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Houghton, Hancock celebrate Community Night Out on Labor Day weekend

Daily Mining Gazette file photo Shown are fireworks from Bridgefest in 2019 on Portage Canal.

HOUGHTON — The sight of fireworks exploding over the Portage Canal is an iconic part of summer in the Keweenaw — and one that, thanks to COVID-19, hasn’t been seen for two years.

That will be fixed on Sept. 4 with the Community Night Out, an event sponsored by the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce and the cities of Houghton and Hancock.

“It is certainly not Bridgefest 2.0, as some people may have called it, but it’s something to look forward to at the end of summer,” Houghton City Manager Eric Waara said. “So we’re hoping everybody can get out and support the local businesses, support the local artists, and just have a good time in Houghton and Hancock that night.”

Houghton will host an Art on the Town event from 4 to 7 p.m. The municipal parking deck near Subway in downtown Houghton will have live music, artists, homemade crafts and other attractions. Anyone interested in registering should call 906-231-7865. There is no fee to participate.

In Hancock, there will be a beer garden and concert stage in Porvoo Park with music by the band Rewind from 7 to 9 p.m.

Starting at 8:45 p.m., there will be a boat parade starting at the docks at Super 8 and continuing down the canal under the Portage Lake Lift Bridge. Boaters should meet up at 8:15 p.m.

All watercraft involved should be small enough not to require a bridge lift.

As with Bridgefest, fireworks will be at dusk. In early September, that will mean 9:17 p.m., “which is kind of nice compared to quarter to 11 or 11 o’clock, like Bridgefest,” Waara said.

In addition to Houghton and Hancock, sponsors for the fireworks display are Northern Specialty Health, Pat’s Foods | Campioni Hardware and Nitro Consulting.

In both cities, businesses will have sidewalk sales going on through the day.

“Our goal is to make this a relaxed, family-friendly event,” Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce Manager Tara Arens said in a release. “We encourage individuals and families to come out and enjoy the day, visit your local eateries, breweries and shop at our local businesses. As the evening wraps up, grab a spot near the beautiful Portage Canal and watch the fireworks.”

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