Spring Fest Opens in Ishpeming

First Street in Ishpeming is closed to traffic.

It’ll be off limits to cars until Sunday so that an annual rite of spring can take place downtown.

The Spring Fest carnival is now underway.

Skerbeck Brothers Shows of Escanaba brings many of the same rides to Ishpeming that they bring to the U.P. State Fair.

The midway opened at 4 today.

It opens at 4 tomorrow and at noon Saturday.

Organizer Kurt Kipling says there’s no one set time at which it closes for the night — the midway might shut down at 10 pm or 11 pm depending on the weather.

Local businesses get a lift from the extra activity Spring Fest generates, and that’s the purpose of holding the carnival.

The proceeds are split between Bay Cliff Health Camp in Big Bay and the Ishpeming Firemen’s Association.

This is May Fest’s eighth edition and it’s raised more and more money almost every year that it’s been held.

Posted by: Mike Hoey