Fort Michilimackinac pageant and Michigan’s biggest parade

Four days of free history in Mackinaw City: a 1:00 PM Grand Parade and 2:30 PM reenactments at Colonial Michilimackinac.

Start date

22 May, 2026 1:00 PM

End date

25 May, 2026 11:59 PM

Event details

Over Memorial Day weekend, you turn Mackinaw City’s Straits of Mackinac waterfront into a front-row seat for living history. The Memorial Weekend Pageant and Michigan’s Largest Parade runs May 22 to May 25, 2026, centering on the 1763 story of Fort Michilimackinac. More than 400 cast members in period attire bring French, British, and Native American perspectives to life, with the weekend’s signature baggataway game and a strong sense of civic tribute throughout.

Your best viewing starts on Saturday, when the Grand Memorial Parade steps off at 1:00 PM from Conkling Heritage Park and follows the route to the gates of Colonial Michilimackinac. Arrive early and you can catch the Scottville Clown Band downtown at 11:00 AM, then settle in along Central Avenue or Huron Avenue for clear sightlines of marching bands and floats. After the parade, head straight to the fort for the 2:30 PM historical pageant, set against wide-open Great Lakes skies and the Mackinac Bridge.

Plan to return to Colonial Michilimackinac for reenactments at 2:30 PM on Sunday and again at 2:30 PM on Monday, with muzzleloader activities running throughout the weekend as conditions allow. On Monday, start your day with the Memorial Day Service at 10:00 AM at Conkling Heritage Park, then close out the event with the final afternoon session at the fort.

Admission to both the parade and pageant is free, so your main strategy is timing and comfort. We suggest arriving at least an hour early on Saturday, bringing a folding chair, a light jacket for the lake breeze, and high SPF sunscreen for the open fort grounds. Use public parking near the municipal marina, but expect it to fill before the 1:00 PM start, and if weather turns, check local updates for adjusted outdoor range times. For an easy weekend, book a waterfront hotel within walking distance, or choose a quieter rental near the South Shore; if you’re traveling with a pet, confirm current animal rules with Mackinac State Historic Parks before you go.