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Wellness Fair Returns to Fair
The U.P. State Fair is excited to announce that this year, the Wellness Fair will return to the U.P. State Fairgrounds! This year’s Wellness Fair will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 14—Senior Citizens Day—from 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Activities Tent.
The theme for this year’s Wellness Fair is “Putting the pieces together for a healthier you.” The Menominee-Delta- Schoolcraft Community Action Agency is organizing the Wellness Fair. Vendors at the Wellness Fair will receive two daily Fair passes with their paid table. Additional passes are available for $5 each. Vendors will also receive one parking pass for designated parking with their paid table. Designated parking areas are on a first-come, first- served basis. Vendors are asked to bring a door prize also to be given away.
At this year’s Wellness Fair, participants will get signatures or stamps from the different organizations/vendors to show they have visited their table, in order to be entered into the prize drawing. “We are thrilled to have Community Action Agency bringing back the Wellness Fair this year to the Activities Tent at the U.P. State Fair,” said Vickie Micheau, who serves as local management agent for the U.P. State Fair, as well as serving on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions. “Once visitors pay the gate admission to the Fair, there are the great activities – such as the Wellness Fair—under the Activities Tent, along with headliner entertainment, and so many other fun things to do. Fairgoers could spend the day, or better yet, spend the whole week celebrating agriculture and community.”
The U.P. State Fair is the only continuously operating State Fair in Michigan. The fair runs this year from Monday, Aug. 12 (Gates open at 5 p.m.) through Sunday, Aug. 18. “On behalf of the U.P. State Fair Authority, I would like to thank the Community Action Agency for sponsoring the Wellness Fair, along with our presenting sponsor, the Island Resort and Casino, and all of our generous sponsors for their continued support of the U.P. State Fair,” Micheau added. “We are looking forward this year to a great U.P. State Fair! We would like everyone to remember to save the dates of August 12 through August 18 for this year’s week-long event, which is sure to be fantastic!”
Knights of Columbus Parking Vehicles at UPSF
At this year’s U.P. State Fair, the Knights of Columbus will assure that fair-goers will have an stress-free parking experience. This year, volunteers with the local Knights of Columbus will be guiding fair-goers to parking spaces in the U.P. State Fairgrounds parking lots between the hours of approximately 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., to help with traffic flow in the parking lots.
As people enter the parking lots, the Knights of Columbus will accept donations—a suggested donation of at least one dollar per car—with the funds raised being donated to Pregnancy Services of Delta County (PSDC) to help pay for the maintenance service agreement of the facility’s ultrasound machine. This service agreement keeps the ultrasound unit—including the computer and probes—in good working order. The Knights of Columbus recently purchased the ultrasound machine for the Pregnancy Services facility, and would like to ensure the machine stays running in tip-top shape. Since PSDC offers all its services and supplies for free, it relies on donations from individual donors and organizations such as the Knights of Columbus.
“This partnership with the Knights of Columbus and the Fair is really a win-win situation,” said Mike Mineau, Grand Knight with the Gladstone Knights of Columbus. “By helping people park their vehicles in an orderly manner, we will aid in traffic flow, and provide a safer, smoother fair-going experience—and people’s donations will go to help a worthy cause.”
UPSF to Offer Sensory-Friendly Midway
At this year’s U.P. State Fair, to ensure that all of our guests have a positive fair-going experience, the Fair will offer a Sensory-Friendly Midway with limited lights and noise on Tuesday, Aug. 13 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
The idea for a Sensory-Friendly Midway was brought up after hearing requests for a quieter Midway experience for light and noise-sensitive fair-goers.
“We are pleased to announce that a Sensory-Friendly Midway at the U.P. State Fair is available for fair guests who would like to experience the fun of rides and games on the Skerbeck Entertainment Group Midway with reduced light brightness and sound volume, on Tuesday, August 13 th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m..” said Vickie Micheau, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, which serves as the local management agency for the U.P. State Fair. “This Sensory-Friendly Midway is offered to better accommodate those with sensory sensitivities. Lights, sounds, and non-safety-related announcements will be minimized, with rides, games, and food available for purchase.”
The Sensory-Friendly hours apply only to the Carnival Midway. While U.P. State Fair officials understand that there may be areas in other parts of the Fairgrounds that contain loud music and lights during these hours, Micheau noted that they have respectfully asked vendors and concessionaires to participate when possible during the hours of 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
UPSF Announces Return of “K-9s in Flight” Dog Show
Back by popular demand, the crowd-appealing “K-9s in Flight” Dog Show will be at the U.P. State Fair this year! The show will be on the lawn in front of the grandstand offices every day during Fair week.
According to the K-9s in Flight website, this show is an “extraordinary Frisbee dog entertainment group that has been dazzling audiences in over 200 cities across America. Led by John and his homeless to high-flying rescue dogs that break the mold from typical dog acts with their unique K-9 sports shows, this show emphasizes the importance of pet adoption and the bond between humans and their four-legged friends.”
The K-9s in Flight dogs have been rescued or adopted from streets and shelters nationwide, and have toured with Animal Planet, The NFL Experience, and the original Purina Incredible Dog Team. “The K-9s in Flight Dog Show was a crowd favorite at the U.P. State Fair in 2013.” said Vickie Micheau, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, which serves as the local management agency for the U.P. State Fair.
