The community is encouraged to come out from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to support the 38 participating lemonade stands across Iron Mountain, Kingsford, Norway and Niagara, Wis.

“The kids have been working very hard on their lemonade stands and now we are urging residents to stop and buy one — or more — glasses of refreshing lemonade from one of many budding entrepreneurs,” Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Suzanne Larson said.

The chamber has 107 youths participating this year. “We are growing,” she said, noting they had 30 lemonade stands in 2023.

The weather looks to be perfect for the event as well, she said. “Everyone is excited and expect a great turnout,” Larson said.

LEMONADE DAY COMES to the area Saturday. More than a hundred young entrepreneurs will be busy from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. serving up batches of lemonade for customers. The community is encouraged to come support these kids’ first business. Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Suzanne Larson delivered Lemonade Day T-shirts to Iron Mountain School District fifth-grade participants. With Larson are Kim Bouchard fifth-grade students Jackson Christian, left, and Caden Tafoya. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

Lemonade Day is a fun, experiential learning program that guides kids on how to start, own and operate their first business — a lemonade stand. With the profits they earn, they are encouraged to create “spend, save and share” goals for their business.

The program teaches financial literacy, philanthropy and entrepreneurial skills.

The national non-profit organization was started in 2007 in Houston, Texas, by Michael Holthouse, a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. The idea grew from his daughter hosting a lemonade stand to raise money to buy a turtle.

Larson brought Lemonade Day to the area last year, starting with Iron Mountain School District students.

This year they opened up to any local child who wanted the experience of owning their first business.

“We even have some homeschool kids involved this year and expect more next year,” Larson said. “I’m absolutely certain we will be bringing this back — it’s too important of an event to not have.”

But Lemonade Day wouldn’t happen without sponsors, Larson said. Signature “Main Squeeze” sponsors include Iron Mountain-Kingsford Community Federal Credit Union, The First National Bank & Trust, Grede, Nicolet Bank, Laborers’ Union Local 1329 and Great North Bank. Fresh Squeeze sponsors are Northern Interstate Bank, Iron Mountain-Kingsford Kiwanis and U.P. State Credit Union. Other sponsors include Dickinson Area Community Foundation, Bay College Iron Mountain, Radio Results Network, 41 Lumber, Advanta Print, U.P. State Bank, Incredible Bank, Frog Country Radio, Walmart, Imagination Factory Children’s Museum and Loyal 2 Local.

“We simply could not hold an event of this magnitude without our incredible sponsors,” Larson said. “It takes a village, and our village is so great at supporting events like this.”

A map of Lemonade Day stand locations can be found on the Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce website at https://lemonadeday.org/dickinson-county-mi.

Anyone with questions can call the chamber at 906-774-2002.