This weekend, starting today, August 26-28, 2022, Mackinac Island will be celebrating FUDGE with its famous Fudge Festival. Enjoy fudge-making demonstrations, fudge giveaways, fudge bingo, and even fudge-flavored cocktails as you stroll along and indulge in the island’s specialty.
As you may have heard, Mackinac Island is the Fudge Capital of the World, and this weekend won’t disappoint! While the 14 island fudge shops are used to making about 10,000 pounds of fudge per day in peak season, they will certainly step up their fudge production during the festival to accommodate all festival visitors.
Activities for the whole family to enjoy will be going on throughout the entire weekend! Here is a glimpse of 4 of the events that you can participate in. There are many more activities listed on the event sheet below.
Be an Honorary Fudge Maker
May’s Candy Shop, Original Murdick’s Fudge, Ryba’s Fudge Shop, Kilwins, and Joann’s Fudge will be opening their fudge-making-tables to registered participants. Sign up at the Mackinac Island Tourism booth for your chance to get hands-on experience as a fudge maker.
Fudge-O-Lympics
Head over to Windermere Point on Sunday at noon EST to cheer on fudge shop staff members as they face off in a head-to-head battle for first place. Who are you going to cheer on?
Fudge Quest
All Fudge Festival visitors are invited to participate in an island treasure hunt. Follow the clues (given out today, August 26 at noon) to find a treasure box and claim the corresponding prize at the downtown Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau booth. There are 18 prizes available to win while supplies last. Bring along your smart phones because the clues can only be revealed via a QR code that must be scanned with your smart phone.
Slow Bike Race
Windermere Point is hosting the Slow Bile Race and other family games on Sunday, August 28, 2022, starting at 1pm EST with the bike race first, followed by dock porter division, and a sugar sack relay. An interesting fact about sugar sacks: 10 tons of sugar is brough over to the island each week and delivered by horse and carriage for fudge-making.
Test your focus, strength, and patience in a slow bike race. The rules are simple:
- Stay in your lane
- Don’t touch the ground
- Be the last one to cross the finish line
Bicycles will be provided
How to Get There
As always, Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry Company is ready to ferry fudge-lovers young and old over to the island. Our boats conveniently depart every 30 minutes from both Mackinaw City and St Ignace, and you can get first-come, first-served FREE dockside parking. There is additional free parking in lots nearby too! If you want to guarantee your spot on a ferry at a certain time, a “Priority Boarding” upgrade is available. For those planning on staying at a hotel or campground, you can leave your vehicle there and call us for a free shuttle ride to the dock. Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry Company is here to help you get to the fudge faster!
Buy ferry tickets HERE
See below for a full list of fudge festival events:
