One of the Upper Peninsula’s signature events takes place this weekend with the 25th edition of the Noquemanon Ski Marathon to be held today and Saturday.

A plethora of races take place across Marquette County with participants coming not just from the U.P. but from around the country.

Saturday’s events include 50K Classic, 3K and 1K Adaptive Ski, 12K Classic, 50K Freestyle, 24K Classic, 24K Freestyle and the 15 Mile Snowshoe Wave.

The Superior Dome, where most of the races finish, will open at 6 a.m. Saturday. An hour later, busing to the start line will commence. By 8:10 a.m. the first event will begin at the Al Quaal Recreation Area in Ishpeming.

Today’s junior races including the 5K Classic, 3K Classic and 1K Classic will begin at 4 p.m. at Al Quaal.

Drivers should note that some roads in Marquette will be closed and detoured from early Saturday morning until early evening to assure race safety.

For those unaware, The Noquemanon Ski Marathon is an event of the Noquemanon Trail Network — a non profit organization. The race website states: “The mission of the ‘NTN’ is to develop and maintain an interconnected, year-round, non-motorized trail network in the central Upper Peninsula of Michigan. To learn more about the NTN, and to become a member and trail supporter, visit noquetrails.org.”

We welcome the races and spectators who are here for the excitement of this event. We urge local residents to show the usual warm greetings Yoopers are known for. Good luck, racers.

A huge thank you goes to the organizers who work to make this event such a smashing success year after year. Your event is outstanding and done with class. Kudos.

For more information, visit www.noquemanon.com.