July Social Event - Kayaking
Join us on Thursday, July 16, for an evening of kayaking and community at Misery Bay!
We’ll meet at the beach around 6:00 PM and head out on the water together.
Please bring your own kayak if you have one. Need a kayak? Reach out to us through DM, email us at hello@circleupkeweenaw.org, or post in the Slack channel if you’re a member; we may be able to help connect you with one.
Not into kayaking? Feel free to come hang out on the beach, enjoy the evening, and spend time with great people.
Not a Circle UP member? Not a problem. Our events are open to everyone, so if you’ve been thinking about checking us out, we’d love to have you join us.
This event is free to attend.
We hope to see you there!
Canal Run Volunteering
Join Circle UP for a volunteering opportunity with Canal Run! From 8:30 - 10:00am on Saturday, July 18th, Circle UP will staff a water station in Hancock by the American Legion and provide water to runners. Visit the Circle UP Slack for more information and to RSVP!
July Social Event - Yooperlite Hunting & Bonfire
July 11 @ 8 pm
Agate Beach in Toivola
Come join us for a fun evening of roasting marshmallows, watching the sunset, then heading out into the darkness to find those glowing rocks!
You can bring your own blacklight (365 nm recommended) or use one of the extras we'll have to share. Hope to see you there
Not a Circle UP member? Not a problem. Our events are open to everyone, so if you’ve been thinking about checking us out, we’d love to have you join us.
This event is free to attend.
We hope to see you there!
July Board Meeting
Circle UP’s July board meeting will take place on Monday, July 6th at 6:30pm at TBA. Board meetings are open to all Circle UP members!
Color Run Planning Meeting
Help Circle UP plan Color Run! Our next planning meeting will be Tuesday, June 30th at 6:00pm at KBC, where we’ll focus on soliciting sponsorships and a recap of last year’s event.
Pedal the Portage
Join us as we pedal along the canal in the Keweenaw Pedal Trolley! This is a BYOB (and snacks) event.
Meet near the Library in Houghton at 2pm on June 28th. The ride lasts approximately 1.5 hours. Cost is $25 per person.
RSVP is required, limit seats available.*
Meet up at Small Craft afterward for a post pedal hangout!
*if enough interest, a second trolley can be reserved
Color Run Planning Meeting
Join us for the first Color Run Committee meeting of the year! This family-friendly 5k event is the main fundraiser that funds Circle Up.
This event is all hands on deck, there is a long list of action items that need to be addressed right away from registration to advertising to sponsorships and much more! We encourage you to join and help make this a memorable event.
Location and time TBD
Circle UP Kickoff
Join us as we celebrate an exciting new chapter!
After years of growth, Keweenaw Young Professionals is officially becoming Circle UP, a name and identity that better reflects who we have become and the connections we strive to create throughout the Keweenaw.
This kickoff celebration will feature:
✨ The official switch into our new name and logo
✨ A recap of the past year
✨ Recognition of outgoing board members
✨ Welcoming new board members
✨ Food, music, prizes, swag, and interactive activities
This will be an open house style event, so feel free to stop by, mingle, and celebrate with us throughout the evening! We will have a short presentation at 4 PM.
Whether you’ve been involved for years, are interested in learning more, or simply want to connect with others in the community, we’d love to have you there as we celebrate this next chapter together!
For more information, please contact us at hello@circleupkeweenaw.org
Snowshoeing with KYP
Join KYP for a group snowshoeing event at the Swedetown Ski Trails on Saturday, February 21st!
We will meet at the trails (56641 Osceola Rd, Calumet, MI 49913) at 2:00pm. All skill levels are welcome! The trails are groomed, no pass is required for entry, and there is plenty of parking onsite.
Please bring your own snowshoes. If you need to rent any, there are two great options:
Ice Skating with KYP
Join KYP for a ice skating at the Geroge Gipp Arena in Laurium on Sunday, January 25th!
We will meet at the arena (200 Isle Royale St, Laurium, MI 49913) at 5:00pm. Skate rentals are available and all skill levels are encouraged!
Color Run
Color Run is back, presented this year by Keweenaw Young Professionals & Visit Keweenaw! The annual community fun run/walk will take place on Saturday, October 4th, 2025 at the Huron Street Waterfront Park (Houghton Downtown Waterfront Pier). The race will begin at 9:00am and continue until 11:30am.
For more information, tickets, and volunteering opportunities, please visit our Eventbrite page.
