Bob Hendrickson, IOHT

ISHPEMING — Today, Saturday, the GINCC is hosting the Lake Bancroft Art & Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The fair will space vendors out a minimum of 30 feet for social distancing, close Euclid Street to one-way traffic and add extra spacing by utilizing the Cliffs Shaft Museum grounds adjacent to the park. In accordance with COVID-19 protocols please wear a mask, use hand-sanitizer and stay home if feeling sick.

Featured items from the crafters will be: crocheted and knitted items, handmade jewelry, Christmas wreaths and ornaments, custom face masks, home décor; homemade soaps, woven rugs, Finnish items, dish cloths and towel, along with much more.

The Cliffs Shaft Museum will be setting up an outdoor gift store to offer their unique museum merchandise and the U.P. Bookmoblie will be onsite giving away free books that have been disinfected with an approved cleanser.

White Bear Maple Products will be selling an array of maple syrup along with muffin and pancake mixes. Word has it they’ve been working on a maple flavored cotton candy that will be available pre-packaged, along with other goodies.

A highlight of the fair will be Croatian Chicken, that classic fair food everyone has been missing this summer. It will be offered for take-out only, so plan to make it your last stop of the day. This is the final offering of this tasty meal for the summer and the fist time back in Ishpeming this year.

Also today, St. Joseph’s Guild is holding a 2020 Fall Fest Fundraiser in the parking lot of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church located at 1889 Prairie Avenue, Ishpeming on the north side of town.

This outdoor event will replace their traditional bazaar held each autumn. The time will be from 11am to 2pm. They are also doing a can drive, so if you still have cans that need to be returned hand them over to a good cause to help out.

Along with outdoor markets, Wilderness Sports is having an outdoor Muck Boot Trunk Show a 2021 preview of the new Muck boots at their store on the corner of Main and Division Streets downtown Ishpeming. In addition, they will be having a sock and footwear sale where you are certain to find good deals for fall and winter boots. Note: Muck boots are not part of the sale.

So, make a day of it in Ishpeming and explore the West End of Marquette County.

The GINCC office is opened to the public. Our hours are 9am-5pm, Monday through Friday. We are at times out of office on Chamber business. Please call ahead to confirm we’ll be in office, 906-486-1111.

Editor’s note: Bob Hendrickson is the executive director of the GINCC. He currently resides in Negaunee with his wife, Laura, and daughter, Sierra. He enjoys mountain biking, skiing, fishing and hunting along with family time.