The Big Bear Arena has a big anniversary this month as the recreation facility celebrates 30 years of serving the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians community. To mark this milestone anniversary, the Big Bear is hosting a community fun day on Sunday, Sept. 27, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.
This free-to-the-public event invites guests of all ages to learn about all the Big Bear Arena has to offer. Whether it’s your first time visiting the arena or you’re a seasoned vet, there will be something for everyone.
“This community fun day is our way of saying thank you to all those who have helped create memories at Big Bear Arena. Whether you visited for a hockey tournament or attended a youth program as a child, we’re thankful you visited the arena,” Recreation Director Tammy Graham said. “Over the years, the Big Bear has grown beyond recreation and has become an important part of not just the Sault Tribe community, but the Eastern Upper Peninsula as a whole. We’re hoping everyone who has enjoyed spending time at the Big Bear over the past three decades has the chance to visit our community fun day. Without all the support from organizations throughout the EUP, the Big Bear would never have been able to grow into what it is today.”
Sunday, Sept. 27, marks 30 years to the day that the Chi-Mukwa (Big Bear) Community Recreation Center opened in 1996. With the opening, the Big Bear brought a 150,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility to the Sault Tribe community, which made it one of northern Michigan’s largest sports and fitness venues as well as the only ice arena in the Upper Peninsula with two ice rinks. Over the following three decades, numerous sports teams have called the facility home with many more individuals visiting and enjoying the complex.
From the All-In-One-Fitness Club to being a hub for multiple Sault Tribe’s departments including Health, Education, Language and Culture, to hosting various youth programs and social events, the Big Bear Arena has been the Sault Ste. Marie area’s ultimate destination for recreation, fitness, and family fun.
The Sept. 27 Community Fun Day will pack an afternoon full of games, bouncy house fun, skating, vendors, and a chance to learn about tribal and community organizations and resources.
To stay up to date on the Big Bear Arena’s 30th anniversary be sure to follow along on Facebook at Big Bear Arena- Chi Mukwa.