Mackinac State Historic Parks invites you to join the interpretive staff of Colonial Michilimackinac and celebrate the 288th birthday of King George III on Thursday, June 4, starting at 9:00 a.m. as part of the America250 festivities at Colonial Michilimackinac.
A highlight for both British soldiers and civilians at Michilimackinac, King George's birthday was marked as a celebration in the most British of holidays. Special programs for the day include an artillery salute at 12:00 p.m., as the mortar, wall gun, and cannon are fired. At 1:00 p.m. patriotic toasts and refreshments can be found at the Commanding Officer’s House. Guests will be able to discover the customs, rituals, and meanings behind toasting traditions and raise a glass as though it was 1776.
At 3:00 p.m. a special program called Attack 1763: Michilimackinac and the Anglo-Indian War will examine the tensions leading up to the attack under the cover of the King’s birthday festivities. At 4:00 p.m. learn about the complexities of British society in the 1770s through the lens of tea at the Trader’s House.
All special programming is included with regular admission to Colonial Michilimackinac. For more details and a full schedule of events, visit mackinacparks.com. A downloadable version of this release can be found here. Additional pictures available upon request.
Support for many Mackinac State Historic Parks programs comes from Mackinac Associates, friends preserving and sharing Mackinac’s history.
DAILY SCHEDULE FOR COLONIAL MICHILIMACKINAC JUNE 4
9:00 a.m. Colonial Michilimackinac Open for the Day
9:30 a.m. Musket Firing Demonstration
10:30 a.m. Artillery Firing Demonstration
11:00 a.m. First Strike! Michilimackinac:1776 Program
12:00 p.m. Artillery Salute
1:00 p.m. Michilimackinac’s Enslaved Community Program
2:00 p.m. Patriotic Toasts and Refreshments at the Commanding Officer’s House
3:00 p.m. People of the Fur Trade Program
4:00 p.m. Some Tea and Loaf Sugar: Tea at the British Trader’s House
5:00 p.m. Colonial Michilimackinac Closed for the Day
