Market Update: We break down the business implications, market impact, and expert insights related to Market Update: Community leaders anticipate economic boost from Winter Carnival-driven business – Full Analysis.
HOUGHTON, Mich. (WLUC) – Michigan Tech University’s Winter Carnival kicks off Wednesday.
From students to visitors, the area will be packed with people throughout the four-day-long event. And with those crowds comes a boost for businesses. Visit Keweenaw Executive Director Brad Barnett says the impact Winter Carnival has on the area’s economy should not be underestimated.
“Broadly speaking, Winter Carnival, historically, has been one of the largest, if not the largest, economic event-related drivers in the Keweenaw,” Barnett said. “Year after year, regardless of season.”
Barnett says last year’s carnival resulted in just under 5,000 visitor days, and in the winter, he says visitors spend around $400 per trip in the Keweenaw. Based off this information, he says last year’s carnival ‘easily’ generated upwards of $1.5 million spent on area businesses.
“It’s such a concentrated event,” Barnett continued. “So many people come and they experience downtown, they do the shopping, they dine, they lodge, and that really shows up in the numbers.”
Barnett also says the media coverage the event receives gives the area momentum for future vacations and business. And in downtown Houghton, City Manager Eric Waara says there will be plenty for visitors to check out, including some of the carnival’s statues.
“We’ve actually got some all-nighters that are scheduled to be happening down on the pier this year, which will be kind of a new feature added,” Waara said. “We’ve certainly got enough snow for that, no trucking it in this year.”
We will be live Wednesday on your TV6 First Look at 5 p.m., TV6 Early News at 6 p.m. and TV6 News Tonight at 7 p.m. for the early hours of the all-night statue-building contest. You can join us then on our TV6 Live page.
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