It might be the unofficial last weekend blast of summer, but there is no shortage of fun! From a festival full of great music celebrating our love for the great Michigan waters to a star party and of course, the traditional bridge walk, you’ll find lots of ways to help summer say goodbye.
Water is Life Festival is Saturday Aug 31 from noon until 9pm on the Petoskey Waterfront. We are surrounded by water and it is part of our life. Celebrate the Water and our connection to it at the Water is Life Festival. The festival is a memorable experience through eclectic music, art and food. Bring your chair and enjoy great music including Pete Kehoe at 1pm, Lavender Lions at 4:45, followed by Dave Kroon, Urban Tropical and The Accidentals at 8pm. Say goodbye to summer with this family friendly event.
It’s time to walk the Mighty Mac. Mackinac Bridge Walk is Monday, September 2. The walk begins at 7 a.m.. No one will be permitted to start after 11:30 a.m., so make sure you arrive early. You have three options:
- Walk the entire bridge from either side. Note… no transportation is available so you will need to arrange your own return trip.
- Walk half way and turn around to your original start point.
- Or walk over and back, making it a 10 mile walk.
And if you’re going camping in the UP over Labor Day Weekend, remember the Mackinac Bridge will be closed to public traffic from 6:30 a.m. to noon. Get more info at Mackinac Bridge dot org
- And if you don’t want to do the big walk, you can do the Alanson Swinging Bridge Walk on Labor Day from 12:30 til 2. With the walk, music and fun in the park. Or the Charlevoix Little But Mighty Bridge Walk is also on Labor Day starting at 12:30. Always fun…. and a much easier walk. Come participate in Charlevoix’s annual Bridge Walk this Labor Day! Meet at Town House Bar at 12:30 pm. In Cheboygan, their walk starts with a line-up at 11:45. After the walk, enjoy hot dogs, music and kids games will be set up in Washington Park. And in the evening, head to Horton Bay for the Candlelight Bridge Walk. Music by Patrick Ryan will start at 7:30 p.m. and the walk across the bridge will start at dark. Candles will be available for participants. Afterwards, walkers will receive a coupon for free ice cream from the Horton Bay General Store.
This weekend’s craft fair is in Elk Rapids. Elk Rapids Art and Craft Fair is Saturday, August 31st, from 10-4pm on River Street. From handmade toys to fine art sculptures, pick up Michigan- inspired, Michigan made pottery, photographs, paintings and more! Great place to start your early Christmas shopping.
Enjoy a night of star gazing at the Sleeping Bear Dunes Star Party, Saturday night from 9 until 11pm. Join park rangers and astronomers from the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society (GTAS) for a Star Party! Rangers will provide information on preserving dark skies, and GTAS will have telescopes set up for visitors to enjoy. Meet at the Dunes Climb parking lot.
