I took my 5 kids to their first Michigan rodeo & it was unforgettable

Our family’s first Michigan rodeo was an experience we’ll never forget. If you’ll be visiting the UP next June, consider adding a stop at the Great Lakes Rodeo.

I have never been to a rodeo, so when our family decided to travel to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the Great Lakes Rodeo, I had no idea what to expect. But what we experienced felt like the best of small-town Michigan with a whole lot of surprises along the way.

Planning a visit to the Great Lakes Rodeo—held every Father’s Day weekend in the small town of Gwinn, MI, just outside of Marquette—means you and your family can experience the excitement of a rodeo (honestly, I was blown away) along with the natural wonders, restaurants, and beauty that Michigan’s UP has to offer.

Here’s a guide to visiting Marquette and the rodeo, especially for first-timers like us.

The Great Lakes Rodeo

The Great Lakes Rodeo has long been a tradition in the Marquette area, but the rodeo fun has moved locations in recent years. The rodeo is now hosted by the Sisters Rodeo Company and held in the small town of Gwinn, Michigan, located approximately 20 miles south of Marquette.

Originally a company town established by Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Mining Company, we found Gwinn to be a more affordable option for staying near Marquette—plus, the rodeo was located about a minute away from our lodging, so getting there was very convenient. We were hosted by the Gwinn Model Towne Inn Hotel, which, while modest, was very comfortable and clean for our family of seven.

My kids especially loved the free freshly popped popcorn, hot chocolate, and outdoor games (the foam axe throwing was a hit with my 5-year-old), and fire pits that were available. Plus, there was free WiFi and a grab-and-go breakfast every morning. The family-owned hotel recently went through renovations and felt like it went the extra mile to make staying there an experience, which we appreciated after a long day of travel. There is a cannabis store and a small facility located on either side of the hotel, but we did not notice any strong smells during our stay.

Okay, onto the rodeo: My honest assessment of the Great Lake Rodeo is that it’s an impressive show with a growing audience. In talking with some locals, the move to Gwinn is fairly recent, so the buzz about the rodeo is still growing. Because it was my first time, I appreciated that the crowds were on the smaller side, with plenty of parking and ample seating. It made taking a family and little kids much easier. Plus, I can’t say for sure if attendance was affected by the weather, but it happened to be in the 30s, freezing, and drizzling rain on and off for this particular rodeo, so I imagine there were fewer rodeo-goers than usual.

We attended on a Friday night, but the rodeo is a two-day show, so Saturday night may have been more crowded as well. We received complimentary tickets, but full-price adult tickets are only $15 and children are $10, so it’s a very affordable night out for the family.

Despite the cold weather, our family stuck it out with winter coats and blankets, and my kids were enthralled by the show. In the words of my 12-year-old son, “It didn’t even matter how cold it was, because the entertainment got your blood pumping!!” To give you an idea of how captivating the show was, I will tell you that my 5-year-old did not move from her spot in the bleachers for the full three hours—she was entranced by the horses, the bulls, and the rodeo royalty that blazed by in musical performances.

As I mentioned, I had never actually been to a rodeo before this, so I didn’t have a full idea of what to expect, but I was blown away by both the showmanship of the performances, the riders and competitors, and the unique competitions we saw. Because I’m such a rodeo newbie, I was slightly stressed watching how daring some of the competitions were, and there were a few competitors who suffered some gasp-worthy falls (fortunately, everyone was fine!).

I also admit that I never knew these types of competitions existed. For instance, goat tying was a new experience for us all, and I’m still not sure how I feel about it! Goat tying, for my fellow uniformed rodeo attendees, involves a rider flying down the course on a horse, hopping off the horse to a spot where a goat is waiting on a tether, flipping the goat over, and tying at least three of the goat’s legs together as fast as you can. It’s meant to replicate the old cowboy methods of tying goats.

The rodeo included all of the traditional rodeo events, like bull riding, horse bucking, barrel racing, and team roping events, plus some interactive fun for the kids. There were also food trucks, vendors, and family-friendly events like face painting and a free photo prop station. The Great Lakes Rodeo in Gwinn will take place on June 19 and 20, 2026. Be sure to check the events calendar on Pure Michigan or follow the Great Lakes Rodeo Facebook page for updates on when ticket sales go live.

Visting Marquette

We’re “under the bridge” Michiganders (I learned that’s how locals in the UP refer to us Lower Peninsula dwellers), so of course, we had to explore the area while we were in town. Outside of the rodeo and enjoying a delicious dinner at the Up North Lodge (call ahead for reservations and be prepared, because it is on the pricier side), we explored some of the sights and sounds of Marquette.

