Mackinaw City, Mich. — Mackinac State Historic Parks’ 2008 calendar of events, released today, is packed with recreational and educational activities that allow the entire family to relive history and explore nature.

            Among May event highlights is the Michilimackinac Pageant, held May 24-26 at Colonial Michilimackinac.  The reenactment of the 1763 Native American attack on the British-held fort and fur trading village, presented by a Mackinaw City community group, is free of charge to visitors.

            June 17 brings the grand opening event of Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park, a 625-acre nature and historical park.  Held at 6:30 p.m., the event will celebrate the addition of many new features to the park, including the High Ropes Nature Experience.  Visitors will be able to explore nature from an eagle’s eye view as they soar over Mill Creek on the Eagle’s Flight Zip Line and walk through the treetops on the Forest Canopy Bridge.

            Celebrate Independence Day by eating tangy BBQ baby back ribs, grilled chicken breasts, hamburgers, hot dogs and a bounty of delicious food provided by Grand Hotel at the  An American Picnic event.  Checkered red and white tablecloths will be spread out on Fort Mackinac’s parade ground, creating a patchwork quilt welcoming hungry patriots.

              Vintage Base Ball returns to Mackinac Island State Park on July 19 as the Fort Mackinac Never Sweats challenge the Grangers of Rochester, Michigan in a good, old-fashioned rivalry played barehanded and by gentlemen’s rules on the old soldiers’ parade ground base ball field behind Fort Mackinac, the oldest continually used ball field in Michigan.

            August presents a wide variety of activities, including the August 2 Benjamin Blacksmith Convention.  Tombstone Tales, held August 13, is a guided walking tour where participants will encounter characters from Mackinac Island's past at three historic island cemeteries.  The tour begins at the Fort Mackinac Post Cemetery.

            In October, Fort Michilimackinac will turn into the creature-inhabited Fort Fright.  During the twilight exploration of the wooden palisade, experience the legends and lore of French-Canadian voyageurs and enjoy authentic autumn treats.

            Colonial Michilimackinac and Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park in Mackinaw City open for the season on May 5.  Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island opens May 6.  Opening day of Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse in Mackinaw City is set for May 12.  The five Mackinac Island historic downtown buildings open their doors on June 7.  Sites are open seven days a week, May through October, and feature live programs with historic interpreters in authentic period costumes.

Each year, over 375,000 guests of Mackinac State Historic Parks experience the scent of sawdust from an authentic 18^th century sawmill, the “kaboom” of fort cannons, and the majestic view of the Straits of Mackinac from within a 50-foot lighthouse tower.

             Mackinac State Historic Parks, a family of living history museums and parks in northern Michigan’s Straits of Mackinac, is an agency within the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries. Its sites—which are accredited by the American Association of Museums—include Fort Mackinac, Mackinac Island State Park, and Historic Downtown on Mackinac Island, and Colonial Michilimackinac, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park in Mackinaw City.  Mackinac State Historic Parks is governed by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, established in 1895 to protect, preserve and present the parks’ rich historic and natural resources for the education and recreation of future generations.  Visitor information is available at 231-436-4100 or on the web at www.MackinacParks.com.

2008 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Mackinac State Historic Parks events included with regular admission unless noted otherwise.

MAY

5                              Opening Day, Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park and Colonial          Michilimackinac, Mackinaw City

6                              Opening Day, Fort Mackinac, Mackinac Island

12                           Opening Day, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, Mackinaw City

24 – 26                  Michilimackinac Pageant, Colonial Michilimackinac

Experience a reenactment of the 1763 Native American’s attack on the British-held fort as presented by a Mackinaw City community group. Free.

26                           Memorial Day Observance, Fort Mackinac Post Cemetery, 8:30 a.m.

A brief and informal Memorial Day observance to pay tribute to the soldiers who served at Fort Mackinac. Soldiers will assemble at 8:30 a.m. at Fort Mackinac, then will march to the cemetery, perform a short ceremony and salute and return to the fort.  Free.

JUNE

June 4 –                Michigan Governor’s Summer Residence Tours, Wednesdays,

August 27             9:30-11:30 a.m., Mackinac Island State Park 

Over 100 years old, the Michigan Governor's Summer Residence has functioned as a summer home for eight Michigan governors and their families dating back to 1943. A rare inside look into the 1902 cottage overlooking Mackinac Island's harbor.  Free.

June 7 –                Mackinac Island Historic Downtown Buildings, Mackinac Island State Park,

August 23             Daily, 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Mission Church, Noon – 4:00 p.m. 