“We are excited to be bringing back ‘K-9s in Flight’, and encourage everyone to check out at least one of their many shows during Fair Week, to see for yourself the amazing feats of these rescued and adopted dogs.”
For more information, visit k9sinflight.com or search “K9s in Flight” on Facebook.
Escanaba City Band to play for Lt. Governor Gilchrist at UPSF
On Thursday, Aug. 15 at the U.P. State Fair—Honored Citizens’ Day—Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist will be a special guest when he represents the Governor’s Office. Due to schedule conflicts, Governor Gretchen Whitmer will be unable to attend.
Other special guests include the Escanaba City Band, who will be entertaining luncheon guests prior to the luncheon. In celebration of its 100-year Anniversary this year, the Escanaba City Band will play music starting at 11 a.m. on the stage in front of the Activities Tent.
At noon, following the musical performance, the Delta County Chamber of Commerce’s annual “Taste of Membership” Luncheon will take place, highlighting the delicious culinary talents of our Chamber of Commerce member businesses.
In the past, the “Taste of Membership” Luncheon was attended by over 400 people, and generously sponsored by many Delta County businesses, giving ‘a taste of membership’ to everyone in attendance.
Lt. Governor Gilchrist is also scheduled to present the Upper Peninsula Veteran of the Year Award prior to the luncheon. Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce Vickie Micheau said she is thankful for the music and warm welcome that the Escanaba City Band has offered to provide, and the delicious food that the Chamber member businesses will serve at the Lt. Governor’s Day Luncheon.
“On behalf of The U.P. State Fair Authority, we are delighted and thankful for the wonderful hospitality that our Escanaba City Band has offered to provide, and for the wonderful food that our members will serve to our lieutenant governor, other public officials, and guests during the Fair. We are grateful to all of our generous sponsors for their continued support of the U.P. State Fair—Michigan’s only State Fair. Our members are continually showing their ongoing commitment to our local waterfront community, and to the great agricultural roots of Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. Their support will allow for the time-honored
tradition of events and activities associated with the fairgrounds to continue.”
This year’s week-long U.P. State Fair runs when the gates open at 5 pm on Monday, Aug. 12 through Sunday, Aug. 18. Presenting sponsors of the Lt. Governor’s Day Lunch at the 2024 U.P. State Fair include: Michigan Works, Enbridge, Upper Peninsula Power Company, WLUC TV6 & FOX UP, Daily Press, Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association, U.P. State Fair Authority, Upper Hand Brewery, Delta County Chamber of Commerce, The Island Resort and Casino, and Wickert Floral.
U.P. State Fair announces “Tuesday Chewsday”
Some food vendors at this year’s U.P. State Fair will offer sample-sizes of their food, treats, and products at a discounted price on “Tuesday Chewsday”—Tuesday, Aug. 13 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. “For one day during the fair, vendors will offer sample sizes of food at special discounted prices for ‘Tuesday Chewsday’ this year.
Our goals are two-fold,” said Vickie Micheau, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, the local management agency for the U.P. State Fair. “First, we want to provide families with a cost-effective way to feed their children, who may not need full-portion meals. Second, we aim to encourage guests to sample a wider variety of fair food and help guide them to their next full-size meal throughout the week.”
Vendors who sign up to offer discounted food items or other products on “Tuesday Chewsday” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be highlighted on the website: upstatefair.net, along with the U.P. State Fair’s Facebook page. In addition, vendors will be provided with flyers to display in their booth/vendor spaces.
Saliva to replace Dorothy at U.P. State Fair Friday, Aug. 16
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Dorothy will no longer be able to perform at this year’s U.P. State Fair. The U.P. State Fair is excited to announce, however, that the rock band Saliva will be performing under the Grandstand with Fuel on Friday, Aug. 16, giving fairgoers the opportunity to enjoy two rock bands—Fuel and
Saliva—in one high-energy concert starting at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Gold Circle tickets purchased for the originally-scheduled Friday concert, Fuel and Dorothy, will still be valid for Fuel and Saliva.
Fuel and Saliva are two of the acts in the U.P. State Fair’s full line-up of Grandstand entertainment, presented by Island Resort and Casino. Saliva became infused with new blood, energy, and spirit after acquiring front man Bobby Amaru in 2011. The same energy launched Saliva’s career in 2001 with the release, “Every Six Seconds,” a certified Double Platinum-selling album containing the hits, “Click Click Boom” and 2002 Grammy-nominated, “Your Disease.” Saliva’s in-your-face, anthemic writing style continued with a certified Gold-selling album “Back into Your System” with hits: “Always,” “Raise Up,” and the Nikki Sixx (of Mötley Crüe) co-written, “Rest In Pieces.”
Saliva has been making waves on the charts recently, with their last single “High on Me” climbing its way into the
Top 20 on both Mediabase and Billboard charts. Their music continues to resonate with fans and gain recognition in the industry.
Saliva’s newest album, “Revelation,” dropped in September 2023, and is available for streaming on all major platforms. Saliva’s new music has a contemporary feel, while sticking to the blue collar roots that their fans love.
For more information on Saliva, visit salivaofficial.com. Gold Circle tickets for Fuel and Saliva’s performances on Friday, Aug. 16 at 8 p.m. are on sale and can be purchased from the presenting sponsor, Island Resort and Casino, at islandresortandcasino.com/entertainment . General seating for all Grandstand entertainment is free with admission to the Fair.