Attendees will have access to dozens of vendors from throughout the region — mostly Michigan and Wisconsin — in addition to live music and food trucks. Entry is free with the donation of a non-perishable food item or something for the Delta Animal Shelter.

The focus, of course, is primarily on hunting and fishing and the outdoors, with businesses such as Hardcore Outfitters of Iron Mountain, Mike’s Custom Rods from Lower Michigan, BassReaper Bait from Wisconsin, Buck Munch Deer Feed from Escanaba and more selling wares. But in addition to shopping for knives, bows, tackle, furs, trail cams and camping gear and connecting with guide services, visitors will also find creations from artists, a local FIRST Robotics team, a maker of custom apparel and the Lake Gogebic Area Chamber of Commerce.

Coming to the Escanaba show for the first time will be Brown Dog Leather Co., a manufacturer of custom leather goods made in the Upper Peninsula. Holsters, knife sheaths, bags, rifle slings, motorcycle saddlebags and more are all in the Brown Dog repertoire.

The Vagabond Resort and Campground, under new ownership as of less than a year ago, will be available at the expo to talk about improvements they’ve made to the Stonington Peninsula getaway.

A visitor speaks to a fishing pole vendor at the 2024 U.P. Ice Fishing & Hunting Expo. The 2025 event is this weekend at the U.P. State Fairgrounds in Escanaba. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press photo)

Escanaba-based Polaris dealer Race-Driven will be attending the expo this year, their first since the U.P. Ice Fishing & Hunting Expo’s debut in 2022.

Food trailer Whitefish on Wheels, enjoyed by many at various destinations in the U.P. since its launch this May, will be parked outside the Ruth Butler Building slinging fresh, fried fish.

Razor Axe Throwing will not only allow people to try their hand throwing axes at the show in Escanaba this weekend, but the owner is offering a cash prize to anyone who can beat him.

Attendees of the expo will be treated to live performances from Stonewall from 5 to 8 p.m. Eastern time Friday and the Reflections Band from 4 to 6 p.m. Eastern time Saturday.

Major sponsors of the event, organized by the Daily Press, are Blade’s Bait and Tackle, ShackShare, Up North Journal, Hardcore Outfitters, Total Land Management, Bayshore Bait and Hideaway, L&M Fleet Supply, Fishing 4All Seasons and WZMQ 19 News.

The U.P. Ice Fishing & Hunting Expo will be open from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. All are Eastern times.

R. R. Branstrom can be reached at 906-786-2021 or rbranstrom@dailypress.net.