Cauldron Lighting in Marquette
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HEIKKI LUNTA WINTER FESTIVAL
The Cauldron Lighting for the Winter Games will be held Friday, February 6, 2026 in Downtown Negaunee.
Join us February 6th, 2026 on Iron Street in Downtown Negaunee for the fourth annual Marquette Winter Games Opening Ceremony! All registered athletes and spectators will receive free admission.
WHAT
The Heikki Lunta Winter Festival is inspired by the Heikki Lunta snow god folklore that originated in the Upper Peninsula. The festival is a celebration that leans into the winter season and includes snowshoe tours, ice fishing, fireworks, and much more. Come celebrate February 6-8 in Negaunee!
WHEN
Friday, February 6th, 2026
WHERE
Downtown Negaunee (outside of Love & Bicycles)
340 Iron Street
Negaunee, MI 49866
Directions
Time
6:00 PM start
Map
Heikki Lunta Winter Festival activities will be taking place all over Negaunee, MI. The festival’s hub will be found in the Social District of Downtown Negaunee. Click on the map below to expand.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Athlete Grab Bag @ 5:00 PM outside of Love & Bicycles
Participants of the Games are welcome to come to our Athlete Grab Bag station to pick up our welcome bag for competing.
Paralympian appearance by Evan Medell, a two-time bronze medalist in Para Tae Kwon Do in both 2020 and 2024
Olympian appearances from Andy Bisek, 2016 Rio Wrestler, and Shane Heams, 2000 Sydney baseball gold medalist
Volunteers sponsored by PFN
Lighting of the Cauldron
Rail Jam Competition
The ski and snowboard rail jam competition (register here) as part of the State Games will take place after the lighting of the cauldron.
Evan, who is carrying the Meijer State Games of Michigan torch this year, hails from Grand Haven, Michigan and started competing in Tae Kwon Do in 2008 at the age of 11. Picking up the sport fast, he gained international experience starting in 2015 at World Championships, becoming the youngest athlete to ever compete in the event at the age of 18. Since then, he has earned 2 Paralympic bronze medals, one each at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympics. This earned him the honors of being the first ever United State Paralympic Tae Kwon Do medalist.
Andy Bisek, an Olympian and two-time World Championship Greco-Roman wrestler representing Team USA. A Minnesota native, Bisek attended Northern Michigan University to join the USOEC. After graduating in 2010, he relocated to Colorado Springs, CO to train at the Olympic Training Center. He won bronze in the 2014 & 2015 World Championships and gold at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto. After competing in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Bisek joined the NMU Greco-Roman coaching staff and is currently the head coach, where he won the 2024 USA Wrestling Greco-Roman coach of the year.
Shane Heams, a 2020 Sydney baseball Olympian and gold medalist. A Temperance, Michigan native, Heams was a key pitcher on the team and helped lead the United States to the top of the podium. He additionally played both AA and AAA professional baseball, notably with the Detroit Tigers affiliate Toledo Mudhens.
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Thank you to the sponsors of the Marquette Winter Games!
