The Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce, along with its sponsors, will bring its fourth-annual Lemonade Day to the area on Saturday, May 16.

The free, community-wide education program is designed to teach youth how to start, own and operate their own business with the classic lemonade stand.

“Kids are learning financial literacy and philanthropy, most likely for the first time,” Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce CEO/Executive Director Suzanne Larson said. “They are encouraged to ‘save some, spend some and share some’ with their profits.”

Larson explained the program is brought back each year because it teaches valuable skills that will benefit participants throughout their lives.

The Sour Sisters were chosen as the 2025 Lemonade Day Entrepreneurs of the Year. The team consisted of sisters Amia Jane and Mariana Joy Dukes. The sisters donated some of their earnings to the U.P. Foster Closet. From left are Christine Bachand of the Foster Closet; Amia Jane Dukes and Mariana Joy Dukes; and Suzanne Larson, Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce executive director/CEO. The sisters each received $100 Walmart gift cards. (Submitted photo)

The event is open to students through sixth grade in the surrounding areas, including Wisconsin.

“We try to cut it off at that level to keep the ages consistent as we choose an Entrepreneur of the Year,” Larson said. “When you get older kids up against fourth graders it gives them an unfair advantage.”

Homeschoolers are also encouraged to take part, she added.

Registration is open through Monday, April 20.

Participants can get creative with their business names, stand designs, and even their lemonade recipes.

Larson emphasized that stands don’t need to be elaborate. “It can be as simple as a card table with a tablecloth,” she said. “The lesson is financial literacy and entrepreneurship, not building a fancy structure.”

Young entrepreneurs can set up their stands anywhere in the community, with permission. “An Iron Mountain student isn’t committed to staying within their area,” Larson said. “For example, it would be a perfect day to set up in Norway, as they are having their city-wide rummage sales.”

Larson noted that Iron Mountain Public Schools are back on board to bring the curriculum to its classroom for the student.

The Lemonade Day Council team will go out on the day of the event to visit each location and judge them on a variety of categories, including originality and creativity. Each member of the winning stand will receive a trophy and $100 Walmart gift card.

The 2025 winners, The Sour Sisters, are featured on this year’s promotional banner.

The group or individual will then move on as a nominee for National Lemonade Day in Houston. If chosen, they will get an all-expenses-paid trip to Houston to accept the award.

“These kids are so pumped about this event,” Larson said. “They show up and they are smiling, ready to greet their customers.”

Each year, these youth put a lot of work into their projects — building their stand, developing the right mixture of lemonade, getting creative with their name and deciding on placement of the stand, Larson said.

“Which are all important business decisions,” she added.

Larson is always looking for ways to make it more fun for the kids.

The students will take part in radio advertisements. “Each will get to say a line about the event,” she said. “They get so excited to do that.”

The national program was started in 2007 in Houston, Texas, by entrepreneur and philanthropist Michael Holthouse. The idea grew from his daughter hosting a lemonade stand to raise money to buy a turtle. Larson discovered the program while traveling in Texas and was inspired to bring it to Dickinson County.

Last year, she had a financial institution in Escanaba host a Lemonade Day in their community. “The word is definitely spreading about the program,” Larson said.

Participants can register and receive their workbook packet at the Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce at 600 S. Stephenson Ave. in Iron Mountain. Each child will receive a Lemonade Day T-shirt.

“We want kids to take advantage of this fun learning experience,” Larson said. “It takes a village to have an event of this size and we are so appreciative to our sponsors that allows us to keep the program free for the kids.”

For more information on becoming an entrepreneur or to serve as a mentor, go to the Dickinson County Lemonade Day website at https://local.lemonadeday.org/dickinson-county-mi or call the chamber at 906-774-2002.

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Terri Castelaz can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85241, or tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.