Everyone Loves a (Mackinac Bridge) Parade

Each year, a handful of special parades are held in which the participants travel across the 5-mile Mackinac Bridge. These events are fun not only for the participants, but for visitors in downtown Mackinaw City as well. Please add these dates to your summer travel calendar:

Friday, April 26                  4th Annual Jeep the Mac

Last year, more than 800 Jeeps participated in this annual trek. This year’s crossing will begin at 3pm in St. Ignace with all Jeeps heading south into Mackinaw City before looping around to return to the Upper Peninsula.

Saturday, July 20              6th Annual Mustang Stampede

Celebrating the classic Ford muscle car which was first introduced in 1964. Dozens of cars will be on display from 10am-4pm in Conkling Heritage Park, followed by the bridge parade at 4:30pm. Dinner follows, with live music and the awards ceremony.

Saturday, August 3          Mini on the Mack (www.minionthemack.com)

Help break the English-held “World Record for Largest-ever MINI Cooper Parade” during this spectacular bi-annual (the current record of 1450 is held by the Surrey MINI Club Owners in the UK). In 2017, 1328 cars participated in the Straits area event (up from 1319 in 2015) and this year hopes to be the biggest group to date.

Saturday, August 24        30th Annual Corvette Crossroads

Hundreds of Corvettes are on display at the Mackinaw Crossings Mall parking lot from 10-2, with awards in a variety of categories presented at 3pm. The procession lines up at 6pm, with the crossing of the Mackinac Bridge at 7pm. All Corvettes in town are welcome to cross the Mackinac Bridge (there is a nominal fee for non-show registered ‘Vettes to participate in the parade).

Friday, September 6       12 Annual Antique Tractor Crossing (www.mackinacbridgecrossing.com)

First held in 2008 (with 614 participants), this parade feature all makes, models, shapes and sizes of vintage tractors and farm equipment from around the country (and beyond). The line-up begins in downtown Mackinaw City at 9am, with the procession traveling across the bridge to downtown St. Ignace, ending at the Little Bear Arena. Last year, over 1,300 tractors joined in the parade.

For lodging reservations throughout the summer season, visit MackinawCity.com/stay/.

 

Photo: DrivingLine.com

5th Annual Mackinaw City Mustang Stampede Rolls into Straits of Mackinac July 20-21, 2018

More than 100 cars are expected to gather on Saturday, July 21 for the 5th Annual Mackinaw City Mustang Stampede to be held at Conkling Heritage Park, along the shores of Lake Huron, in downtown Mackinaw City. Celebrating Ford Motor Company’s iconic Mustang, which first rolled off the assembly line in 1964 to become one of the most noted muscle cars on the road today.

Check in and registration will take place on Friday, July 20 between 2-7pm or 8-9:30am on Saturday, July 21 at 409 S. Huron Avenue, next to Conkling Heritage Park and Best Western Dockside. All cars must be checked in and on display by 9:45am on Saturday.

Saturday’s schedule:

The registration fee is $50 per car if postmarked by June 30, 2018 and $60 after (based on availability). Registration includes: parking space for the car, a commemorative t-shirt, an event keepsake, token for the Mackinac Bridge parade (your token is for your return trip back to Mackinaw City for dinner). Also included is ONE dinner ticket. Additional tickets can be purchased for $10 each. Extra t-shirts can be purchased at the show as well. No refunds will be given. To register: https://www.mackinawcity.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2018-Mustang-registration-pdf.pdf.

For lodging reservations for the Mustang Stampede weekend, or throughout the summer season, visit MackinawCity.com/stay/.

4th Annual Mackinaw City Mustang Stampede Celebrates Pure Michigan’s Iconic Ford Muscle Car

The Ford Motor Company rolled its first Mustang off the assembly line in 1964 and this classic muscle car remains one of the most iconic vehicles on the road today. More than 100 cars are expected to gather on Saturday, July 15 for the 4th Annual Mackinaw City Mustang Stampede to be held at Conkling Heritage Park, along the shores of Lake Huron, in downtown Mackinaw City.

The day’s schedule includes:

Those interested in participating in this event can register here: https://www.mackinawcity.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Mustang-brochure-2017-PDF.pdf. Check in and registration will take place on Friday, July 14 between 2-7pm.

According to Edmunds.com, “The production Mustang was shown to the public for the first time inside the Ford Pavilion at the New York World’s Fair on April 17, 1964 — two months and nine days after the Beatles first came to New York to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show. It went on sale at Ford dealers that same day.”

Originally built to be the second-generation of the Ford Falcon, the line proved to be so popular that it became the only Ford “pony” car to remain in production for more than five decades. From the very beginning, the Mustang has been a hot commodity. Within its first 18 months of production, more than one million Mustangs were produced. To date, more than nine million have been sold worldwide.

For lodging reservations for the Mustang Stampede weekend, or throughout the summer season, visit MackinawCity.com/stay/.ford, mustang,