The historic island fort is decked out in patriotic finery with banners, flags and bunting. It is an 1880’s Independence Day, with 38-gun salutes honoring the states of the period and children’s games. Guests join the party and participate in games on the fort parade ground.
Don’t miss out on this all 1880s Independence Day as we have catch and baseball available on the parade ground to go along with foot races and sack races, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, the raising of the colors, the national salute (38 rifle blasts for the 38 states of the 1880s!), a cannon salute, and much more!
Games will be available on the parade ground beginning at 3:30 p.m. Special programming will take place at 4:00 p.m.
The Tea Room Restaurant, operated by Grand Hotel, is open all day serving snacks, sweets, and beverages, and will have full lunch service from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
All special programming is included with regular admission to Fort Mackinac. #thisismackinac
The Bayview Mackinac Race – which will begin on Saturday, July 20, 2024 – is recognized as one of the most challenging freshwater boat races in the world. Join the excitement of the Port Huron to Mackinac Race as boat racers sail Michigan’s Great Lakes to reach their final destination, Mackinac Island. It’s all Pure Michigan from start to finish!
In the ten decades that the Bayview Mackinac Race has been sailed, much has happened. Wars, economic depressions, and other significant events have transpired, yet the Race has gone on. In fact, President Franklin D. Roosevelt wired a message to Bayview during World War II when word reached the White House that the Club was considering canceling the race. That message read: “Sail your race.” Even then, it was clear that this race was and is important for sailors and for the State of Michigan. Bayview did sail the Mackinac Race that year, and has done so every single year since the first Bayview Mackinac Race in 1925, making it the longest consecutively run freshwater race in the world. This year’s race starts on July 15, 2023.
In its own way, the Bayview Mackinac race has become a vital part of Great Lakes history, Michigan history, and sailing history.
Celebrate the start of the race in Port Huron. Then follow the course of the Port Huron to Mackinac Race as they head north along the shores of Michigan’s eastern coast. Join the festivities at the finish line on Mackinac Island. Where the hospitality and celebration is always second to none.
It’s Christmas in July with Wood Box Heroes headlining Music in the Park!
Wood Box Heroes, the American acoustic super-group, is hardly anything like the bluegrass music you used to find in the cassette player of your grandad’s old chevy pickup truck. Deeply rooted in tradition while melding together an eclectic-array of sounds from the country, bluegrass, blues, jazz, rock, and classical varieties, paired with crafty and authentic songwriting, the band delivers a piercing listening experience that plunges deep into the caverns of the soul.
Bringing together some of the world’s most highly lauded musicians in Matt Menefee (banjo-Mumford & Sons, Cadillac Sky, Warren Haynes), and Barry Bales (bass-Alison Krauss & Union Station) backing up the vocal magic of Jenee Fleenor (fiddle-Blake Shelton, Larry Cordle) and Josh Martin (singer/songwriter/guitarist), this unit has over a century of musical seasoning between them. Yet, it is quite astonishing that the years spent on separate roads, accompanying a spectrum of incredible artists and receiving some of the most sought-after honors and awards in the business, has led to this enigmatic musical intersection. https://woodboxheroes.com/
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6:30pm, Marquette Park, Mackinac Island – Free
With a spectacular backdrop, our summer concert series takes place on the lawn of a National Historic Landmark, Marquette Park, which is at the foothills of Historic Fort Mackinac downtown across from the marina. Bring a picnic and tune in for some great live folk, rock, country, blues—the best of Americana. All concerts are free. We recommend bringing a blanket or lawn chairs for your comfort.
Music In The Park
EVERY THURSDAY 6:30pm
MARQUETTE PARK
Rain location: Mission Point Theater
Five-night stays are required for premium room types.
Discounted extra day rates are available on June 30, July 1, July 5 and July 6.
Description
Celebrate the 4th of July with family and friends, while exploring the best that a Mackinac Island summer has to offer. July is the perfect time to soak up the sun at the Esther Williams Swimming Pool, play lawn games in the Tea Garden, or take a bike ride and explore Travel + Leisure’s #1 Island in the Continental U.S.
Package Includes:
Grand Hotel Accommodations
Breakfast and dinner daily
Family-friendly evening movies at the Esther Williams Swimming Pool
Evening Receptions on July 2nd and 3rd
Glow stick and cotton candy parties on July 2nd and 3rd at the Esther Williams Swimming Pool
Children’s Carnival in the Tea Garden on July 3rd and 4th
Ice Cream Social on July 4th
American Picnic in the Tea Garden on July 3rd
Grand Fourth of July Fireworks Display Viewing
Complimentary admission to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum
The Old Fashioned Mackinac Fourth of July package is also available by calling Grand Hotel Reservations at 1-800-334-7263.
