Alastar Dimitrie, coordinator, Marketing and Events, GINCC

After several stretches of unseasonably warm days in December, the Marquette County has been looking and feeling a lot wintrier in the New Year.

The ecological necessity of winter aside, this is a very good thing because snow-centric events are taking place in the West End for the rest of the month.

The first is the Fat-Ish, which takes place today, January 15, at Al Quaal Recreation Area. This event features ten and twenty mile fat bike races in addition to free use of the tube slide for “Everyone and Anyone.” There will be music and an MC on site.

There may also be a few food vendors contingent on availability.  Visit fat-ish.com to find out more. The Fat-Ish is brought to you by GO Get Outside, a nonprofit organization dedicated to getting more people recreating outdoors.

The 135th Annual Ski Jumping Tournament takes place on the evening of Tuesday, January 18. Hosted by Ishpeming Ski Club at the U.P. Nordic Ski Complex, the tournament is part of the Five Hills Tournament and a stop on the U.S. Cup.

There will be tailgating, bonfires and ski jumpers from all over the country soaring down historic Suicide Hill. Buttons are $15 in advance and $20 at the gate. Children 12 and under get in free.

Buttons are now available for purchase at the G.I.N.C.C. office in addition to the following outlets: Midway Rentals, Down Wind Sports, Blackrocks Brewery, Ore Dock Brewing Co., SuperOne Foods-Negaunee, Jims Jubilee Foods, Sports Rack Marquette, Wilderness Sports, Inc., Bucks Restaurant, Elaine’s Place, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum, Kassels Midway, Jasper Ridge Brewery, Midtown Bakery, Congress Pizzas, Cross Roads Shell/Mini-Mart.

Visit ishskiclub.com/annual-suicide-hill-ski-jump/ to find out more.

While this event already got its own article from us last week, no list of January events in the West End would be complete without mentioning he Noquemanon Ski Marathon, which takes place January 21-22 at Al Quaal. For more information visit noquemanon.com.

Heikki Lunta Winter Festival takes place Jan. 28-29 in Negaunee and is, in the words of the organizers, “a celebration of all things winter.” During this two-day event hosted by the Negaunee DDA, attendees can experience the lighting of the bonfire, the Irontown Rail Jam, activities at the UP Luge Club, snowshoe lantern tours, the Teal Lake Ice Fishing Tournament, Ishpeming Ski Club activities, a gourmet s’more bar and the Freeze yer Fanny Fatbike Race. For a detailed schedule of events and activities, visit the Negaunee DDA Facebook page: facebook.com/NegauneeDDA/.

As a final note, in light of the surging numbers of COVID-19 cases in Marquette County, G.I.N.C.C. would like to encourage the safe enjoyment of these outdoor events. While being outdoors appears to significantly reduce the risk of transmission, event organizers have been mindful of current trends and modified certain activities accordingly.

As always, we urge everyone to follow the advice of healthcare professionals and help protect the most vulnerable populations among us.

Editor’s note: Alastar Dimitrie is Marketing & Events coordinator for the Greater Ishpeming-Negaunee Area Chamber of Commerce.