Houghton triumphs in plaid-off, over 1k participants outshine Ironwood and Marquette

KEEWANAW — Houghton was recently victorious in the plaid-off competition against Ironwood and Marquette on Oct. 4.

With a total attendance of 1,063 plaid-clad people gathering for the Plaidurday Photo, the group marked the annual event with a win at the Houghton High School Football Field.

The Michigan Technological University Pep Band brought the energy to the field as folks rallied between the 35-yard lines for a proud-in-plaid photo.

“We did it again,” Visit Keweenaw Executive Director Brad Barnett said. “The Keweenaw never fails to show up for a challenge, and this year while our attendance was lower than our record for last year, we still made history by outnumbering the rest of the Upper Peninsula. Plaidurday is about community, fun, and a little friendly rivalry. Today, we’ve proved once again that the Keweenaw has all three in spades.”

Following the count, Plaidurday Festivities flowed down to Brew Street 2024, a first-time event on the pier. Brew Street built out Houghton’s fall-themed weekend, bridging the evening gap between the Plaidurday Photo and Saturday’s Fall Fest. Brew Street, a beer garden, opened on the pier around 5 p.m. and funneled folks onto the historic lakeshore for drinks, history and good times until 10 p.m.

The beer garden raised a profit for the Carnegie Museum of Houghton, a Heritage Site of the Keweenaw National Historical Park. Brew Street is a fundraiser for the Carnegie Museum and was organized by Visit Keweenaw, the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce and the City of Houghton.