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. 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. Northeast Region

It’s Going to be a Festive Time in the Northwoods

We’re loving autumn in the Northwoods! Gather the family or grab a shopping buddy and come visit one or more of the fall festivals. The leaf colors are changing by each day, until the woods and fields will become a spectacular mural of orange, red and yellow colors. The clear blue skies are reflected in the many lakes that dot the region. Check out the calendar of events in this issue of Action magazine for a list of those festivals. We’ve picked out three to get you going on your journey Up North! LENA -- Free ice cream at Dairyfest? We’re all over this festival, set for Saturday, Sept. 11 in Lena. Dairyfest kicks off with a 5K run/walk followed by an hour long parade featuring the Lena High School Band, the Pulaski Band and several veteran groups. Activities will include a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, bouncers, food vendors, free ice cream, live music, and a truck and tractor pull. All events are free to the public. For more information, call Russ at 920-370-8052.

LAKEWOOD – The following week celebrate fall in the Northwoods by visiting Festi-Fall in Lakewood on Saturday, Sept 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be live music, crafts, food vendors throughout the Town of Lakewood. In addition, there will be more than 45 vendors with unique crafts and produce for you to take home. For more information call 715-276-3473 or e-mail northernperks@yahoo.com. OCONTO – Oconto Area Chamber of Commerce announces its Harvest Fest will be on Saturday, Sept 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Along Main Street, there will be crafts, farm and garden produce, food, family activities, and music. This is another free event for locals and visitors to enjoy. For more information contact Kathy at 920-835-5348. RIVERVIEW – Riverview’s Oktoberfest celebration begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 9 with crafters and beer garden at the Crooked Lake Community Center, 15445Cty Hwy W. There will be minnow races for young and old, free pumpkin decorating for the children, free hayrides through picturesque Crooked Lake and meat raffle that begins at 1 p.m. Dinner (including black forest cake!) will be served from 1-5 p.m. A disc jockey will supply music throughout the day. Bring your lederhosen and join in the fun! For more information, call Cassie at 715-276-6196.