Festival Ironwood set for July 17-20 in expanded Depot Park

IRONWOOD— The 21st annual Festival Ironwood will have a little different look this year because of the recent Depot Park expansion project, and organizers expect the community summer celebration to be bigger than ever.

Festival Ironwood will run July 17-20, centered under the familiar blue and white tent in downtown Ironwood. This is the fourth year Will Corcoran and Keith Johnson are in charge, and they say it would be impossible to put it all together without the help of volunteers and local businesses.

The festival has really good entertainment of every type, said Corcoran. Wednesday night will feature bluegrass music. A polka fest and a teen dance are slated for Thursday, with polka under the big tent and the teen dance making use of the new pavilion.

Friday afternoon will feature Dorothy and the Boys, followed by Bobby Seifert and Country Gold, and then Uncle Fester. Saturday’s music lineup includes the Ranch Boys, the Gogebic Range Band, D.J. music, and the Lowell Street Band.

Festival goers will enjoy a variety of food and beverages under the tent, served by local non-profit organizations.

New this year is a volleyball tournament on Saturday, and an expanded children’s day on Friday with a petting zoo and pony rides. The “duck pick” will be giving away hundreds of prizes, including 12 bikes to lucky winners.

The classic car show on Saturday will also feature vintage snowmobiles and tractors this year. The vehicles will be parked along Lowell Street, as the sod at the Depot Park is new. Festival goers will have to make use of alternate parking around town, due to the new developments at the park. Coleman Engineering has agreed to allow parking in its lot on Ayer Street.

Corcoran said although they were approached by different political organizations, festival organizers turned them down, because the festival is “strictly a good time.”

For more information, contact Corcoran at 906-364-5672, the Ironwood Chamber of Commerce at 906-932-1122, or the Western Upper Peninsula Convention and Visitor’s Center at 906-932-4850