I USED TO COUNT ON it as my personal first sign of spring. It was the letter I received inviting my team of underachievers to play in the annual Negaunee Invitational Basketball Tournament. Tournament director John Basolo’s familiar handwriting on the envelope was all I needed to see to know winter was almost over.
Then, in 2015, no letter arrived. The popular month-long tournament that had begun 50 years prior had reached its end. The handful of Negaunee city league cagers who had kept the event alive, and seemingly thriving, had had enough. It kept getting harder and harder to find the volunteers necessary to run the fundraiser, and even though it was hailed as one of the best amateur tournaments in the Midwest, it was done.
A group of guys tried to revive a more modest version of the event a few years ago, but the pandemic put that fire out before it had a chance to reach room temperature.
Which brings us to the latest event we all assumed, or at least hoped, would go on forever, but which isn’t. The Marquette Area Blues Society announced last week that this year’s Blues Fest would be the last. The annual celebration of the music that inspired rock & roll has been held on Labor Day Weekend for the past 19 years. But with similar circumstances to the N.I.T., it’s just become a little too much for the hardcore music enthusiasts who’ve dedicated a big chunk of their lives to make it happen.
Blues Society President Mark Hamari says the determination to end the festival was based on a combination of factors. “Like other non-profits in the area, we are having trouble getting enough volunteers to manage the festival to our standards. Add in rising costs for everything from talent, production, rentals, and supplies, and those were the main factors behind our decision.”
This year’s event will be the 20th in the series. Hamari credits Walt and April Lindala and Terry Klavitter for initially putting the idea on the table, but acknowledges it’s been a team effort to keep it going. “I’m proud of the hard work and dedication all of our board members and volunteers have put in over the years, and the fact that we’ve been successful in our mission to preserve, educate, and promote the blues here in the U.P.!”
Festival co-director Mark Stonerock echoes that sentiment. “To have built something from the ground up that became successful and loved is an amazing feeling. We have helped bring so many music lovers together…how can you not be proud of that?”
Unfortunately, pride in a job well done and the love of what you do doesn’t pay the bills, or set up a stage, or deal with every aspect of running a festival that’s as big as the Blues Fest has become. Again, like the N.I.T., the festival is going out on a high note… just as popular as ever. The good news is that the organization is still strong and plans on replacing the festival with a number of smaller, more frequent events still with an eye, or rather an ear, on promoting the blues to fellow music lovers.
What Else?
With the impending finale of the Blues Fest, I got to wondering what other ongoing favorites are in danger of ending their run. The first to come to mind is the long-running Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival. Seemingly popular, and typically well attended, are we in danger of suddenly seeing an article in the paper addressing the end of that one too?
Not likely, according to Hiawatha Music Co-op President Julie Foster-Lindquist. “While we’ve had some changes in personnel this year, the future of the Festival and the Co-op is strong. We began over 40 years ago, and over time have built a solid infrastructure, and a strong and diverse volunteer community. We also are a very family oriented event with many of our volunteers representing multiple generations of family members.”
Whew! That’s good to hear. Another event we’ve taken for granted is the U.P. 200 Sled Dog Race. Coming off a two year hiatus due to uncooperative weather, it wouldn’t be crazy to think our signature winter event could suffer an unfortunate demise.
Not to worry says Upper Peninsula Sled Dog Association President Darlene Walch. Though she, like most of us, believes our last two winters were exceptions rather than the rule, race organizers are working on contingency plans to accommodate less than ideal conditions. Walch says “alternate routes” will be at the ready, should they be necessary.
Walch credits community enthusiasm as well as unwavering support from sponsors for the long term health of the event. Another “whew,” as there’s no better celebration of winter and the area’s can-do heritage than the nationally recognized U.P. 200.
Here’s where I point out the one thing all these events have in common. Volunteerism. It takes a ton of manpower to pull off something like a sled dog race or a basketball tournament… or any number of our popular events that serve locals and attract visitors. So if you want to see that happening continue to happen, consider volunteering. Put a little skin in the game and you’ll enjoy it even more.
Publisher’s Note…
I really didn’t know you cared, but I do now. I can’t be more thankful for all the notes of support I got after my diary entry of last week reached the public square. My medical scare was just that, and I’m pretty sure I’m on my way back to 100%… or whatever percentage I’ve been operating at. I hope I never have to write something like that again, but it’s comforting to know that if I do, there’s a community of people out there wishing me well. And I’m absolutely sure those same considerations would be given to any one of us. Sincerely… thank you!