helicopter rides. Don’t rush home to feed the hombres as they can tie on the feedbag right there at the arena.

Northwest Region UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

37

Put Cable Area Fall Fest on Your Road Trip List CABLE – Wisconsin’s fall festivals are nearly ripe for the picking.

Among the more popular ones you surely must visit is the Cable Area Fall Festival, celebrating its 20th anniversary on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24-25.

The woods in and around Cable will be ablaze with Mother Nature’s handiwork, transforming the landscape into the brilliant colors of orange, red and yellow that mark “Colorama” in the Northwoods.

Cornstalks, hay bales and pumpkins will line the roads throughout the Cable community.

Activities kick off Friday with local stores offering specials, and a Fall Harvest dessert contest. The evening concludes with a community dinner, beer and wine garden, and live music. Bring your dancing shoes.

Saturday kicks it up a notch with a pumpkin pecan pancake breakfast, art and craft vendors (some will be demonstrating), car/motorcycle/truck show, live music, bounce houses and carnival games.

You’re welcomed to talk “shop” with the owners of the show vehicles and help decide the People’s Choice Award.

Northwest Region

The Food Court features many different cuisines. A tent will feature local restaurants’ bestselling pies, burgers, turkey legs and more. Watch local chefs whip up their personal delectable dishes and give them a taste!

38

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

Northwest Region UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

39

Jack’s Back and With as Much Fun as Ever

WaterMania is Back and Wetter than Ever!

SPOONER – Jack Pine Savage Days celebration in Spooner is back and none the worse for wear after a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

CHETEK – Chetek Lake will be buzz’n’ with excitement come the weekend of Aug. 28 & 29 in Chetek. The Twin City Power Boat Association (TCPBA) will return to the lake with some of the fastest competitive powerboat racing in the Midwest.

Sponsored by the Spooner Area Chamber of Commerce, the 2021 version will be Aug 6-7. There will an arts & crafts fair (both days), carnival games for kids, family bingo, food booths and live music on Friday.

Northwest Region

Then on Saturday morning, grab a pancake breakfast at the fire station. Saturday’s events include a 5K race, duck race, sand volleyball tournament, horseshoe tournament, beanbag tournament, kid zone and carnival games, family chalk contest, and more live music in the evening hours.

40

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

The races (boats can reach 135 mph!) will take place in front of the Hydroflites Water Ski Show Team’s site. The water ski club itself will have a Saturday night show.

Admission is free with vehicle parking at $5. Beer and other concessions will be available, as well as WaterMania t-shirts. More information about the race series is available at tcpba.org.

Northwest Region UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

41

Scheers Lumberjack Shows is a great family adventure. Lumberjacks invite kids from the audience onstage during matinee intermissions to cross-cut saw with the lumberjacks.

The canoe joust is one of the events in the Lumberjack Shows that keeps the crowd laughing.

Don’t Miss a Highlight of the Summer – a Lumberjack Show!

HAYWARD – It was 39 years ago Fred Scheer and his brother, Robert, created a new form of family entertainment, a lumberjack show, for northern Wisconsin visitors.

The two brothers and their four sisters had spent numerous summers as kids balancing and rolling on the logs on Lake Hayward in the bay of North Wisconsin Lumber Company. Their summer fun trained them to become fierce competitors in the logrolling event (birling) of the Lumberjack World Championships (LWC) held in Hayward every July.

The young Scheers expanded their activities and became skillful at the boom run and pole climbing, as well as other events that were part of the LWC. In 1981, the two brothers established the original Scheer’s Lumberjack Show and used their lumberjack skills to entertain area tourists.

Northwest Region

More than a demonstration, the show features a competition between two lumberjack teams as they do 10 different events, including logrolling, pole climbing and crosscut saw. Cheering the teams on gets the crowd involved in the show and down-home humor has everybody chuckling.

42

The original venue for the show in 1981 was a small dock on the shore of Lake Hayward, behind what was then Windmill Square. The show’s lumberjacks delighted small crowds and it soon became apparent the production needed more space. With encouragement from Tony Wise, the legendary Hayward promoter, Fred and Robert Scheer moved the show to its present location, Lumberjack Village. After that the Woodruff location opened up.

Fred is now the sole owner of Fred Scheer’s Lumberjack Shows and the Lumberjack Village. Training young athletes to be lumberjacks is still a fulfilling role for Fred.

Through the years many lumberjacks have come, performed and moved on to other careers. Numerous world champion logrollers, pole climbers and boom-runners had their start as apprentices in Fred Scheer’s Lumberjack Show and the cast has always included world champion lumberjacks. A world champion log roller himself, Fred occasionally delights audiences by personally participating in a show.

For all the years Scheer’s Lumberjack Shows has been in Hayward, it continues to draw crowds. One might say that a visit to northern Wisconsin isn’t complete without seeing a Scheer’s Lumberjack Show.

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

4 PM - Close

Opening May 28th

UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

43

U.P. Michigan Region

U.P. Michigan Region

44

Lake Gogebic Shines Bright as a Vacation Destination

By Dennis Fearson The Lake Gogebic area is a beautiful, four-season vacation gem.

The lake itself is one of the largest inland lakes in Michigan, with over 13,000 acres of prime fishing for walleye, smallmouth bass, jumbo perch and pike, and 36 miles of winding, scenic shoreline.

