The Circle Up Color Run will add splashes of bright color to the autumn landscape along the Portage Canal on Saturday as part of Canal Colors Festival.
The race, which typically draws 100 to 200 participants, serves as Circle Up’s only fundraiser and enables the professional networking group to keep membership free and open to all professionals living and working in the Keweenaw Peninsula.
“That people have come to know that is coming to the community so they get ready and they get excited for it, especially being involved in the Canal Colors Fest,” said Shelby Oja, Circle Up chair. “But there are also a lot of people where it is their first time. I was looking through the list of names and as a local you get to know a lot of people in the area. There are so many names I didn’t recognize.”
Oja noted the event attracts visitors to the region, including families visiting Michigan Tech students.
“The great thing about that is a lot of them will be students too,” Oja said. “I think it might be something going on at Michigan Tech this weekend too, where we were able to push that out with them. So getting families that are visiting their students that maybe they’re not familiar with the area and seeing so many great things going on.”
The race begins at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Waterfront Pier, travels toward the Michigan Tech campus, and returns through downtown Houghton, finishing back at the pier.
Participants can register online or in person Friday night at Brew Street, where Circle Up will have a check-in table for race bibs and materials.
For more information about Circle Up and the Keweenaw Color Run, visit online.
