THE RODEO CITY Riders from Manawa, Wis., will again provide pre-performance entertainment along with the HomeTown Heroes Youth Equestrian Drill Team at the 56th annual U.P. Championship Rodeo, set for Friday and Saturday at the Iron County Fairgrounds in Iron River. (Robyn Rhode Photography)

The emphasis will be on putting the West in western Iron County this weekend with the 56th annual U.P. Championship Rodeo.

Michigan’s only PRCA-sanctioned event will offer three performances over two days Friday and Saturday, plus Market Days on Friday, the Wild West Parade on Saturday, an antique tractor show and more in Iron River.

Friday starts out with the Miss U.P. Rodeo Queen and Princess horsemanship at 8 a.m. in the Rodeo Arena. This is when the candidates demonstrate their skills and familiarity with their horse partners. Competing for queen are Olivia Kuehnau of Stephenson and Calli Niemi of Bessemer, both 17; and for princess is Addison Kakuk, 13, of Stephenson.

Market Days will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday in downtown Iron River. An array of vendors will be available for shopping.

The Friends of the Library Book Sale also is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the West Iron District Library, 16 W. Genesee St.

Market Days hosts the Miss U.P. Rodeo and Princess modeling and question session, starting at 11 a.m. in the downtown.

Gates will open at 5 p.m. Friday at the Iron County Fairgrounds arena, 720 W. Franklin St., leading up to the first rodeo competition at 7 p.m. Events will include bull riding, tie down roping, saddle and bareback bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping and barrel racing. Performances take place rain or shine.

The announcer will be Jody Carper and the barrelman Kyle Lamon, the “Hashtag Rodeo Entertainer,” who has stepped in after Austin Singley had to cancel. “Hashtag” is known for his trick roping and acts with his dog, Trick.

The Rodeo City Riders and the HomeTown Heroes Youth Equestrian Drill Team, both from Manawa, Wis., will provide entertainment before the rodeo starts.

Those attending Friday night are asked to wear purple in support of Man Up Crusade, an effort to raise awareness about domestic violence.

Saturday has the pancake breakfast from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at the Iron River Senior Center, 814 N. Fourth Ave.

The Wild West Parade steps off at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Franklin and Third streets, goes south to Adams Street, east to First Street, south to Genesee Street and west to Seventh Street.

The Iron County West Side Veterans Honor Guard will lead the parade and present the nation’s colors at each rodeo performance.

Some of the performers coming in for the parade include:

— The MOTOR Middle School Marching band, which has young musicians from across the Upper Peninsula and northeast Wisconsin. After a three-day camp, the MOTOR Band learns their music and the fundamentals of marching.

— ILL ROCK Rhythm & Groove Ensemble, a non-profit marching arts program with the Youth Against Violence Organization, serving youth in Rock and Winnebago counties in Illinois. YAVO was founded at a time of grief in 1991 after a Rockford teenager, Asha, was killed in broad daylight. YAVO’s mission is “To Educate, Entertain and Inspire … Encouraging youth through performing arts to strive for excellence, to develop and improve essential creative skills, and to grow into successful and productive citizens and leaders in our society.”

— The Upper Peninsula’s first bagpipe band, Superior Pipes & Drums, was founded in 2005 and has members ranging from age 10 to more than 80 years old. Mainly based in Marquette and Houghton counties, Superior Pipes & Drums provide members the opportunity to learn bagpipes along with highland drumming and dancing at no cost. Both ILL ROCK and Superior Pipe & Drums will provide post-parade entertainment at the Iron River City Hall.

Pre-registration for the parade is not required but will save time when registering. A parade registration form is on the U.P. Championship Rodeo website, https://upprorodeo.com.

The Classic Farm Machinery of Iron County Antique Tractor Show and Brat Feed is set to begin at 11 a.m. at the VFW Ottawa Post 3134 hall, 94 E. Genesee St.

Arena gates will open at noon and 5 p.m., respectively, for the 2 and 7 p.m. rodeo competitions. The Rodeo City Riders and the HomeTown Heroes Youth Equestrian Drill Team again will provide pre-performance entertainment.

The 2024 Miss U.P. Rodeo Queen and U.P. Rodeo Princess will be crowned at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in the rodeo arena.

Those attending the evening rodeo Saturday are asked to wear pink in support of Tough Enough to Wear Pink, a campaign for rodeos and western events to raise money and awareness for breast cancer.

Tickets for the rodeo are $20 for adults, $8 for ages 6 to 12 and no charge for ages 5 and younger. For the 2 p.m. Saturday performance, ages 6 to 12 will be admitted free with a paying adult. Tickets will only be available at the main gate and are good for one performance only.

This schedule is subject to change as needed. For the most recent version, check the U.P. Championship Rodeo website at https://upprorodeo.com.