New Route Changes Traffic for the Parade of Nations

The Parade of Nations takes a new route in 2024. Earlier this year organizers for Michigan Technological University’s Parade of Nations announced that Hancock deferred from having the parade start on Quincy Street. The change will make gathering students a little easier says Parade Coordinator Mariana Nakashima, as parade participants and floats will have more space to organize starting on campus.

For example, certain people are going to be in floats and they are going to be in their convertibles. Those people need to line up in lot number one. Which is across from the administration building. But everybody else with line up at the Rozsa Center. I hope everyone is there around ten. – Mariana Nakashima, Senior Administrative Aide, Michigan Technological University

Students and Parade of Nations floats will move down College Avenue before entering downtown Houghton. Traveling along Shelden Avenue, the parade will turn at Quincy Street and head to Lakeshore Drive. The Parade will finish marching at the Dee Stadium and head inside for the multicultural festival. As with each year, the Parade of Nations will have many people in attendance.

So be prepared to be here before 10:30, or if you don’t want to stay for the event. Try to leave and the exit downtown before 1030. Because once we get it shut down, it’s locked down, and it’ll be very difficult to get to the downtown area by vehicle. – Lieutenant Nick Roberts, City of Houghton Police Department

City of Houghton Police Lieutenant Nick Roberts suggests finding parking and walking to your spot for the parade early. The department will begin to shut down traffic at 1030. Roberts adds the parade will impact traffic in the city for about two hours.

We have to keep in mind though when I say everything’s closed down, everything’s closed down. Montezuma’s closed down also, so everybody going around the loop is going to have to go up Bridge Street to get anywhere else from downtown. The good news is the bridge is open. – Lieutenant Nick Roberts, City of Houghton Police Department

Participants and floats will start lining up on campus on Saturday at 10 am. The Parade of Nations will begin at 11 am. Vehicles parked on Sheldon Avenue will need to move before law enforcement begins shutting down traffic at 10:30 am. The multicultural festival at the Dee stadium will begin at noon. The city of Houghton police department anticipates traffic should return to normal downtown after 1230. Those interested in learning more about the Parade of Nations and the multicultural festival can find more details here.