May in Northern Michigan is magical. The sweet-smelling cherry blossoms are at their peak and tulips bloom in riotous color. Temperatures begin to warm and the sounds of the Mackinac Music Workshop fill the air. Get ready to wrap up your performance year and plan a trip to the best high school band performance event in Northern Michigan!
Oh… and while you’re here? Make sure your students can enjoy all the incredible must-dos, extraordinary adventures, and OMG so cool moments that you can only get in the Mackinaw area.
First Things First (Because We Know You’re All Thinking It!)
Let’s Talk Performance Event!
The Mackinac Music Workshop takes place at the elegant and acoustically superb Cheboygan Opera House. Your band, choir, or orchestra will work with a highly-esteemed educator or conductor as part of a pre-performance clinic.
Then, they’ll perform on the historic Cheboygan Opera House stage, a beautifully restored focal point for entertainment and the performing arts in the Straits of Mackinaw area.
The Mackinac Music Workshop Includes
Performance on Cheboygan Opera House Stage
May 9th or May 17th Clinic with Esteemed Educator/Conductor
Written and/or Recorded Critique
Ensemble Award Plaque
Price: $89/Performer
Best Performance Tips for Students
While You’re Here
While you’re in this little slice of heaven, take time to enjoy all the Mackinaw region has to offer (which is a LOT!)
The Must-Dos
Mackinac Bridge and Museum
The Mackinac Bridge, or “Mighty Mac,” is the 4th longest suspension bridge in the world at nearly 5 miles. It was completed in 1957 and connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan.
It was designed to withstand high winds, changing temperatures, and constantly varying weights.
Check out some fun facts and bridge trivia at the free Mackinaw Bridge Museum above MaMa Mia’s Restaurant. The restaurant’s owner was one of the original ironworkers who built the Mighty Mac!
Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse
Tour the 130+-year-old lighthouse that guided ships through the treacherous Straits of Mackinac. Learn about the families who lived and worked there, as well as the tragic shipwrecks that took place.
It’s a beautiful spot rich in maritime history.
Colonial Michilimackinac
Step back in time to the days of the American Revolution. The fort and fur trading village offers a glimpse of colonial life during America’s earliest days. Historical interpreters share fascinating tales of British soldiers, French-Canadian merchants, and settlers at Colonial Michilimackinac.
Ferry to Mackinac Island
Grab your bike or put on your walking shoes and ferry across deep blue waters to beautiful Mackinac Island.
There are no cars allowed on this little slice of paradise, but horses and buggies abound! Explore the island’s winding paths, historic buildings, and fabulous fudge.
Stop at the Grand Hotel (which boasts the world’s largest porch) or visit the quaint shops on Main Street.
A day on the island feels like a step back in time!
Extraordinary Adventures
Adrenaline Falls Zipline Adventure
Take the adventure of Mackinaw up a notch at Adrenaline Falls Zipline Adventure. Soar high above two magnificent waterfalls and a Starbucks in downtown Mackinaw City. (Starbucks?? Can you take your Starbucks with you? Probably not…sigh.)
Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park
Explore 3 miles of trails through lush green forest and learn how lumber was cut at a working sawmill. Then take to the trees for a birds-eye view of the canopy.
Glass Bottom Boat Tour
Board the 36-foot Newton boat for an hour and a half tour of shipwrecks, lighthouses, and the stunning Great Lakes. If you want to get up close and personal, Nautical North Family Adventures offers snorkeling at one of the area’s oldest wrecks.
Mackinac Old Time Trolley Co.
Get up close and personal with the Mackinaw natives on an Old Time Trolley Tour. Trolleys are always a fun way to see a city (I mean, you’re on a trolley!) and this one hits all the Mackinac hot spots.
Jack Pine Lumberjack Show
There aren’t many places where you can watch world-class lumberjacks go head to head and axe to axe! Learn about Michigan’s rich logging history as the axe antics abound!
This super fun show is action-packed and great for groups.
OMG SO COOL!
Headlands International Dark Sky Park
Headlands International Dark Sky Park is a dark sky-protected place with more than 2 miles of uninterrupted Lake Michigan Shoreline. That means that when the sun goes down, the stars come out. Literally.
Depending on the time of year, you’ll have magnificent views of the Northern Lights, shooting stars, nebulae, and stunning constellations. It’s a breathtaking show performed nightly by Mother Nature herself.
Bonfire on the Beach
Wrap up your time in Mackinaw with a bonfire on the beach. Kick back and relax to the sounds of the water while licking the gooey goodness of s’mores from your fingers – an amazing moment to end an amazing trip!
Best High School Band Performance Event in Northern Michigan
When you’re ready for the best high school band performance event in Northern Michigan, there’s an incredible adventure ahead! This beautiful (almost otherworldly) spot beckons you to relax and enjoy the moment!
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE MACKINAC MUSIC WORKSHOP