Mark Wilcox/Daily Mining Gazette Employees of Joey's Seafood and Grill handed out plenty of free samples of fish tacos, Saturday as part of An Afternoon on the Town. An event to welcome first-year Michigan Tech students to the area.

HOUGHTON — Hundreds of students from Michigan Technological University, most of them first-years, took to downtown Houghton Saturday, to get a good idea of what their new hometown has to offer.

The annual “An Afternoon on the Town, traditionally held on the Saturday before the start of the Fall Semester, is meant to welcome the students to the Keweenaw and to show them the business, entertainment, social, religious and civic opportunities available.

Hosted by MTU’s  Student Leadership and Involvement, the Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success and Residence Education and Housing Services, the event allowed businesses and others, a venue to meet students, show them what they have to offer and, in most cases, geve them a goodie or two.

Students began their walk on campus and made their way down College Avenue, and through downtown Houghton’s Shelden Avenue. Once downtown, there was music, giveaways, refreshments and a chance for students to win prizes totaling more than $3,000 donated by local merchants and organizations. According to organizers, about 50 businesses and organizations registered for Saturday’s event. 

Participants weren’t limited to downtown Houghton, as there were booths from Hancock, Calumet and beyond. In addition to a plethora of stores, banks, restaurants, cafes and coffee shops, participating organizations included the League of Women Voters, Keweenaw National Historical Park, Evangel Community Church and MTU Athletics.

Despite an early forecast of rain, things turned out to be sunny throughout most of the three-hour event. Stopping at each booth or busienss, students received candy, stickers, posters and free samples and plenty of information about what there is to see and do and where to shop and eat in their new home.

Again this year, one of the most popular stops was Joey’s Seafood and Grill with the staff, wearing shirts that said “Don’t be afraid of the Fish Taco,” handing out plenty of tasty fish taco samples. Cheryl Kiley, who owns the popular restaurant with her husband Alan, said she and her staff enjoy greeting the new students. “We’ve been doing this since it was on campus, before they started bringing the students downtown. This is awesome!” Kiley said it is important the new students feel welcome. “We want them to know that we want them in the community. Hopefully they’ll feel comfortable here.”

Haylie Murillo, a bio-med major from Iron River and Morgan Griswold, from downstate Holly, who is majoring in electrical engineering, were two of the hundreds who enjoyed Cheryl and company’s hospitality … and fish tacos. Murillo, who’s grandfather attended MTU in the 70s, enjoyed the special treatment she and her fellow first-year students received. “I feel so welcome here,” she said. “I’m from a little town, so the feeling of community is so welcoming.”

Griswold agreed. “It seems to be the kind of town where everybody participates and supports the students.” Both agreed that after seeing what the community has to offer, they’ll be returning. “I will 100 percent, come back downtown,” Griswold said.

And Murrilo is already planning to make the downtown shops and cafes part of her academic routine. “I’ll be coming down here often,” she said. “I think especially after a hard exam, this is a great place to go.”

Classes for the Fall Semester at Michigan Tech, begin today.