Column: 97th year of U.P. State Fair promises to be a good one | News, Sports, Jobs
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Vickie Micheau, representing the U.P. State Fair, speaks at the April 16th Media Luncheon, held in the Horizons Conference Room of the Island Resort & Casino. Micheau is also the President of the Michigan Fairs Association. This year’s U.P. State Fair will be Aug. 11-17, 2025.
HARRIS – Unique experiences and the full week’s entertainment line-up for the Upper Peninsula State Fair were announced to a full house during an exclusive media reception held on Wednesday, April 16. Held at the Horizons Conference Room located on the 12th floor of the Island Resort and Casino, the reception featured speeches by planners and key sponsors of the 97th annual U.P. State Fair.
Representing this year’s Grand Champion Sponsor — the Island Resort & Casino — Hannahville Indian Community Tribal Chair Kenneth Meshigaud spoke about his experience in 1962 going to the U.P. State Fair. He described his excitement as his family drove into Escanaba to experience all the sights, sounds and tastes of the U.P. State Fair over six decades ago.
This year’s 2025 U.P. State Fair theme is blue-ribbon worthy: ‘Experience the Extraordinary,’ and includes a jam-packed schedule of activities, which were highlighted at the media reception.
While the entertainment under the grandstand will be the focus for many fair-goers this year, there will be plenty of other attractions and unique experiences to keep guests coming back day after day. Mark Cowman, part of the management team at the U.P. State Fair and Delta County Chamber of Commerce office, did a lively presentation covering the week’s attractions, including the following free entertainment on the Midway: Robotics Fair Play, The Strolling Piano, Bingo Tent, Arestov’s Acrobatic Extravaganza, Martinez Sand Sculptures, Master Cheese Carver Sarah Kaufmann, Whispering Pines Petting Zoo, Dog Show Spectacular, the Antique Steam and Gas Village, and of course, the DNR Pocket Park and Junior Market Livestock Auction. The Fair will close with a ‘bang’ on Sunday night with fireworks at dusk, sponsored by Skerbeck Entertainment Group.
Cowman also gave an overview of each of the musical acts performing in the evenings under the grandstand, kicking off Tuesday, Aug. 12 with ‘The Fab Four–The Ultimate Tribute’–a Beatles tribute band. On Wednesday, country music band Diamond Rio will have everyone singing along to well-known tunes. Thursday’s show will feature award-winning hip-hop band Snotty Nose Rez Kids. The excitement continues Friday night, Aug. 15 with multi-Platinum hitmaker Justin Moore headlining under the grandstand, which is sure to bring crowd-pleasing interactivity. The final concert of the fair will feature sounds of the Michigan-based beat-thumping hard rock band Pop Evil — back in the U.P. on Saturday night, Aug. 16 for a high energy concert. All the grandstand shows are sure to entertain with exceptional vocals and world-class musical talent.
On Sunday, the grandstand show will shift gears — from getting down to the beat of the music, to ‘beat-downs’ in an Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW) live event, “Uprising” to close a great week of entertainment.
“This year, along with the always excellent Skerbeck Entertainment Group Carnival Midway — this year featuring a new thrilling ride — Overdrive, we are also excited to have entertainment that features country music, a Beatles tribute, hip hop, hard rock, pro wrestling, and unique daily events, including a cornhole tournament and a new Health and Wellness Event sponsored by the Island’s Drift Spa,” U.P. State Fair Representative Vickie Micheau said. “Once visitors pay the gate admission to the Fair, there are so many fun things to do that fairgoers could spend the day, or better yet, spend the whole week celebrating agriculture and community. There certainly will be something for everyone at this year’s U.P. State Fair–Michigan’s only State Fair!”
For more information about the U.P. State Fair, including special event days and exhibitor information, or to purchase advance gate admission for the U.P. State Fair visit HYPERLINK “http://www.upstatefair.net”upstatefair.net. Gold circle tickets can be purchased for Tuesday through Saturday’s Grandstand shows, from the Island Resort and Casino at HYPERLINK “http://www.islandresortandcasino.com/entertainment” islandresortandcasino.com/entertainment. General seating for all Grandstand entertainment is free with admission to the Fair. The U.P. State Fair is the oldest, continuously operating State Fair in Michigan. The fair runs from Monday, Aug. 11 through Sunday, Aug. 17.
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Victoria LaFave is with the Delta County Chamber of Commerce