Celebrate the U.P.! with the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition March 10-11; kickoff event March 4 with Michael Waite

The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC) will hold their annual Celebrate the U.P.! event Friday and Saturday, March 10 and 11, in Marquette and Ishpeming and on Facebook Live. All events are free and open to all.

A kickoff event will be held from Noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 4, at Fancy Free, a curated resale store nourishing the creative spirit in Marquette at 131 E. Michigan St.

Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Michael Waite will be making a special appearance at the Fancy Free event. A melding of earthy grace and campfire poeticism, Michael Waite weaves together a combination of folk, jazz, Americana, blues, and classic singer/songwriter elements. His songs explore the geography and nuances of everyday life while keeping a keen eye on the pursuit of happiness and wholeness.

Inset photo: Michael Waite. (Photo courtesy UPEC)

If you can attend in person, take 20 percent off everything during the event, which will also feature a popup flower shop and bakery! If you can't get to Marquette you can tune in to the livestream at facebook.com/upenvironment/live 

Michael Waite will also perform at the Celebrate the UP! afterparty, which starts at the Landmark Sky Room at 5 p.m. ET March 11. He’ll be playing music from his new album, "We’ve Always Been at Home."

Next weekend promises both in-person and livestream events, including music, comedy, tours of a community farm, a snow biking demonstration -- and many presentations on environmental topics from climate change and climate action to Native American issues, fisheries, mining challenges, community forest, wilderness, community investment and more.

Jenn Hill, 109th District State Representative, will deliver the Keynote Address, "Under New Management: What Can We Expect from Lansing," from 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. on Saturday, March 11, in the Peter White Library, 217 N. Front Street, Marquette. This and other presentations in the library will be livestreamed at facebook.com/upenvironment/live. All other events will be recorded and posted. UPDATE: You should be able to tune in to Facebook without signing in.

UPDATED: For the full schedule of events on March 10 and 11, UPDATES, and locations visit https://www.upenvironment.org/2023-celebrate-the-up.