We had five kids, aged 5-17, with us, so we chose primarily family-friendly destinations during our time in Marquette. Here’s where we went:

Sugarloaf Mountain

Marquette came highly recommended by many of my friends and acquaintances, and top of the list of things to do in the Upper Peninsula’s largest city was Sugarloaf Mountain. Sugarloaf is a family-friendly hike that takes only around 10-15 minutes to “hike” to the top, even with small kids. I say “hike” because if you take the stair route, you’re basically climbing a long trek of stairs to the top instead of a hiking path. The trailhead is very easy to find, with lots of signs, and there is a large parking lot with a vault toilet at the entrance.

The hike through the woods to get to the top of the mountain is full of dazzling views on its own—my kids loved seeing the rock cliffs carved through the trail, as well as the many educational signs that discussed how some of the rocks were over one billion years old. It’s hard to wrap your mind around a number so staggering!

The top of the mountain comes complete with a spacious viewing platform that offers spectacular views of Lake Superior and the area around it. We chose to take the “difficult” hike on the way down, and all the kids were able to walk that too. It was our family’s favorite spot of the whole trip, so I definitely recommend visiting while you’re up north.

Morgan Creek Falls

Marquette is known for its abundance of waterfalls, and while we didn’t get a chance to visit some of the larger falls, Morgan Creek Falls was a perfect, easy-access beginner waterfall for our family. I’d recommend following Travel Marquette’s directions to access the trail (there is no official trailhead for the path to the waterfall), because they were spot-on.

One piece of advice: if you want the easy route, stay directly on the straight road after you cross M-553. We made the mistake of following the sign into the woods, and that turned out to be a difficult hike. It was very enjoyable, but a bit tricky at times for younger hikers. The road path, however, is flat, wide, and basically a straight shot to the falls, so it’s very easy to do.

Ellwood A. Mattson Lower Harbor Park

I strangely couldn’t find an official website for this park, but it’s a gem. It’s located right by the waterfront near the Iron Ore Dock, just on the outskirts of town, and all of my kids enjoyed playing on it. It features accessible playground equipment as well as unique play structures like a wheel that can flip kids upside down. (As you can imagine, this was a hit with my kids.)

It was the perfect place to visit to burn off energy and walk by the water after a downtown Marquette lunch at the historic Vierling Restaurant, which offered delicious food and beautiful views of the water. (The wine from local Michigan grapes was my favorite!) Plus, the ambience inside was absolutely charming. Parking in downtown Marquette is primarily all paid parking, so plan accordingly, especially if you plan on walking around or exploring after you eat.

Jilbert Dairy, Inc. 

All that playing in the park led us to work up an appetite for ice cream, of course, so we headed over to Jilbert Dairy for our dessert. Jilbert Dairy is a family-owned, fully operational dairy plant, and it features an on-site ice cream store.

All of the ice cream is homemade at the plant, and the ice cream store features delicious and unique flavors you won’t find anywhere else. If you’re feeling particularly brave (or hungry), you can order their “Pig Pen” sundae, which costs $45 and is a whopping 21 scoops of ice cream and topping of your choice. We opted to skip the Pig Pen, but our hard-scoop ice cream was absolutely delicious, and my kids loved the giant milking cow outside that makes a perfect photo op. There’s seating available inside for chillier days and a full seating patio outside, too.

Michigan Iron Industry Museum

In our last stop for our trip, we decided to visit the Michigan Iron Industry Museum. Not big iron ore enthusiasts, we didn’t know what to expect, but our entire family ended up really enjoying the museum—and even better, admission is completely free! (You do need a Michigan Recreation Passport on your license plate to park, however.)

For a free museum, I was blown away by how in-depth, interactive, and downright fun this place was. All seven of us had a blast (ha, no pun intended) learning about the history of the iron ore industry, the people who worked to carve out the industry, and how it shaped the Upper Peninsula, along with the entire state. The best part of the museum may just be the surprise ending that takes you through a “real” mining tunnel.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and is situated at a trailhead of the Iron Ore Heritage Trail, a 47-mile trail that winds around and through downtown Marquette and along the shoreline. It’s an interpretive trail, which means there are educational signs along he way to educate about the iron ore mining industry in the State of Michigan and the United States. The interpretation program repurposes real rail lines as signs, bringing life back to the rails used to bring lumber, furnaces, forges, and iron ore to the Lake Superior Harbor. We were only able to do a small portion of the trail, but I would have loved to wander down the trail and learn even more.

The bottom line

If you’re a rodeo enthusiast, I’d definitely recommend adding the Great Lakes Rodeo to your list to attend next year, especially if you’re planning a visit to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula too. The rodeo was an experience my family will never forget, and it gave us the opportunity to visit nearby Marquette as well.

There is so much more to do and visit in Marquette outside of what we were able to fit in during our trip, so be sure to check out all of the recommendations from Travel Marquettee—they have the full scoop on what to do, where to stay, and details on everything from hiking trails to restaurants to winter activities.