Cheers to Mackinaw City’s 4th Annual Beer & Wine Festival, Saturday, September 7

Celebrate the changing of the seasons along the shores of Lake Huron during the 4th Annual Mackinaw City Beer & Wine Festival on Saturday, September 7. Dozens of the finest craft beer and wines will be served throughout the afternoon and early evening at Conkling Heritage Park.

Festivities run from 1-9pm, with $5 admission including a tasting glass and 3 tasting drink tickets (which are redeemed at 2 tickets for a 4-ounce beer sample and 3 tickets for a 3-ounce wine sample). Additional tickets are available at $12 for 15 or $15 for 20. Food is also available for purchase. Tickets for the Mackinaw City Beer & Wine Festival are available at the gate throughout the day.

Live music will also be taking place throughout the day on the performance shell stage including Mighty Hiawatha Band and Sturgeon Valley.

For lodging reservations for the Mackinaw City Beer & Wine Festival weekend, or throughout the fall season, visit MackinawCity.com/stay/.

Sample Craft Beers & Wines During Mackinaw City’s 2nd Annual Beer & Wine Festival – Saturday, September 9

Dozens of the finest craft beer and wines will be served at Conkling Heritage Park, along the shores of Lake Huron, on Saturday, September 9 during the 2nd Annual Mackinaw City Beer & Wine Festival.

Festivities run from 1-10pm, with $5 admission including a tasting glass and 2 tasting drink tickets (which are redeemed at 2 tickets for a 4-ounce beer sample and 3 tickets for a 3-ounce wine sample). Additional tickets are available at $8 for 10 or $20 for 15. Food is also available for purchase.

Live music will be taking place throughout the day on the performance shell stage, including: Bret Harfert (1-3pm), Polar Bear Recon (3-6pm) and Mighty Hiawatha Band (6-10pm).

Tickets for the Mackinaw City Beer & Wine Festival are available at the gate throughout the day.

For lodging reservations for the Mackinaw City Beer & Wine Festival weekend, or throughout the fall season, visit MackinawCity.com/stay/.

DAY TRIPS: Celebrate Michigan Craft Beer Month in Mackinaw City

Michigan is the self-proclaimed “Great Beer State” and for good reason. There are more than 300 microbreweries around the state, producing thousands of craft beers that are perfect for sampling no matter the season.

Mackinac Island Brewhouse & Winery, located inside Mackinaw Bay Trading Company, offers 10 microbrews on draft as well as build-your-own six-packs with thousands of craft brew options from Michigan and beyond.

Biere de Mac Brew Works is located just south of downtown Mackinaw City on the Mackinaw Highway. Order a pint or a flight of locally-inspired brews such as 20 Fathoms, Accidental Tourist, Poe Reef Nicolet IPA, Waugoshance Wheat, Vacationland and The Yugo. Paddle Hard Brewing (based in Grayling, 85 miles south on I-75) also operates its Rusted Spoke Brewing in town.

You can also find a selection of Michigan-made microbrews at Audie’s Family Restaurant, Dixie Saloon, The Embers Inn & Tavern, The Historic Depot Restaurant and Caboose at Mackinaw Crossings, The Lighthouse Restaurant, Nonna Lisa’s and O’Reilly’s Irish Pub.

Within an hour drive or so from Mackinaw City, you can tap into several other breweries. Cheboygan Brewing can be found not far from the Lake Huron shoreline. Along the west coast, Pond Hill Farm in Harbor Springs is home to Tunnel Vision Brewery. In Petoskey, you’ll find Petoskey Brewing, Beards Brewing and Burnt Marshmallow; Stiggs Brewery is located in downtown Boyne City, and Lake Charlevoix Brewing overlooks Round Lake in downtown Charlevoix (next to the Beaver Island Boat Company docks) while Bier’s Inwood Brewery can be found a few miles south of town near Norwood.

Over the Mackinac Bridge, you’ll find another couple dozen breweries including Les Cheneaux Brewery & Distillery in Cedarville along with three breweries in Sault Ste. Marie (one of Mackinaw City’s “Day Trip Destinations”) including Lockside Brewery, Soo Brewing Company and Superior Coast Brewery.

For a list of other Michigan breweries, visit the Michigan Brewers Guild website.

SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, September 7 – Mackinaw City Beer & Wine Festival.