Good morning, Marquette.

AMVETS Post 122 in Ely Township offers secure camping at Lake Unky for veterans, with sites without electricity costing $10 a night and sites with electricity costing $15 for members or $17 for nonmembers—each site has a key for quiet entry.

The 120-acre campground has picnic areas, a covered pavilion with a grill, large fire pit sites, a swimming area, and a fishing lake for small mouth bass and bluegill—last year it gave over $6,500 to local veteran causes and is open from May through September.

The Marquette County Exchange Club will host its annual Freedom Fest on July 3 and July 4 at Mattson Lower Harbor Park with food vendors and ten local bands entertaining families from noon until dusk.

Geno Angeli said volunteers are needed and anyone interested can call him at (906) 360-6926.

The Harley Owners Group Great Lakes Rally in Marquette began Thursday and will run through Saturday as organizers expect around 1000 riders to participate.

A free public party with live music by the Flat Broke Blues Band is planned for Friday night and a police-escorted motorcycle parade will start at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday from the NMU Berry Events Center parking lot—with no roads closed.

Following a successful Juhannus celebration, Hancock was named the Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture for 2026—making it the first U.S. community to earn the title.

Local leaders said the designation will boost cultural exchange and tourism as plans for next year's festival move forward.

The Michigan Farm Bureau reported that a ten-person cookout will cost just under $71 as prices for items like ground beef have risen and pork chops have fallen compared to last summer.

Super One Foods in Marquette Township said prices remain stable and is offering weekly deals as Fourth of July nears — a sign of steady food costs for consumers.

Bay College signed an agreement with the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council and the Upper Peninsula Construction Council yesterday at its Escanaba campus—eligible apprentices earned up to 45 college credits toward an associate degree while saving time and money.

Local officials said the new pathway could help retain skilled workers in the area and serve as a model for other colleges.

Bay Mills Community College and NMU signed an agreement on Wednesday to develop an immersive Anishinaabemowin language program that lets students earn an associate’s degree and later a bachelor’s degree—this program will be the only path to a K-12 teaching certificate in the state. The new program aims to preserve the language by allowing students to learn directly from tribal elders.

Marquette County commissioners held a special meeting Monday to address illegal pay raises and retroactive pay that broke state law — they also picked three candidates for county administrator after the county lost its administrator in March.

The board said the wage increase was meant to cover extra duties and will fix the error while planning public interviews on July 15.

Family Health & Resource Fair

1-5 p.m. — Upper Great Lakes Sawyer Family Health Center — Free entry — Explore health activities, community resources, and enjoy a health & wellness garden grand opening.

Marquette Fireworks Show

6:30-7:30 p.m. — Ellwood A Mattson Lower Harbor Park — Free entry — Experience a spectacular fireworks display while enjoying the Marquette County Exchange Club's Food Fest.

Charlie Millard Album Launch Party

8:30-11:30 p.m. — Ore Dock Brewing Co. — $10 — Celebrate the release of Charlie Millard's new album with a night of music and fun.

JASNO Live Music Performance

8 p.m. — Superior Culture — Ticket info not specified — Experience the vibrant sounds of local band Jasno as they perform live in Marquette.

Queen City Half Marathon and 5K

8:00 – 11:45 AM — Queen City Running Co. — Check website for registration fees — Experience a fast and scenic course in the charming city of Marquette.