Festival Schedule

Plan out your Bridgefest weekend! There are so many great events to attend over this four-day festival. Choose a few or go to all! 

Please note that all times and events are tentative and are subject to change.

Have questions? Contact us

Jun
16
Thu
2022
Keweenaw Chevrolet | BUICK | GMC Off-Site Sale @ Copper Country Mall Parking Lot
Jun 16 @ 8:00 am – Jun 17 @ 6:00 pm
Helicopter Rides @ Ramada Inn
Jun 16 @ 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Lake Superior Helicopters
Ramada Inn, Hancock
Prices Vary

Jun
17
Fri
2022
Chainsaw Carving Show @ Ray Kestner Waterfront Park
Jun 17 – Jun 18 all-day

Blaine’s Chainsaw Carvings will be demonstrating and featuring how a carving is made. Bids on carvings will be made available.

Friday, June 17th: 3PM – Dusk

Saturday, June 18th: Noon- Dusk

 

Helicopter Rides @ Ramada Inn
Jun 17 all-day

Lake Superior Helicopters
Ramada Inn, Hancock
Prices Vary

Keweenaw Chevrolet | BUICK | GMC Off-Site Sale @ Copper Country Mall Parking Lot
Jun 17 @ 8:00 am – Jun 18 @ 6:00 pm
Portage Lake Lift Bridge Dedication @ Bridgeview Park, Houghton
Jun 17 @ 10:00 am

The American Society of Civil Engineers will dedicate the Portage Lake Bridge as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

The ceremony is scheduled for 10 am on June 17th, and will be a perfect way to kick off the long-awaited return of Bridgefest. Both City of Hancock and the City of Houghton will receive a plaque to commemorate the bridge’s completion in late 1959, 63 years ago.
The Lift Bridge was recognized back in June of 2019. When the ASCA – Michigan Chapter presented the award for the bridge at their annual conference. The bridge’s MDOT Operation Manager, Ken Filpus, accepted the award then. Portage Lake Lift Bridge was the first to use an intermediate lift span. The lift bridge’s construction implemented many construction advancements made during its time. Many of which are still used today, such as the process of bridge sliding.

The dedication will take place at Bridgeview Park in Houghton.

Bridgefest Engineering Camp @ Porvoo Park Pavilion
Jun 17 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Bridgefest Engineering Camp

Design and build your own bridge with the help of the Michigan Tech Summer Youth Program Counselors!

Portage Lake Lift Bridge Scale Replica Constructed of Legos by Michigan Tech Student, Tucker Neilsen.

Free to ALL participants – supplies provided!

Sponsored by City of Hancock and OHM Advisors

 

 

Hot Diggity Dog Day!!! @ Porvoo Park Pavilion
Jun 17 @ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Vollwerth’s hot dogs, chips, and pop are available for purchase between 11 AM – 2 PM. During the kids’ engineering camp, proceeds go to the Hancock Dog Park

Doggie Costume Contest, featuring LBFE Friends as judges, begins at 2 PM. Pre-registration is required, $5 to enter. Please call Aila at LBFE at 906-482-6944 to register your well-behaved pup. Space is limited. Prizes for all dog participants!

Event sponsored by Hancock Rotary, Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly, and Vollwerth’s!

Hot Diggity Dog Final 06.17.22

Click on the link above for more event details.

Food, Beverages and Music @ Houghton Waterfront
Jun 17 @ 3:00 pm – Jun 18 @ 12:00 am
Plein Air Painting @ Porvoo Park, Hancock
Jun 17 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Plein Air Painting at Povoo Park in Hancock

Open to everyone, bring your own supplies

Friday, June 17, 3-5 pm

Respawn Laser Tag @ Ray Kestner Waterfront Park
Jun 17 @ 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Ticket Price Varies

Vendors on the Waterfront @ Houghton Waterfront
Jun 17 @ 3:00 pm – 11:30 pm
Bridge Community Exhibition Reception @ Copper Country Community Arts Center
Jun 17 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

The Bridge community exhibition was inspired by the Portage Lake Lift Bridge

Copper Country Community Arts Center’s Kerredge Gallery 126 Quincy Street in Hancock

Reception: Friday, June 17, 5:30-7 pm

Parade Line-Up
Jun 17 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Thatcher Markham Memorial Run
Jun 17 @ 7:00 pm
Bridgefest Parade
Jun 17 @ 7:05 pm
Music Headliner – Chad Borgen and the Collective
Jun 17 @ 9:00 pm
Jun
18
Sat
2022
Chainsaw Carving Show @ Ray Kestner Waterfront Park
Jun 18 – Jun 19 all-day

Blaine’s Chainsaw Carvings will be demonstrating and featuring how a carving is made. Bids on carvings will be made available.

Friday, June 17th: 3PM – Dusk

Saturday, June 18th: Noon- Dusk

 

Helicopter Rides @ Ramada Inn
Jun 18 all-day

Lake Superior Helicopters
Ramada Inn, Hancock
Prices Vary

Keweenaw Chevrolet | BUICK | GMC Off-Site Sale @ Copper Country Mall Parking Lot
Jun 18 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Bridgefest Paddle Tour @ Portage Paddle Sports
Jun 18 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am

Join us for our first Bridgefest Paddle Tour!