The million-acre Ottawa National Forest, as well as the 21,000acre Sylvania Wilderness, surrounds the Lake Gogebic area, providing endless opportunities to enjoy nature in a variety of ways, including many great choices for scenic hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and biking. With so much forest surrounding the area, fall colors are absolutely breathtaking!

The area is also flush with wildlife, with a few shy or rare species adding to the excitement as you may come across animals such

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

as a black bear, coyote or fisher and the occasional moose wandering about. Predator birds are especially exciting to watch: peregrine falcon, osprey, owls, bald eagles and occasionally golden eagles. Wild turkey, loons and sandhill cranes and blue herons all make this area their home.

Alligator Eye, on the southwest end of Lake Gogebic, a short but challenging hike where you can experience a beautiful stretch of forest that will take you to a spectacular lookout above the lake.

You can see for miles and it’s a treasure worth discovering.

The Lake Gogebic area is the hub for hundreds of miles of multiuse trails, with gorgeous scenery, mines, historic settlements, unique little towns and waterfalls are yours to explore. Multi-use trail maps are available upon request.

The area has a wide variety of attraction and activities. There are three campgrounds on the west side of the lake, one campground on the north end and several private campgrounds. For paddling enthusiast, the Lake Gogebic area boasts three water trails with family-friendly appeal, from placid water and short distance to challenging. All three of the water trails offer wilderness flavor.

There are several fishing tournaments throughout the year.

Many businesses have boat, pontoon, kayak rentals, ATV and snowmobile rentals and fishing guides available. Eating establishments are all family friendly and casual.

Lake Gogebic lies in two counties. The northern half of the lake is in Ontonagon County and in the Eastern Time Zone and the southern half in Gogebic County is in the Central Time Zone, which means you can celebrate the New Year twice in one evening!

Just a bit of history: In the late 1880s, the lake was known as one of the best black bass lakes in the country. Anglers came from all the major population centers by rail to Gogebic Station, five miles south of the lake. There they boarded a stagecoach for the bumpy ride to the Gogebic Hotel & Cottages, now known as the Whitehouse.

The last stagecoach robbery east of the Mississippi River took place on the road to Gogebic Station on Aug. 26, 1889.

The robber was captured five days later. “Stagecoach Road” runs straight south of the lake to State Hwy. 2.

You’re invited to enjoy one of the most relaxing and scenic vacations you’ve ever taken and meet some of the friendliest “Yoopers” in the UP!

U.P. Michigan Region UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

45

Join the Fun at the Gogebic County Fair IRONWOOD -- For 100 years, the Gogebic County Fair has been a place where participants can show off the fruits of their animal and plant husbandry skills and where thousands of visitors gather for four days of music, games, food and arts & crafts.

That tradition continues Aug. 12-15 when the 2021 version will be held at the fairgrounds in Ironwood.

Each year 4-H’ers dream that their carefully raised animal will win a coveted Blue Ribbon. But beyond the moos and quacks

This year’s fair will showcase Lake States mud racing, a pedal tractor pull, antique tractor show and parade, chicken bingo, and the ever-popular WLRA lawn mower races.

The Gogebic County Fair has an “All Inclusive” price program.

With a gate admission wristband, you can enjoy free carnival rides, free grandstand shows and other free shows on the grounds.

To schedule your trip for the event, check out the official Gogebic County Fair website: gogebiccountyfair.com. For the latest news, like their Facebook page: facebook. com/GogebicCountyFair.

A great deal has changed in rural America over the past 100 years, but the anticipation and festival atmosphere that surrounds the county fair remains just as vivid now as it did in 1921.

U.P. Michigan Region 46

of the animal buildings, the county fair brings a wide variety of family entertainment, including interesting displays, grandstand and small stage concerts, carnival games and rides, cornhole tournament, harness racing, exhibits of all kinds (from vegetables and quilt making and photography), and those “extra special” events that truly make fair-going fun for everyone.

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com

Ironwood – Emberlight Festival of the Arts, August 26 to September 3rd Ironwood – Gogebic County Fair, August 12th to 15th Lake Gogebic – 48th Annual Walleye Tournament, September 10 – 11; entry form on website Bessemer – Pumpkin Fest, September 24th – 26th Bessemer-Ironwood, Iron Belle Trail Bridges & Bluffs ½ marathon race, September 25th Rockland - The Old Victoria Craft Fair, August 15th

Ironwood Chamber of Commerce

Lake Gogebic Chamber of Commerce

Wakefield Chamber of Commerce

Travel Ironwood

150 N Lowell St. Ironwood, Michigan 49938 1-906-932-1122 chamber@ironwoodchamber.org ironwoodchamber.org facebook.com/IronwoodChamber/

PO Box 114 Bergland, Michigan 49910 1-888-464-3242 info@lakegogebicarea.com lakegogebicarea.com facebook.com/lakegogebicarea

M-28 at US-2 Wakefield, Michigan 49968 PO Box 93 1-906-224-2222 chamber@wakefieldmi.org wakefieldmi.org

213 Marquette St. Ironwood, Michigan 49938 1-906-932-5050 info@travelironwood.com travelironwood.com

UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021

47

48

Aug/Sept 2021 | UpNorthAction.com