Northeast Region Iron Mountain Pays Homage to Twin Heritages IRON MOUNTAIN -- A pair of upcoming heritage celebrations will give you additional reasons to visit Iron Mountain – the Gateway to Dickinson County. First up is the 14th annual Iron Mountain Italian Fest on Saturday, Aug. 14. Hours are noon to 11 p.m. Italian Fest is a family-friendly celebration of Iron Mountain’s strong Italian heritage, showcasing authentic and delicious cuisine, live music, fun activities and refreshing beverages. Then mark the calendar for a return trip for Oktoberfest on Saturday, Sept. 25 in Iron Mountain. They will be celebrating an authentic Bavarian Oktoberfest in the downtown from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy continuous entertainment, polka dancing, delicious German food, sing-alongs and fun for all. For more information, visit downtownironmountain.com/oktoberfest. Looking to work off some of those festival calories beforehand? Check out the largest outdoor staircase in the United States! Located at the base of the giant Pine Mountain ski jump, these stairs have played host to thousands of visitors and local athletes.
Northeast Region
Recently redone, the “Pine Mountain 500” is a set of concrete stairs climbing nearly half of a mile straight up. The stairs are open year-round for public use, but make sure to watch for the weather and safety first! The staircase will also be the site – and challenge – on Saturday, Aug. 7 for the Pine Mountain 500 King of the Mountain. Participants will start at the top of Pine Mountain at 9 a.m., race down Kramer Drive to Lower Pine Mountain Road/Hibbard Street before turning on Pine Mountain Road and racing to the Pine Mountain 500. The event is chip timed and participants will receive both an overall and a Pine Mountain 500 time. Dual Duel participants will do it twice! The greater Iron Mountain area has a nice selection of accommodations for those wishing to extend their stay, ranging from locally owned small motels, to national chain hotels with many amenities, and even a cabin along the river.
UpNorthAction.com | Aug/Sept 2021
11
