U.P. State Fair

For photographers, the fair is a treasure trove. From the dizzying lights and colors of the midway to the gentle calm of animals resting in the sun, there’s always a frame worth capturing. I found myself drawn to the contrast—the chaos of humans and rides on one side, the quiet of a newborn calf on the other. It’s a reminder that the U.P. State Fair is more than an event; it’s a celebration of community, history, and simple joys. Taking the pictures is the easy part, the hard part for me is do I present in my usual black and white or show the kaleidoscope of colors? So for this post you're getting a combination of both because as usual I couldn't make up my mind. :-)

U.P. State Fair - Escanaba’s Summer Tradition

Step onto the fairgrounds in Escanaba in August, and you’re immediately hit with a mix of sights, sounds, and smells—the sound of carnival rides, the scent of Norm's fries, cotton candy and elephant ears, and the heckle of workers taunting fairgoers to win a prize. This isn’t just a county fair, it’s the U.P. State Fair, Michigan’s largest and oldest state fair, an up north tradition that has brought the Upper Peninsula together every summer since 1928.

When it opened in 1928, admission was just 50 cents—and dropped to 25 cents after 6 PM. Today, tickets run $10 per day, or $15 on Friday and Saturday, which also includes all concerts and shows on the main stage. Over the years, the fair has hosted big names like Journey, REO Speedwagon, Styx, 3 Doors Down, Def Leppard, Tim McGraw, Weird Al Yankovic, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Randy Travis, Night Ranger, and Cheap Trick. Walking past the main stage, you can almost imagine the roar of the crowd from decades past—it’s easy to feel a connection to history here. To this day my wife swears that Tim McGraw winked at her which is okay by me because I got to hang out with Def Leppard and chauffer them around the year they performed.

Of course, the midway is the heart of the fair. Rides, games, and the unmistakable smell of fair food fill the air. One of my favorites is the Zipper, a ride that has thrilled generations of fairgoers. It’s a ride that give you the kind of adrenaline that makes you scream, laugh, and immediately want to go again.

The barns offer a different kind of excitement. You can wander among cows, horses, sheep, goats, and pigs, snapping photos of curious animals peeking over fences. The Miracle of Life barn is always a highlight as people love to watch newborn animals wobbled to their feet just minutes after birth. Moments like that remind you that the fair isn’t just about rides and food—it’s a place to witness farming which is a big part of life in the Upper Peninsula.

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