UPCM Baraga Block Party offers family fun in Marquette

MARQUETTE, Mich. (WJMN) — The Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum (UPCM) held its second annual Baraga Block Party August 18. With bounce houses, food trucks and a petting zoo, the party offered fun to families and brought in funds for museum operations.

The petting zoo is new this year, said Executive Director of the museum Jessica Hanley. It was added based on feedback received from attendees last year, who also wanted to be able to access the museum during the event.

This year, a $10 wristband allowed kids access to the outdoor bounce houses and let them and their families inside the museum.

For $5, kids and adults could buy three balls to throw at the dunk tank button, which, when hit, would dunk a “local celebrity” into a bucket of water. Hanley herself was up for dunking.

Last year, even with rainy weather and a temperature in the mid-50s, about 750 people came out to the event. Despite the wind and cloudy weather this year, there was no rain, and Hanley seemed optimistic that the block party would once again be a success.

Hanley said, “Last year, we were lucky. We raised about $25,000 between sponsorships and people coming to the event and paying for stuff the day of the event.”

All the wristband proceeds and a portion of the food truck sales go toward the museum’s day-to-day work and special programming.

The event would not be possible without sponsors, and Hanley gave thanks to all of them, especially Eagle Mine, one of the event’s gold sponsors.

The children’s museum is open six days a week, Tuesday through Sunday, and offers programming and special exhibits throughout the year. Adult tickets cost $9 and kids’ admission is $7. Kids under two are free.

To learn more about the UPCM and its current programs, click here .

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