September Social Meeting: Hiking Hungarian & Small Craft
Join us for our September social event! We’ll meet at Hungarian Falls for a relaxed hike at 1:00pm, then we’ll move over to Small Craft afterward for some drinks and lawn games. Come out and enjoy the last bits of summer!
September Board Meeting
Join us for our September board meeting! We will be meeting at the Portage Lake District Library Trailside Meeting Room at 5:30pm.
This meeting is open to all members.
August Social Event: Trivia at Small Craft
Join us for trivia at Small Craft on Wednesday, August 27th at 6:30pm! Teams must be between 2-6 people. Come test your knowledge alongside your fellow KYP members!
Beautification & Brews
Join us for a social event on August 25th at 5:30pm! We will meet at Copper Range Depot and clean up the city park next door. Afterward, we will move over to the Houghton Downtown Waterfront Pier for lawn games and drinks. We hope to see you there!
New Board Kick-Off Party
Join us to celebrate summer with a grill-out, potluck, and bonfire by Lake Superior at Calumet Waterworks! We’ll supply meat for grilling’ and s’mores for chillin’. BYOB and bring a dish to share!
Color Run Planning Meeting
Color Run is the biggest fundraiser for KYP, and we need your help planning it! If you’re interested in helping in any way, please meet us at the KBC at 5:30pm on Tuesday, May 20th for our first planning meeting, along with pizza and beer!
Adopt-A-Highway Clean Up
Help KYP with the annual clean up of our section of highway M-26! Meet at the Mosquito Inn at 2:00pm to carpool just a few miles south to our highway section. After clean up, we’ll go back to the Mosquito for appetizers and a drink!
Keweenaw Color Run 2024
Save the Date for the Annual Keweenaw Color Run 2024 presented by Keweenaw Young Professionals!
Calling all, families, students, teammates, and office teams! Mark your calendars for the Keweenaw Color Run:
Saturday, October 5th, 2024 | Houghton Waterfront Pier | 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
The Keweenaw Color Run has plenty of fun volunteer opportunities the morning of the race. View the time slots and sign up on Give Pulse
This fun, untimed walk/run is the perfect way to celebrate fall and get active with friends and family. Get ready to be doused in vibrant colors throughout the course, and don’t forget to add your Keweenaw Color Run T-Shirt!
SPONSORS: Businesses looking to get involved? View our sponsorship opportunities to run a color station and more! Contact us at hello@keweenawyp.com for more information.
PARKING: The parking lot between the Lakeshore Center and UP Kids will be CLOSED for Fall Fest and it will not be available for Color Run parking. Parking is available throughout Downtown Houghton, the parking lot locations are shown on informational kiosks and wayfinding maps throughout downtown. Please obey all posted signage. For more information visit the City of Houghton Parking.
Keweenaw Color Run 5k Route. PLEASE NOTE: The arrows shown on this map are from last year. The 2024 route will be the exact same but in REVERSE DIRECTION.
Keweenaw Color Run Accessible Route. PLEASE NOTE: The arrows shown on this map are from last year. The 2024 route will be the exact same but in REVERSE DIRECTION.
The Keweenaw Color Run culminates at the lively Fall Fest 2024 at the Houghton Waterfront Pier. Enjoy delicious food from vendors, lively music, festive fall activities, and of course, plenty of pumpkins! Fall Fest 2024 is presented by the City of Houghton, Visit Keweenaw, and The Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce.
Saturday, October 5th, 2024 | Houghton Waterfront Pier | 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Calling all Plaid-tastic Patrons!
The night before the Keweenaw Color Run, help make a world record at the Keweenaw Plaidurday Celebration on Friday, October 4th at 12:30 p.m. at the Houghton High School Football Field. Grab your coziest flannel shirt or put on your plaid chook because the Keweenaw Plaidurday goal is to break the 2023 attendance record - about 1,745 people!
Friday, October 4th, 2024 | Houghton High School Football Field | 12:30 p.m.
Head to Brew Street 2024 on Plaidurday for food, music, and beer on the Houghton Waterfront Pier! All ages are welcome, but adult beverage area is 21+. Brew Street is presented by Visit Keweenaw, the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce, the City of Houghton, and the Carnegie Museum.
Friday, October 4th, 2024 | Houghton Waterfront Pier | 5-10 p.m.
Get ready for a weekend filled with color, fun, and fall festivities! Enjoy the breathtaking fall colors of the Keweenaw Peninsula as you run or walk through the scenic course.
We can't wait to see you there!
Free Pizza, Drinks, and Keweenaw Color Run Planning Party
Looking to get involved in a fun and rewarding community event? We're seeking people to help plan this year's Keweenaw Color Run!
