Crowds gathered on Washington and Front streets in downtown Marquette in celebration of the 16th annual Blueberry Festival. The area was full of sidewalk sales, food vendors, music, games and kids activities from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Journal photos by Rachel Oakley)

MARQUETTE — The Marquette Downtown Development Authority is responsible for things as varied as maintenance to fun summer festivals.

“The DDA’s mission is to help increase the business in downtown, to help promote businesses, to make sure those businesses are thriving,” said Tara Laase-McKinney, events and promotions coordinator for the DDA. “So, one of the ways we do that is through events, but we also do that through just general promotion of downtown.”

That means putting out festive accents such as flowers and flags — making the downtown look “really good and welcoming” for visitors and local residents, she said.

The DDA is busy in the winter too.

“Our guys are out working diligently, clearing the sidewalks of snow, and salting and sanding those, making sure they’re in good shape for everybody,” Laase-McKinney said.

A dancer performs a solo during the showcase. Community members of all ages gathered to enjoy the 11th annual Blueberry Dance Festival Showcase Competition hosted by Kaufman Auditorium and Second Skin Shop. The showcase provides a unique opportunity for local dancers to learn from professional and master dancers who have ties to the area. “It gets you out of you’re comfort zone,” said director of the Blueberry Dance Festival Camilla Mingay. “You’re seeing something new and different that you’ve never done before or even taking a class from a different instructor, your’e learning different techniques. With the master classes they just push you to the next level.” The event featured contemporary ballet, improvisational dance, jazz, tap and more. “It was really cool seeing all the different levels and ages come together and do a dance together,” said Lauren Goodman who taught a master class. “There’s different teachers from all over so a lot of dancers get to learn things thye’ve never learned before.” (Journal photos by Trinity Carey)

However, it’s not too early to think about warm-weather events in downtown Marquette.

One is the 19th annual Blueberry Festival, which will be from 10 am. to 7 p.m. Sidewalk sales, food vendors, artists and other attractions will fill Washington and Front streets.

“We’ve started accepting applications for that from both businesses and from outside vendors,” Laase-McKinney said.

The festival’s popular poster contest also will take place again this year.

What will happen soon, though, is Restaurant Week, which will run March 1-8 and is open to any downtown restaurant.

June through September, local musicians are gathering on the third Thursday of each month to be a part of Music on Third Street. Nick Johnson, left, and Natalie Ray of the Northern Wylds played blues-based indie music outside of Togo's in 2017. (Journal photo by Rachel Oakley)

Laase-McKinney said lunch specials will be in the $10-15 range while dinners will be in the $20-30 range.

“We’re kind of expanding that price range a little bit just to make it a little easier for some restaurants to fit that into their pricing,” Laase-McKinney said. “That’s something we’re really looking forward to, and I know from a ton of people that they’re looking forward to that as well.”

The DDA is gearing up for its Music on Third concerts that will be on Third Street on the Third Thursday during June, July, August and September.

“I’ve heard from a few musicians already,” Laase-McKinney said.

Without going into detail, she said the DDA is working on a few potential late-summer activities as well.

“They’re going to be new and exciting,” Laase-McKinney said.

The Marquette Downtown Development Authority currently uses several sources of funding its purposes. These include tax increment financing and a 2 mill property tax on property within the district. The authority’s annual budget is approved by City Commission.