who we are
Where else can you spend your afternoon hiking waterfalls off Lake Superior, enjoy a concert in the evening with world-renowned musicians, and catch the Aurora Borealis around a campfire before bed? Only at Emberlight.
Emberlight fuses small town charm with dynamic artistic experiences. The variety of our programming means we can bring you surprises and unforgettable events every summer. No two seasons are alike! At the heart of every festival are the high-caliber, professional, and charismatic artists who bring their work to our stages and screens.
Since 2021, we’ve welcomed audiences from 42 states across the country, in addition to visitors from Finland, Canada, Spain, and Mexico. The Film Festival has received over 2,600 films from 83 countries across the globe. Our performers come directly from Broadway, the Royal Opera House, and Carnegie Hall.
The National Endowment for the Arts figures Emberlight makes a $400,000-700,000 impact on the local economy every July and August. That means by the end of 2026 we will have generated $3.5+ Million dollars for our local businesses, hotels, restaurants, and attractions.
Simply put: We are bringing the world’s stages to Ironwood, Michigan and Hurley, Wisconsin while establishing Emberlight as a destination for tourists from across the country.
Mission
The Emberlight Festival produces world-class art within the natural beauty of Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula. We collaborate with local, regional and international artists to create affordable, life-enhancing experiences that spark imagination and ignite learning in our audiences and communities.
Vision
Audiences across the northern midwest can experience diverse and meaningful storytelling through every discipline of the Arts in their own backyard.
Purpose
Our purpose is to provide affordable access to exemplary art that celebrates diversity, leaves a minimal environmental footprint, and enriches lives.
