Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Festival Ironwood set to return next week

IRONWOOD — Festival Ironwood is returning next week from July 13-17 with five days of family-friendly events under a big top tent in the Historic Depot Park. The festival will feature food, live music, a classic car show and more.

Festival events start at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13. Festival coordinator Will Corcoran said that the first night is organized by the Ironwood and Hurley Rotary Club and includes live music by the Lake Effect under the big top, as well as beer and brats through 10 p.m. The local Fat Tire and Superior Riders bike clubs will also meet, starting their rides in the park at 6 and at Cold Iron Brewing at 6:30, respectively.

However, Corcoran said that the festival begins in earnest on Thursday, July 14, with opening ceremonies at 4 p.m. at the Ironwood American Legion Post 5. He said there will be three musical acts under the big top from 4-10, with music DJed by Todd Haegar followed by a “polka fest” with Richie Yurkovich and the Polkaroity band and live music by Vanderhagen Ray. Corcoran said that the festival features a variety of music that will connect with people of all ages.

Festival Ironwood will also launch “the world’s largest duck pick” at 4:15 p.m. on July 14. This popular event features more than 5,000 rubber ducks, each with a unique number, in a kiddie pool. Corcoran said that festival goers of all ages can pay to catch one of the ducks and present them at one of the tents to redeem a prize corresponding to the number. He said that the prizes are donated by area businesses and include 24 bicycles. The duck pick will continue through the end of the festival.

Also on July 14, the festival’s full concessions will open. Corcoran said the festival features nonprofit vendors including the Rotary Club, the Ironwood American Legion, the Knights of Columbus, the Ironwood Area Youth Baseball and Softball Club, and H.O.P.E. Animal Shelter.

Friday, July 15, is Festival Ironwood’s “Kids’ Day.” Corcoran said there will be many family-friendly events for children, including the chance to ride a mechanical bull, run an obstacle course and a catch-and-release trout pond starting at 10 a.m. There will also be face and arm painting starting at 11, a trike and bike show organized by the Ironwood Public Safety Department at noon, and a kids wood chip scramble under the pavilion.

People will also have the chance to compete in some tournaments on July 15, including a cornhole tournament for ages 10 and older starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Depot Park. Corcoran said that the tournament will have two divisions — an amateur division and a more competitive “professional” division. A volleyball tournament will start at 9 a.m. on the next day.

Registration for the Festival Ironwood 2022 Run, Walk and Roll will start early at 7 a.m. on Saturday, July 16, under the big top. This event consists of a two-mile walk/run and a five-mile race, both starting on the corner of Lowell Street and McLeod Avenue at 8:30. The top two male and female finishers of each age group, the youngest and oldest participants, and others will receive awards under the big top immediately afterwards.

Another big attraction of the festival, the Old Depot Car Show, is scheduled for July 16. The show includes not only cars but motorcycles, vintage snowmobiles and vintage tractors. Registration and vehicle placement starts at 8 a.m. on July 16, trophies will be presented at 3 p.m. and the Cruise on Wheels through Ironwood begins at 6. Corcoran said that this show attracts people from many states and last year, an “unheard of” 122 cars were registered.

Also on July 16, there will be a pipe organ program at the Historic Ironwood Theatre at noon, a performance by Marty’s Goldenaires drum and bugle corps at 6:30 p.m. and live music by the band XTRA under the big top from 8 to midnight.

Throughout the festival, a bounce house will be open in the Depot Park, 50/50 raffle drawings will be held daily in the park at 10 p.m. on July 13-14 and 11 on July 15-16 and meals will be served under the big top.

Among the Sunday, July 17, events is the movie “Water Walk” at the Historic Ironwood Theatre at 6 p.m.

Corcoran said that outside of the duck pick, raffles and meals, the festival’s events are free.

 
 
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