Register Online:
https://portagepaddlesports.com + BOOK NOW
$5 10′ Paddle Boards
$5 11′ Paddle Boards
$5 12′ Paddle Boards
$5 Single Person Kayaks
$10 Tandem Kayaks Sits 2 riders
$10 Family Kayak Sits up to 4 riders
$15 Pedal Kayaks
Prices for Saturday, June 18th, 2022 @ 9-10:30 AM ONLY

 

Tennis Tournament @ Terrace Park, East Hancock Tennis Court
Jun 18 @ 9:00 am

Tennis Tournament | Doubles Format

Time: 9 am

Date: June 18, 2022

Location: Terrace Park, East Hancock Tennis Court

Contact: 906-482-2422 for more information and to register

Bridgefest Touch-A-Truck @ Keweenaw Chevrolet | BUICK | GMC
Jun 18 @ 9:30 am – 1:30 pm
Join us during Bridgefest weekend for some FREE family fun!
Touch-A-Truck is a family-friendly event designed to allow children to explore, climb, and TOUCH vehicles of all shapes and sizes. There will be fun for everyone in the family.
This will be taking place in the Keweenaw Chevrolet | BUICK | GMC parking lot in Houghton on Saturday, June 18th from 9:30 am – 1:30 pm.
All entries MUST be parked between 8:30 am – 9:15 am or AFTER the parade on Friday night, in designated areas.
If you are interested in being involved and bringing a vehicle, please reach out to the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce at info@keweenaw.org or 906-482-5240.
Pony Rides
Petting Zoo
Face Painting
Balloon Artist
Carnival Food
Family Fun
Keweenaw Classic Car Show @ Houghton County Fairgrounds
Jun 18 @ 9:30 am – 1:30 pm
Join us during Bridgefest weekend for the Keweenaw Classic Car Show
Location – Houghton County Fairgrounds, Hancock
Saturday, June 18th at 9:30 am – 1:30 pm.
Registration from 8:30 am to 9:15 am
Award Presentation at 1 pm
Concessions and LIVE MUSIC on-site!
Going Up Since 1959: History of the Portage Crossing and Lift Bridge Construction @ Finnish American Heritage Museum
Jun 18 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Join us on Saturday, June 18 at the Martha Wiljanen Community Hall in the Finnish American Heritage Museum (435 Quincy St, Hancock, MI 49930) for presentations about the history and significance of the Portage Lake Bridge!

At 10:00am, Michael Prast and Emma Beachy, Michigan Tech alumni and the co-authors of the report that nominated the Portage Lake Bridge for its Historic Landmark Award, will present on what made this bridge worthy of its designation as an ASCE National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. This will include a brief history of the Portage Lake crossing, the process it took to get the award, and a look at the features that make this bridge one-of-a-kind.

At 11:00am, Dr. Kris Mattila from the Michigan Tech Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering will discuss how the bridge was built and show unique photographs from throughout the multi-year construction of the bridge.

Both presentations will be followed by time for questions. Feel free to come for one or both presentations!

Vendors on the Waterfront
Jun 18 @ 10:00 am – Jun 19 @ 12:00 am
Bounce House, Obstacle Course, Kids Games @ Ray Kestner Waterfront Park
Jun 18 @ 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Wristbands $5 for 2 hours, $10 for day

Food, Beverages, and Music @ Ray Kestner Waterfront Park
Jun 18 @ 12:00 pm – Jun 19 @ 12:00 am
Respawn Laser Tag @ Ray Kestner Waterfront Park
Jun 18 @ 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Ticket Price Varies

Cribbage Tournament @ Armando's/Doghouse
Jun 18 @ 1:00 pm

Traditional doubles format

Must PRE-REGISTER – Call Bob at 906-482-2422 for questions or to register.

$20 entry fee per team

Rubber Ducky Race
Jun 18 @ 1:00 pm

Rubber Ducky Race by St. Ignatius Loyola Church

Two-time slots:

1 PM & 2:30 PM

 

 

Bridgefest Plum Ski-ters Water Ski Show @ Waterfront
Jun 18 @ 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Come watch the Plum Ski-ters perform at Bridgefest!

The event will take place on the canal! Grab a seat in Houghton or Hancock to view the show.

 

Bridgefest Plum Ski-ters Water Ski Show @ Waterfront
Jun 18 @ 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Come watch the Plum Ski-ters perform at Bridgefest!

The event will take place on the canal! Grab a seat in Houghton or Hancock to view the show.

Music – Jan Arnold
Jun 18 @ 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Music Headliner – Rewind
Jun 18 @ 9:00 pm – Jun 19 @ 12:00 am
Bridgefest Lighted Boat Parade
Jun 18 @ 9:15 pm
A “Bridgefest” lighted boat parade is also being organized on the Portage Canal. The Parade is being sponsored by Keweenaw Boat Tours.
PRIZES ON 1st, 2nd, & 3rd BEST DECORATED BOAT, donated by the Keweenaw Convention Visitors Bureau.
Boats are encouraged to line up at the Super 8 dock in Houghton no later than 9:30 PM, with the parade starting at 9:45 PM going West.
Please no watercraft that requires the bridge to be lifted.

Please REGISTER your boat entry with Keweenaw Boat Tours, Jason Swain at 906.281.1556

 

Sponsored by Keweenaw Boat Tours
Jon Davis Memorial Fireworks
Jun 18 @ 10:35 pm

Jon Davis Memorial Fireworks
Portage Lake Waterway
(West of the Lift Bridge)
Accompanying music on 97.7 FM WOLV radio

 

Fireworks approx. 10:35 PM

Jun
19
Sun
2022
Father’s Day Ice Cream Special
Jun 19 all-day

$1 OFF ICE CREAM
Portage Paddle Sports
Houghton Waterfront

Helicopter Rides @ Ramada Inn
Jun 19 all-day

Lake Superior Helicopters
Ramada Inn, Hancock
Operating time to vary on Sunday
Prices Vary