Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
The Gogebic Range Band performs under the tent in Depot Park at Festival Ironwood on Saturday.
Crafter Cassie Duncan knits between serving customers at the craft fair at Festival Ironwood in Depot Park Saturday.
IRONWOOD — The 21st annual Festival Ironwood drew large crowds from Wednesday through Sunday.
An appreciative crowd enjoyed the Lowell Street Band Saturday evening, punctuating the end of the festival. The overflow of listeners spilled out of the tent in Depot Park onto, of all things, Lowell Street, which was blocked off for the event.
Different types of music were offered for festival-goers to enjoy, from polka to bluegrass, to country, and rock and roll.
On Saturday, there were twice as many craft vendors as last year, said Mary Hampston, event volunteer. Sales were brisk, said crafter Cassie Duncan.
Children enjoyed face-painting, a clown, a bounce house, and the “world's largest duck pick,” which gave away 12 bicycles. There were also pony rides, a petting zoo, soap box races and a wood chip scramble.
One of the new things this year was a volleyball tournament, making use of the new courts at the Depot Park.
On Saturday, Aspirus Grand View sponsored a booth for people to make their own first aid kits, and they gave away more than 700 before running out of supplies.
Saturday morning featured a walk, run and roll for adults and children, as well as historic walking tours and animals from the HOPE Animal Shelter.
Volunteers put in hundreds of hours to make the yearly event successful, said organizer Keith Johnson.
On Thursday evening, Chris Hillier was welcomed to the festival after having hiked 924 miles from Detroit.