                                Mackinac's 19^th. century fur trade community comes to life at the Biddle House, American Fur Company Store & Dr. Beaumont Museum and the McGulpin House. See a blacksmith demonstrate the trade at the Benjamin Blacksmith Shop. Cooking and craft demonstrations at Biddle House. Mission Church open but not staffed.

15                           Mackinac State Historic Parks’ Historic Programs 50^th. Anniversary, Fort Mackinac 

17                           Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park Grand Opening, 6:30 p.m. 

JULY

 4                             Red, White & Blue Celebration, Fort Mackinac, 5:30 p.m.

                                An annual Independence Day reception for members of Mackinac Associates.

Free for Mackinac Associates members above Heritage level.

 4                         Star Spangled Fourth of July, Fort Mackinac, 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

The historic island fort is decked out in patriotic finery with banners, flags and bunting. It is an 1880s Independence Day, with 38-gun salutes honoring the states of the period, performances of patriotic music, and children’s games. Guests join the party and participate in dances and games on the fort parade ground.

4                              An American Picnic, Fort Mackinac, 6:30 p.m. 

Checkered red and white tablecloths spread on the grass of Fort Mackinac’s parade ground create a patchwork quilt welcoming hungry patriots with Grand Hotel’s all-you-can-eat tangy BBQ baby back ribs, grilled chicken breasts, hamburgers, hot dogs, turkey burgers, corn on the cob and a slew of salads, fixings and desserts. Stay for the fireworks! Call 906-847-3328 or visit www.MackinacParks.com for prices.

19                           Vintage Base Ball, old soldiers’ parade ground base ball field, Mackinac Island State Park, behind Fort Mackinac, 7:00 p.m.

A vintage game of “base ball” as it was meant to be played, barehanded and by gentlemen’s rules on the old soldiers’ parade ground base ball field behind Fort Mackinac, the oldest continually used ball field in Michigan.  Learn an old-fashioned cheer, watch players fined for smoking cigars on the field, and enjoy a good, old-fashioned rivalry. The game pits the Fort Mackinac Never Sweats against the Grangers of Rochester, Michigan.  Family - $15, Adult - $5, Youth (5-17) - $3, Children 4 & under and Mackinac Associates above Heritage level - Free

AUGUST

2                              Benjamin Blacksmith Convention, Mackinac Island State Park, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. 

More than a dozen regional blacksmiths display traditional blacksmith tools and techniques as they bend steel and create art in a public project.

9                              Mackinac Associates Annual Meeting, Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park 

13                           Tombstone Tales, Mackinac Island Cemeteries, 8:00 p.m.

Encounter characters from the past at three historic island cemeteries.  Guided tour begins at the Fort Mackinac Post Cemetery. 

Family - $30, Adult - $10, Youth (5-17) - $6, Children 4 & under and Mackinac Associates above Heritage level - Free)

20                           Twilight Hike, Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park, 8:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. 

Follow a park naturalist into the forest on an evening discovery tour of Northwood’s flora and fauna. Experience is limited to 30 guests.

Family - $15, Adult - $5, Youth (5-17) - $3, Children 4 & under and Mackinac Associates above Heritage level – Free

SEPTEMBER

No September events scheduled as of December 5, 2007.  (See note below.*)

OCTOBER

4                            Michigan Archaeology Day, Colonial Michilimackinac, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

Join the Mackinac State Historic Parks archaeologists for an archaeology-focused tour at 10:30 a.m. and a slide show presentation at 2:30 p.m. Archaeologists will be on site all day to answer guests’ questions about Colonial Michilimackinac’s archaeological features including the Treasures from the Sand exhibit, ruins and authentically reconstructed historical buildings. 

10 – 11                  Fort Fright, Colonial Michilimackinac, 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Explore the wooden-palisade of Fort Michilimackinac at twilight and experience the legends and lore of the French Canadians who called this Great Lakes outpost home.

Family - $15, Adult - $5, Youth (5-17) - $3, Children 4 & under and Mackinac Associates above Heritage level - Free

12                           Mackinac State Historic Parks living history sites close for the season.

* Colonial Michilimackinac and Fort Mackinac hosts a  number of historical encampments throughout the season featuring costumed 18^th and 19^th. century re-enactors joining the forts' troops in military demonstrations, fashion shows and camp life.  Call 231-436-4100 or visit mackinacparks.com  for specific encampment groups, dates and times.

Join the Mackinac family by becoming a member of Mackinac Associates and enjoy a variety of member-only events.  Call 231-436-4100 or visit on mackinacparks.com/mackinac-associates.