MARQUETTE, MI— Wildfire smoke and health concerns cut short the Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival in Marquette this weekend.
Air Quality Index readings in the Unhealthy to Hazardous range prompted officials to suspend festival activities around 8 p.m. Saturday. Officials banned campfires at Tourist Park and provided masks for attendees. They urged people to go indoors and reduce activity.
Around 9:20 a.m. Sunday, festival officials made the decision to shut down programming for the rest of the day. The AQI in Marquette was in the Very Unhealthy range.
Hiawatha officials say they understand why some people decided not to attend the festival this year. They intend to schedule a free music event in the future for those who were unable to come to Marquette this weekend.
