Screenshot

MARQUETTE — The “big bear” of Upper Peninsula festivals returns April 11 for its 12th year after taking a brief hiatus in 2025 due to the opening of The Trestle Building.

Ore Dock Brewing Company’s Festival of the Angry Bear is a spirited and much-anticipated street festival that has become an annual spring tradition in downtown Marquette.

Since its founding in 2014, the festival has evolved into a weekend-long celebration as thousands of enthusiastic — and often fur-clad — celebrators gather to “wake the bear” and shed their winter fur in downtown Marquette.

“After taking 2025 off so we could focus on our expansion and the opening of The Trestle, we are beyond excited to bring the bear out of hibernation,” said Amanda Courchaine, curated events manager. “We could not do this without the support of our staff, neighbors, volunteers and all the folks who travel down the street or miles and miles to be a part of this.”

The 100 block of Spring Street will close Friday, April 10, and begin its transformation, emerging a mere 24 hours later with a city block’s worth of live music, food trucks, games, costumes and a plethora of kegs.

The festival plays host to the annual unveiling of Ore Dock’s barrel-aged and limited release offerings with more than 30 taps of Lake Superior-sourced craft beer, cocktail-inspired hard seltzers, a variety of non-alcoholic craft beverages and, new this year, draft cocktails.

Thirsty bears gotta eat, too, and festival goers will have no trouble finding tasty eats from a bounty of local food vendors.

New for 2026, three music stages will be featured. Headlining the festival stage will be the Ann Arbor, Mich.-band Pajamas to cap off an eclectic Midwest lineup that includes The 4onthefloor from Minneapolis; Grand Rapids, Mich., bands Wrestle with Jimmy, The Bootstrap Boys and Steve Leaf; and Marquette’s favorite surf rock band, Ramble Tamble, rocking the Community Space stage. The Trestle Biergarten will be vibing throughout the festival featuring Synergy with local DJ’s Mayple & Conway.

There will also be a multitude of events and collaborations leading up to the festival, including the inaugural Angry Bear Pre-Pawty on April 3, where attendees can get everything needed to hit the fast-pass line on festival day; Samara Floral Co.’s Flower Crown workshop on April 9; Rise of the Baby Bear with the U.P. Children’s Museum on April 10; and the third running of Queen City’s Run 4 Your Life 5k on April 11, with proceeds to support the Special Olympics of Michigan Area 36.

Additional festival events include a costume contest and dance-off hosted by Marquette Fringe, a beer relay and growler holding competition with Queen City Running Co. and keg bowling with The Fire Station.

The festival is for ages 21 and older; those attending will need to purchase an official Angry Bear wristband for $10 to enter. Vessels and drink tokens will be available for purchase on site.

Angry Bear will happen rain, snow, or shine. More information can be found at: OREDOCKBREWING.COM/ANGRYBEAR.