It’s Oktoberfest in the West End! Join us, the Greater Ishpeming-Negaunee Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, October 26th at UP Brewing Company in Negaunee for an relaxing evening of food, fun, awards and prizes.

In 2011 the GINCC began hosting an annual gala to recognize the great people, businesses, and organizations of this community. Each year we ask the public for nominations in the categories of: Business of the Year, Business Person of the Year, Organization of the Year, and Volunteer of the Year. From those nominations, our board reviews the nominations and votes on whom they feel deserve the award. From there, we get to celebrate the recipients of the awards at the gala.

The gala also doubles as our largest fundraiser of the year. As a non-profit organization we use these funds to follow through on our chamber mission. That mission is to assist the locally owned small businesses and community organizations by providing them with resources and information to help them develop and make our area thrive.

We are excited for this year’s event that has been themed Oktoberfest. Personally I’m shopping for a fun dirndl to wear for the evening. Don’t worry, dress code is casual. I just tend to go all out when it comes to dressing for the theme.

Midtown Bakery is working with other local restaurants and business to keep with the theme too. We are hoping to have Dah Pretzel Guys amazing homemade pretzels, brat’s from Glenn’s Smoke House, and Bierock Pasty sliders from Iron Town Pasties included on our smorgasbord. UP Brewing Company will have a selection of locally brewed beverages too.

If I haven’t enticed you with the food just wait, you have opportunities to win some great prizes too! Throughout the night we will have basket raffles, a pretzel raffle, 50/50 drawing, and even a silent auction. Items up for auction include a 4 foot handmade wood American flag donated by Curt Welters of Da Woodshop and an autographed 2021 football donated by the Green Bay Packers. We have prizes from Westwood High School, the University of Michigan, Northern Michigan University, Meyer Yamaha, Stampede and many other great local business.

There’s still time to donate. Every little bit helps and the money raised goes right back into supporting our community. Feel free to contact us at ginccmarketing@gmail.com or by calling (906) 486-1111 if you are interested in donating or attending our gala.

Editors note: Samantha Lajeunesse is the Marketting and Events Coordinator at the Greater Ishpeming-Negaunee Chamber of Commerce. She is originally from Houghton, and spent the last seven years helping to manage a 9-hole golf course in Minnesota. She currently calls Marquette County home.