TV6 Canathon Returns to Fight Hunger as the Stand U.P. Comedy Festival Brings Laughter to Marquette

The TV6 Canathon is officially underway in Marquette, Michigan, running through November 30, 2025, and once again calling on the community to help fight hunger across the Upper Peninsula (U.P.). The long-running food drive, organized by WLUC-TV6 in partnership with the United Way of Marquette County, has been collecting food since 1982—and in that time, U.P. residents have donated more than 4.8 million pounds of non-perishable goods.

This year, donations are needed more than ever. Food pantries across the region have reported sharp increases in demand, partly due to uncertainty surrounding SNAP benefit distributions. According to local reports, some pantries have seen their numbers jump from 400 to 500 households in recent months, stretching resources thin. To help meet that demand, TV6 Canathon organizer Tony Stagliano said that monetary donations are being funneled to pantries weekly so that immediate needs can be met.

Residents have several easy ways to get involved. You can drop off non-perishable items at any of the 300-plus donation sites across the U.P., or you can donate money online through the official TV6 Canathon website. Donations can also be made by texting ‘CANATHON’ to 44321, or by mailing a check payable to the United Way of Marquette County, with “TV6 Canathon” written in the memo line, to PO Box 73, Marquette, MI 49855.

As for what to give, organizers recommend pasta, beans, nuts, cereal, canned fish, and cooking oils, along with other shelf-stable foods that can easily become part of nutritious meals. The Canathon’s combination of food and monetary donations ensures pantries can serve more families as winter approaches—a time when need typically spikes.

Adding to the local energy this week is the return of the Stand U.P. Comedy Festival, which runs from November 5 to 8, 2025, at the Ore Dock Brewing Company in downtown Marquette. Now celebrating its fifth year, the festival brings four days of live comedy to the U.P., mixing local and touring comedians for a long weekend of laughs.

The festival kicks off Wednesday night with a free show, followed by ticketed performances on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Tickets are sold by show rather than by date, making it easier for attendees to catch their favorite acts. You can purchase them directly from the Ore Dock Brewing ticket page.

Rick Rhoades and Bryan Sromalski, two of the event’s organizers, say this year’s lineup features a mix of seasoned performers and fresh new faces—offering something for everyone who enjoys live stand-up comedy. The festival has become a staple of Marquette’s cultural calendar, blending local talent, visiting comics, and the city’s lively craft-beer scene.

Between the TV6 Canathon’s community effort to support families in need and the Stand U.P. Comedy Festival’s celebration of humor and creativity, Marquette is buzzing with activity this November. It’s a fitting reminder that the U.P. community knows how to come together—both to give generously and to share a laugh along the way.

For more details or to make a contribution, visit the TV6 Canathon website, and for event information and tickets, check out the Stand U.P. Comedy Festival page on Travel Marquette.