Additional July Fourth Package Details
Start off your weekend with evening movies with Esther. Experience two days of an exciting children’s carnival full of games and prizes, small rides, face painting, blow-up bounce houses, and much more! On Wednesday, enjoy a BBQ luncheon in the Tea Garden and on Thursday cool off with our annual 4th of July Ice Cream Social. Celebrate the Fourth of July, with an evening American Picnic and Grand Fourth of July Fireworks Display, best seen from The World’s Longest Front Porch!
With so many activities around Grand Hotel and Mackinac Island, there really is something for everyone of all ages to enjoy. We hope to see you for this Grand Fourth of July tradition! See Pictures of Past July Fourth Events
*Subject to Michigan 6% sales tax, 3% Mackinac Island assessment, and a $15.00 per person, per stay, baggage-handling charge. Regular children’s rates apply. Extra charges apply for additional adults over double occupancy rates. Dates are subject to availability. A 30-day cancellation policy applies. A 3 night deposit is required for this package.
The annual 4th of July tournament on Mackinac Island is sure to be another crowd pleaser.
Everyone is eligible to compete in the tournament. The more the merrier.
The tournament is open to all ages and always occurs at Windermere Pointe Beach (Located next to Hotel Iroquois) every year at 10:00 am on the 4th of July. Professional skippers compete at high noon, often skipping 20+ skips.
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Schedule:
The Honorable Judge Glen Allen Open Tournament
10:00 Open tournament Begins
Kerplunking for the toddlers and little ones,
12 and under Division (Winner receives bragging rights for a year and a trophy)
13 and up Amateur division (Winner receives a trophy and fudge)
11:45 Awards Ceremony for Open Tournament
Wilmer T. Rabe International Stone Skipping Tournament (July 4th)
High Noon – Professional Invitational Competition (Winner receives goblets of cash)
All are welcome to participate in some family fun. No one is too young or too old to compete.
The weather was perfect on Mackinac Island for the 5oth annual tournament open to all. Check out the final results on the 2018 Scorecard to see this years winners.
The Pro division was quite exciting with a tie for first place. Traditionally when there is a tie the win goes to the to skippers second best stone. This year Bugsy and Lefty tied for 19 as their best skip and tied again with 17 for their second best skip. After deliberating with the judges Acting High Commissioner Paul H. Toepp, III announced that the winner would be determined by a sudden death 1 stone skip off. The crowd audibly signed when Bugsy threw a 5 and wonder if Left would go for the easy win. Lefty wound up and through for a 20+ but ended up with a 10 to take this years pro title.
Photos and Video from the 2010 Stone Skipping Tournament
Former Guinness Book Record holder Russ “Rock Bottom” Byars won the 2010 Mackinac Island Stone Skipping Tournament with a throw of 30 skips. Second place went to Todd “Mussels” Callewaert with 26 skips & rounding out 3rd was Glenn “Hard Luck” Loy with a 22 skips. (Note: Video is the third round throw and is not the tournament winning 30 skip throw.)
Photos from the Mackinac Island Stone Skipping Tournament – July 4, 2010
Saxophonist, flutist, and composer Alex Graham is an internationally recognized performer and educator who has performed as a leader or sideman with a variety of artists at festivals, clubs, and concert halls all over the world. He has been awarded fellowships and residencies to compose original music, and is an Associate Professor of Saxophone at Belmont University in Nashville, TN.
Graham’s recordings on Origin Records have been acclaimed by international critics and radio DJs, and feature some of the top jazz instrumentalists in the world. Alex is a Vandoren Regional Artist, a performing artist and clinician for Jupiter Saxophones, and holds a doctorate in jazz studies from the Eastman School of Music.
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6:30pm, Marquette Park, Mackinac Island – Free
With a spectacular backdrop, our summer concert series takes place on the lawn of a National Historic Landmark, Marquette Park, which is at the foothills of Historic Fort Mackinac downtown across from the marina. Bring a picnic and tune in for some great live folk, rock, country, blues—the best of Americana. All concerts are free. We recommend bringing a blanket or lawn chairs for your comfort.
Music In The Park
EVERY THURSDAY 6:30pm
MARQUETTE PARK
Rain location: Mission Point Theater
