You still have time to visit Mackinac Island before its many summer-themed businesses close for winter, according to the island's tourism bureau.
Mackinac Island is a top summer destination, drawing more than 1 million visitors per year, with popular spots from Arch Rock to the Grand Hotel, but as fall deepens, many businesses close down.
Tourism season typically lasts through October, according to the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau, although some businesses may reduce their hours or close completely before that. Halloween weekend on Oct. 30-31 and the closing of the Grand Hotel Oct. 25-26 are two of the last big tourist events of the season.
Most of the island's hundreds of horses are ferried off the island in late fall to enjoy the winter on
the mainland.
While summer on the island is starting to wind down, September and October offer a variety of events worth enjoying.
Here's what to know:
When does Mackinac Island's tourism season end?
Tourism season on Mackinac Island typically runs until October, the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau says, but the island remains open to visitors year-round. One of the sure signs of the end of the season is the "closing" of the Grand Hotel, which takes placeOct. 25-26, 2026.
Until the end of October, there are a variety of events taking place on the island, including:
- Sip N' Sailsunset cruises run through Oct. 31
- Picnic boat toursrun until Sept. 30
- "Somewhere in Time" screenings taking place weekly through Oct. 21
- Signature Sipsof Mission Points on Fridays until Oct. 16
- Straits Pride Festival takes place Sept. 17-20
- The Great Turtle Run takes place Oct. 24
Where is Mackinac Island?
Mackinac Island is located within the Straits of Mackinac in Lake Huron. It's a few miles offshore from both St. Ignace and Mackinaw City.
How do I get on Mackinac Island?
Visitors can fly into the Mackinac Island Airport or take a ferry from Mackinaw City or St. Ignace.
Where do the horses go in the winter?
Although a couple dozen horses remain on Mackinac Island through the offseason delivering mail to year-round residents and transporting workers, the tourism bureau explained, most of them retire for the winter to farms between the Mackinac Bridge and Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
"Basically, they go on vacation," the tourism bureau said.
What stays open in the winter?
A variety of businesses continue tooperate through the winter months, although some, like the ferries, are weather dependent.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: When does Mackinac Island season end? How long you have to visit
