Mackinac Island's Favorite Food To Highlight Festival Next Week

Cameron Belyeu makes a batch of peanut butter fudge at Joann's Fudge early Monday morning, August 13, as Joann's and the rest of the fudge shops prepare for a busy day on the Island. This is his second summer making fudge.

Mackinac Island fudge is known worldwide and it is featured in tours, contests, and special drinks and foods during the 3rd Annual Fudge Festival Friday, August 24, to Sunday, August 26. Mackinac's fudge has been a special tradition since Harry Murdick opened Murdick's Candy Kitchen in the late 1880s. There are more than 15 fudge shops operating on Mackinac Island, making dozens of flavors.

Throughout the weekend, visitors can experience the hobby of letterboxing, Mackinac Island style. It is a pastime that brings navigational skills and rubber stamp artistry together in an outdoor expedition. There are four boxes to search for, and contestants use a notebook and Island map to record their search. Information can be picked up at the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau.

Other events and times are listed below.

Friday, August 24

Doc Crain will hosting a bicycle tour at 10 a.m. starting at Mackinac Wheels, and a hiking tour at 2 p.m. beginning at Marquette Park.

From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Island bartenders will create "fudge-ilicious" concoctions during "Fudge on the Rocks."\

Detroit Music Award winner John D. Lamb will perform from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Mission Point Resort's Bistro on the Greens.

A Mackinac Island hayride departs from the Tourism Bureau at 8 p.m. Adult tickets are $20, child tickets are $10.

"A Little Night Music" begins at 10 p.m., with Myk Rise at the Pink Pony, D. J. Sevin on the Pink Pony Patio, Frontmen Band at Horn's Gaslight Bar, the Chris McCall Trio at Patrick Sinclair's Irish Pub, and FLY at the Gate House.

Saturday, August 25

Doc Crain's bicycle tour begins at 10 a.m., and the hiking tour begins at 2 p.m. The Great Kite Ascension will be held at Windermere. One popular event, at 3 p.m., called, "Daddy...I want the Golden Ticket and I Want It Now!" will take place, in which five golden tickets are secretly placed in fudge boxes across the Island, like the book "Charlie and Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl. Another will be drawn at the Children's Ballet Theatre of Michigan performance at Mission Point Resort at 8 p.m. The winners win a 2008 two-night stay for four including tickets for a ferry, a Mackinac Island Carriage Tour, access to Wings of Mackinac, Original Butterfly House, the Haunted Theatre, and more fudge as well.

At 5 p.m., during the Fudge Festival Concert Series, the Lawrence Barris Group will perform jazz, soul, Latin, and rhythm and blues sounds in Marquette Park. At 6 p.m., John D. Lamb will once again perform at Bistro on the Greens until 10 p.m.

At 8 p.m. , the Fudge Festival Dance Series featuring the Children's Ballet Theatre of Michigan will take place, presented by the Michigan Sugar Company and hosted by Miss Michigan Sugar at Mission Point Theatre. At 9 p.m., Stu Stuart is performing his comedy show, which tickets can be purchased at the Lilac Tree Hotel beforehand ($15 adults, $12.50 students, seniors, and military).

Sunday, August 26

From 9 - 11 a.m. is the "Bon Voyage Fudge & Jazz Brunch," hosted by jazz guitarist Lawrence Barris and keyboardist Darryl Dybka with brunch by Chef Derrick at Chippewa Hotel. No reservations are required.