The event kicks off Friday at the Al Quaal Recreation Area in Ishpeming with three junior options; a 5K for ages 14-19 at 4 p.m., 3K for ages 8-13 at 4:30 p.m. and a 1K for ages 7 and under at 5 p.m.

The remainder of the races take place Saturday. There is a virtual option for participants who feel more comfortable attending that way. The virtual is for 24K and 50K distances.

Volunteers are always needed and appreciated. Volunteer opportunities range from being on the trails, at the start and finish lines, at road crossings and in the Superior Dome.

This year there is a new grassroots volunteer opportunity from United Way of Marquette County called Yoopers United, which is mobile friendly and web based. Visit www.yoopersunited.com to sign up.

Blackrocks Brewery is the beer sponsor for the event, as its 51K IPA is the official beer of the Noquemanon.

Other major sponsors are Travel Marquette, InvestUP, Make it Marquette, Marquette Downtown Development Authority, Meijer and more.

Visit www.noquemanon.com for more information and to register.

The following streets will be closed in Marquette on Saturday from 3 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for the marathon: Hawley Street from Presque Isle Avenue to Lakeshore Boulevard, Wright Street from Presque Isle Avenue to Lakeshore Boulevard, Schneider Mill Court from River Park Circle to the end of Schneider Mill Court, and Powder Mill Road from Wright Street to the end of Powder Mill Road.

The detour route to access Lakeshore Boulevard from Hawley Street and Wright Street will be Presque Isle Avenue south to Fair Avenue, then Fair Avenue east to Lakeshore Boulevard.

The Nicolet Noquemanon Ski Marathon is part of the Noquemanon Trail Network.

For more information on the NTN, visit www.noquetrails.org

Taylor Johnson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. Her email address is tjohnson@miningjournal.net.