Local communities throughout the area are hosting Labor Day events and celebrations this holiday weekend. The festivities include:

ESCANABA

The celebration in Escanaba begins at noon Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2, with the parade lining up at the Escanaba Marketplace at 11 a.m. and going down Ludington Street before ending at the Municipal Dock.

Festivities turn to the Escanaba Municipal Dock at 1 p.m. for a day full of activities. The event is free and open to the public.

There will be a petting zoo, obstacle course and bounce house for children.

For those of age, there will be a Bloody Mary bar and a beer tent. Throughout the day, there will be live musical performances by Grand Design starting at 1 p.m., Wingin It starting at 3 p.m., and We Ain’t Saints starting at 5 p.m. The golf ball drop is at 6:30 p.m. All proceeds go to the Delta County Trades & Labor Charity/Scholarship Fund.

U.P. STEAM & GAS ENGINE ASSOCIATION SHOW

Beginning Friday, Aug. 30, The U.P. Steam and Gas Engine Association 49th Annual Show will be held at the antique village in the U.P. State Fairgrounds in Escanaba Friday, Aug. 30 through Monday, Sept. 2. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday. The show features John Deere Quality Farm Equipment.

Admission is $6 for the day and $10 for the weekend. Kids under 12 get in for free. In addition to the show, guests are encouraged to check out other sites such as the Agricultural Museum, the Antique Village, the Antique Autos Show and the indoor/outdoor flea market. There is a complimentary tractor trolley during show hours.

There is also a finite amount of golf carts available to rent. Pets are allowed but must be supervised at all times. Animals out on the show grounds must be on a 6-foot leash and are not permitted into food service areas. During show hours, alcohol and cannabis are not allowed in the exhibition areas.

ROCK

The Rock Lions Club will be hosting its 79th Annual Labor Day Celebration on Saturday, Aug. 31. There will be a parade starting at 11 a.m. For parade information, call Becca at 906-356-9040.

There are plenty of activities to choose from including a bounce house, kids tractor pulls, cowpie bingo and a bean bag tournament.

There is also a flea market should you want to go treasure hunting. Guests can even get raffle tickets for a chance to win an LS Tractor Model MT235E.

Food and beverages are available as well. No carry-ins are allowed. Attendees also get to listen to live music performed by The Pink Violin Band.

For more information, find the Rock Lions Club on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rocklionsclub

CEDAR RIVER

The Cedar River Bridge Walk takes place the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend – Aug. 31. New to this year’s BridgeWalk is the Tommy Bolen Memorial Joke Contest, awarding Halfway Bar & Grill gift certificates of $50 for 1st place, $30 for 2nd place, and $20 for 3rd place.

Thomas Henry Bolen will posthumously be honored as this year’s Cedar River BridgeWalk King.

Bolen grew up on a family farm north of Cedar River and later became a logger in the area for decades. He also had a stent as a commercial fisherman out of the Milwaukee River. He was known unofficially as ‘Cedar River’s Mayor”.

The Cedar River Bridge Walk festivities begin around 10 a.m. CDT with music by Josh and Joey Friesland at the Township Hall adjacent to the Cedar River Harbor.

Opening ceremonies commence at 10:45 a.m. with an address from Sheriff Mike Holmes at the township hall.

The walk will take place at 11 a.m., traversing over the Cedar River to the Halfway Bar & Grill where Alamo Jack is performing in the backyard. Also starting at 11 a.m. is Chicken-Sh*t-Bingo.

There are also 50/50 raffles throughout the day.

Come 1:30 p.m., at the music stage, Bolen will be honored with the memorial joke contest. Following the contest, guests will hear music by Lady Cannon at 2 p.m.

The Cedar River BridgeWalk2024 is a fundraiser for the Cedarville Township Volunteer Fire Department, Cedar River Chapel, and Sportsmen With Heart catered/sponsored by the Halfway Bar & Grill.

NAHMA

The Nahma Labor Day Celebration is held at the Nahma Township Park on Sunday, Sept. 1. Festivities begin with a parade at 11 a.m. Participants should line up at the golf course for the parade.

Activities include a car show, craft tables, raffles, kids games, a bounce house, kids escape room, log sawing and nail pounding contests, a cake walk, a horseshoe contest, a corn hole contest, face painting and more. Live music starts at 11:30 a.m., with performances by Three Wheel Drive followed by Stonewall. Food, beer and refreshments will be available.

MANISTIQUE

Manistique is celebrating Labor Day on Friday and Saturday with its cruise and street party as well as the car show. The events are hosted by Team Chevrolet.

The cruise starts at 7 p.m. on Friday with participants lining up at 6:30 p.m. at the Lakeshore BP. After the cruise, join the crowd back downtown for live music performed by Blacklist and dancing in the street.

The car show starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday and lasts until 4 p.m.

New this year is a bike auction organized by Manistique Public Safety from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Guests will be treated to Beats by Pete and Elks Chicken BBQ.

There will also be a maker’s market, bounce house, 50/50 raffles, a car blow up and much more.

Returning this year: Rhino Dyno. This is an opportunity to test your car’s performance on a state-of-the-art Dyno. The cost of the Dyno is $50 for two pulls. Unlimited pulls cost is $100. The car must go to the back of the line after the initial two pulls if unlimited pulls are purchased.