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CALUMET -- Cornish miners brought pasties to the Keweenaw during the 1800s. The hearty, handheld meal was easy to carry underground and filling enough for a long day's work. Long after the mines closed, the pasty remained -- and today, it is one of the Keweenaw's most beloved traditions.
That tradition takes center stage each August at Pasty Fest in downtown Calumet. The annual celebration, this weekend, brings together pasty eating, baking competitions, live entertainment, a strongman contest, a Renaissance fair and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the dish that has fed the Keweenaw for generations.
Pasty Fest takes place this year Friday through Sunday. Saturday is the highlight, with opening ceremonies at noon, and the pasty eating contest around 3 p.m. The farmer's market will be from 10-2, and the day features a strong man truck pull for cash.
Don't miss out on the iconic Pasty Fest Shirt of the year. Represent your allegiance with either a ketchup or gravy shirt. The shirts are inspired by the rockstar mentality it takes to scarf down as many full-sized pasties as you can in five minutes for the eating contest. There will be new colors this year, and an online storefront will allow you to get your shirt for pickup at the event on 11:59
Today, 13 shops across the Keweenaw regularly serve pasties. Try them all on the Keweenaw Pasty Trail to earn a sweet badge of honor from Visit Keweenaw. Nowhere else in America is there such a high concentration of Pasty Shops as the Keweenaw. Find out more at visitkeweenaw.com