The calendar says it and you can feel it in the air, too. Yep, it’s officially fall.
Time to fall in love with another face of Mackinac.
Though the peak summer tourism season on the island has passed, there’s still a lot for visitors to enjoy. Take a peek below at some of the things to do on Mackinac in October.
The nights start a little sooner and the air is a little crisper, but the mood on the island is as festive as ever (and maybe a bit spooky, too!).
- Downtown bars continue nighttime entertainment with trivia at the Pink Pony, game night at Gate House, music at Horn’s Gaslight Bar and tap takeovers at Mary’s Bistro Draught House, for example. Hotels and resorts are hosting festivities, too, with the first-ever Macktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Island House, the Halloween Ball & Haunted Weekend from Oct. 12-15 at Mission Point and the Somewhere in Time Weekend from Oct. 26-28 at the Grand Hotel. Here’s a full calendar of events.
- The Women's Wellness and a Wee Bit 'O Wine Weekend from Oct. 19-21 invites girlfriends to Mackinac for island walks, yoga sessions, spa treatments, great food, wine tasting, shopping and more. The weekend brings women together to celebrate friendships and healthy living, with proceeds supporting Mackinac Island’s Community Cancer Fund.
- Speaking of shopping, Mackinac’s unique downtown stores are offering deep discounts as the season nears a close at the end of the month. Remember, when the calendar says it’s fall, there are fewer than 100 days until Christmas!
- Before we get to Christmas, Mackinac will celebrate Halloween with parties all over the island Oct. 26-28. Bring the kids for trick-or-treating at businesses down Main and Market streets, and bring your Halloween costumes to win prizes in contests around downtown.
- Work off that Halloween candy by taking part in one of the most scenic races in Michigan. The Great Turtle Trail Run on Saturday, Oct. 27, takes you right through the middle of the island’s forest of fall color on roads and bike trails from Arch Rock across to British Landing. Both the 5.7-mile run/walk and the half-marathon courses also track the shoreline for breathtaking views of the water.
- In addition to all the activities in town, keep in mind that more than 80 percent of Mackinac is a state park. Fall is a beautiful time of year to hike, bike or ride horseback on the trails through the interior of the island. Iconic sites like Sugar Loaf take on incredible new personalities amid the blazing fall colors.