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
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
Lake Superior Helicopters
Ramada Inn, Hancock
Prices Vary
The American Society of Civil Engineers will dedicate the Portage Lake Bridge as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
The dedication will take place at Bridgeview Park in Houghton.
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
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.
Plein Air Painting at Povoo Park in Hancock
Open to everyone, bring your own supplies
Friday, June 17, 3-5 pm
Ticket Price Varies
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
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
Lake Superior Helicopters
Ramada Inn, Hancock
Prices Vary
Join us for our first Bridgefest Paddle Tour!
https://portagepaddlesports.com + BOOK NOW
$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
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
Petting Zoo
Face Painting
Balloon Artist
Carnival Food
Family Fun
Award Presentation at 1 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!
Wristbands $5 for 2 hours, $10 for day
Ticket Price Varies
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 by St. Ignatius Loyola Church
Two-time slots:
1 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.
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.
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
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
