October 10th - 11th, 2008
Fort Fright Night at Michilimackinac
Michilimackinac to Turn into "Fort Fright" October 10th & 11th

On October 10th and 11th, Colonial Michilimackinac will be transformed into a haunted habitat where werewolves, witches, and other legendary characters roam. Operating under the name “ Fort Fright ” for these two nights, the 18th-century fort and fur trading village will be open from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., with admission set at $15 for families, $5 for adults, $3 for youth (6-17), and free for children 5 and under.

The characters that will be seen and talked about throughout the evening are drawn from a book called Were-Wolves and Will-o-the-Wisps: French Tales of Mackinac Retold, which was authored by Dirk Gringhuis and published by Mackinac State Historic Parks in 1974. “The book describes the best-known legends in French-Canadian folklore,” explained Brisson, “like the man who can change into a wolf, the ghostly light known as ‘will o’ the wisp,’ and the good and bad goblins called ‘lutins.’” Many of these legends spread to other countries, Brisson noted, and some are still believed in today—with a twist. “For instance, Gringuis’ book tells us that black cats—now thought of as bringing bad luck—were originally considered the best of the good lutins.”

Priced at $6 a copy, the softbound Were-Wolves and Will-o-the-Wisps will be available for purchase at the Visitor’s Center on the nights of the event.

Event: celebration
Time: 06:30PM to 09:00PM
Location: Colonial Michilimackinac