New deadline Monday to register for Gus Macker
IncredibleBank-Iron Mountain and the IncredibleBank Foundation has been a signature sponsor for the Iron Mountain Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament for the past four years. IncredibleBank and the foundation has made a donation and foundation grant of $20,000 to help provide financial support for the building project at the Imagination Factory Community Center. In addition to providing building renovation funding, the IncredibleBank donation will also purchase equipment to set up training areas on the first floor of the Imagination Factory Children’s Museum. From left, in front row are Corey Calkin, Christy Singleton and Samantha Riedel; in back are Jonathan Ringel, Hillari Runsat, Barb Reisner, Jerika Macholl and Donna Dupras. (Submitted photo)
Businesses, organizations and individuals still have an opportunity to support this year’s event. The final deadline to sign up is Wednesday, with payment due by Wednesday, May 12. (Submitted photo)
IncredibleBank-Iron Mountain and the IncredibleBank Foundation has been a signature sponsor for the Iron Mountain Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament for the past four years. IncredibleBank and the foundation has made a donation and foundation grant of $20,000 to help provide financial support for the building project at the Imagination Factory Community Center. In addition to providing building renovation funding, the IncredibleBank donation will also purchase equipment to set up training areas on the first floor of the Imagination Factory Children’s Museum. From left, in front row are Corey Calkin, Christy Singleton and Samantha Riedel; in back are Jonathan Ringel, Hillari Runsat, Barb Reisner, Jerika Macholl and Donna Dupras. (Submitted photo)
Businesses, organizations and individuals still have an opportunity to support this year’s event. The final deadline to sign up is Wednesday, with payment due by Wednesday, May 12. (Submitted photo)
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IRON MOUNTAIN -- There's still time to hit the court for one of the Upper Peninsula's biggest summer basketball traditions, as organizers have extended registration for the Iron Mountain Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament through Monday.
The annual tournament returns to Iron Mountain on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 15 and 16, with organizers expecting another weekend packed with competitive basketball, community spirit and family fun.
"This will give everyone one final opportunity to sign up and be part of this great fundraising event that draws more than 25,000 spectators," said Barb Reisner, Gus Macker event co-coordinator. "We already have 250 teams registered to compete."
Teams can register online at macker.com by selecting the Iron Mountain event.
Each summer, the tournament brings hundreds of players of all ages and skill levels to downtown Iron Mountain, where temporary courts transform city streets into a hub of basketball action. In addition to the 3-on-3 competition, fans can enjoy a free throw contest, 3-point shooting contest and the crowd-pleasing Slam Dunk contest.
Off the court, spectators can enjoy food in the new Gus Macker Cafe, plus family-friendly activities and a festive atmosphere that draws players and visitors from across the region.
Reisner noted that visitors can access the cafe in the Imagination Factory Community Center through the east entrance beneath the skywalk.
Reisner and co-coordinator Jonathan Ringel encourages anyone considering entering a team to take advantage of the extended deadline before registration closes.
"Road construction will be finished -- it's going to be a wonderful, fun and exciting weekend for everyone," Reisner and Ringel said.
The tournament continues to receive strong community support through the generosity of its annual sponsors.
Reisner extended special thanks to the Novickis Family Foundation, The Farrington Foundation, IncredibleBank-Iron Mountain and the IncredibleBank Foundation, and realtor Kim Webb, for serving as the 2026 Gus Macker signature sponsors.
Businesses, organizations and individuals still have an opportunity to support this year's event. The final deadline to sign up is Wednesday, Aug. 5, with payment due by Wednesday, May 12.
"We greatly appreciate the loyalty, generosity and support provided by the entire community," Reisner and Ringel said. "Time to hang more than 100 community banners."
Volunteers and game officials can continue to register through the Gus Macker website, as preparations continue.
Head Scorekeeper Coordinator Hillari Runsat said they are always in need of volunteers to serve as scorekeepers for the two-day competition.
"During set-up on Friday, the IncredibleBank Macker Team will place 16 canopies in designated locations for scorekeepers and officials," Runsat said. "The bank team will also provide food and drinks throughout the weekend for volunteers and officials working on the game courts."
Reisner and Ringel are looking forward to another successful Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball weekend.
"Come down to enjoy the smiling faces, outstanding competition and great food in the air conditioned Gus Macker Cafe," they said.
All proceeds from Gus Macker go to help fund completion of the second and third floor of the Imagination Factory Community Center.
Reisner, who also is Imagination Factory executive director, said the capital campaign will continue through 2026. "Successful fundraising will result in the opening of the second-floor youth center and third-floor family therapy clinic," she said.
Donations can be mailed to: Imagination Factory, P.O. Box 906, Iron Mountain MI 49801.
The Imagination Children's Museum will be closed for the Gus Macker event Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 13-16.
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Terri Castelaz can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85241, or tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.