Benefits of joining the planning committee:
Free pizza: Enjoy a meal on us while you contribute to the community.
Gain valuable experience: Learn about event planning and organization.
Make a difference: Help create a memorable experience for participants.
No experience necessary! If you have never helped plan the Keweenaw Color Run (or any event), no problem! We have a few years under our belt planning the Keweenaw Color Run and it gets easier with more helping hands!
To get involved, please contact hello@keweenawyp or simply show up at Gino’s on Aug 28th at 6 p.m.!
Wednesday, August 28, 2024 | Gino’s in Hancock | 6:00 p.m.
Let's make this year's Keweenaw Color Run the best one yet!
Pasty Fest Volunteer
KYP will be volunteering to help with the annual Pasty Fest held with Main Street Calumet! Stay tuned for details and join the #pasty-fest Slack channel
KYP Canal Run Volunteer
KYP is serving up water and gatorade to racers as they go by! We look forward to bringing the energy to cheer on runners!
You can find us at the Water Stop across from American Legion - 12 Mile
Note: if you plan to join this day, a waiver must be signed, and you'll be entered into a raffle with your signup! Please sign-up here: https://forms.gle/6wjKoDWUsH6QNzJC6
Roller Derby Volunteer
KYP is volunteering for a bout with Keweenaw Roller Derby on June 22nd vs. Grand Raggity.
Volunteers will arrive by 4:00 p.m. and stay through the end of the bout (7:35 p.m. ish).
There are several areas where volunteers are placed, ticket sales, security, merch sales, beer sales, NSO positions. They will assign us where help is most needed!
There are a total of 16 available volunteer spots, we'd like to give them a total volunteer headcount so they can plan accordingly, please sign-up here: https://forms.gle/LuHWxBAr4b2YMQw58
Summer Solstice Party
Join KYP and the Keweenaw Land Trust for a community event to celebrate the sun setting on the longest day of the year!
KYP Goes to Keweenaw Pridefest
Keweenaw Pridefest is returning for a second year to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride in the Keweenaw! This year, our theme is Here and Queer.
We invite you to join us for live music from Mr. Cesar, Rat Bath, Deep Fried Butterfly, and Bees! Bees! Bees! Bees! Bees!, lawn games, face painting, and community tabling. A limited amount of refreshments will be available for no cost, along with food for purchase from Munchee Machine, 7 Wonders, and other food trucks.
Learn more about Keweenaw Pridefest HERE
KYP 2024/25 Board Kick-off Party
Who: All are welcome, please RSVP
Where: Miscowaubik Club
When: May 22, 2024 7:00-9:00PM
Can you believe KYP is turning 11 this year? Let's celebrate at the Miscowaubik Club, the historic members-only social club in Calumet!
The board kick-off celebrates the past year and looks ahead to the future by announcing our new board members!
This event is open to KYP members, friends, family, next-door neighbors, your eye doctor, barista, gym buddy, etc. We just ask that you RSVP so we order an appropriate amount of food!
RSVP here https://forms.gle/Zn97vjhDbq8bWzA26 or send an email at hello@keweenawyp.com to let us know you’re comin’!
Learn more about what KYP can do for you, and share with us what you would like KYP to offer in 2023.
Membership is FREE and we'd be happy to have you at future shindigs https://www.keweenawyp.com/membership
KYP Adopt-a-Highway Clean-up
Join the KYP as we help clean up the Keweenaw with MDOT on our Adopt-A-Highway section of M-26
KYP Goes to Mom Prom Keweenaw 2024
Join us for an evening of fun, dancing and raising funds for adoptive families in Houghton and Keweenaw Counties!
Spring Clean-up Volunteer
We’re partnering with the Houghton Beautification Committee to help with a Spring Clean-up in the city! Join the Slack channel #gardengnomes for more info or contact KYP Member Katelyn Preston katelynwaara@gmail.com
KYP Monthly Meet-Up
Have you thought about getting involved with Keweenaw Young Professionals but weren't sure how? Get your questions answered at this fun and free event, meet current KYP members, and have a pint or a snack!
Each month we vote on a new location for our monthly meeting, making this our "Year-Long Bar Crawl."
Thursday, April 11th 6:00 p.m. at WolvenWood in Hancock
Tuesday, May 7th 6:00 p.m. Location TBD
Keweenaw Sparkplug Awards
The Keweenaw Community Sparkplug Awards is an annual community celebration that recognizes local businesses, organizations, community projects, and individuals for their efforts during the past year.