Cheboygan Area Visitors Bureau

09/01/2026

Things to do in Cheboygan!

🌉❤️ OUR BRIDGE MAY BE SMALL…BUT CHEBOYGAN’S COMMUNITY SPIRIT IS MIGHTY! ❤️🌉

Only in Cheboygan can walking across a tiny bridge become one of our favorite Labor Day traditions. 😂❤️

We caught up with Tricia Dieter, Chair of the State Street Bridge Walk, to talk about a milestone worth celebrating — the 25th Annual State Street Bridge Walk! 🎉

What began 25 years ago as a little tongue-in-cheek nod to Michigan’s MUCH bigger Labor Day tradition — the Mackinac Bridge Walk — has turned into something wonderfully and uniquely Cheboygan.

Because really…why should the Mighty Mac have all the fun? 😉

The Mackinac Bridge Walk has been a Michigan Labor Day tradition since 1958, bringing thousands of people together to cross five miles of the Mighty Mac each year.

Here in Cheboygan?

We decided we could do a bridge walk, too. Ours is just a little shorter. 😂

And the bridge itself has quite a story! The State Street Bridge — officially the Cheboygan Bascule Bridge — was built in 1940, carries US-23 over the Cheboygan River, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

For 25 years, our community has celebrated it in the best possible way: hundreds of neighbors, families, friends and visitors walking across it together.

No athletic training required. 😉
No five-mile trek.
No registration.
No entry fee.

Just show up and WALK! ❤️

📅 LABOR DAY — MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
⏰ 12:15 PM
📍 State Street Bridge
🎉 Ending at Festival Square in the heart of downtown Cheboygan
💲 FREE COMMUNITY EVENT — NO REGISTRATION!

Bring the kids. Bring Grandma and Grandpa. Bring your neighbors. Bring your out-of-town guests. Bring that friend who keeps saying there’s “nothing going on.” 😉

And if you’re visiting Northern Michigan for Labor Day weekend, come experience small-town Michigan at its very best.

There’s something pretty special about hundreds of people gathering together to walk one very small bridge simply because, 25 years ago, somebody thought it would be fun.

And somehow…that fun little idea became a tradition. ❤️

🌉 Small bridge. BIG heart. 25 years of Cheboygan tradition.

👇 TAG the people you’re walking with this year!

And tell us in the comments: Have you ever participated in the State Street Bridge Walk? What year was your first?

Thank you to Cheboygan Main Street DDA, Tricia Dieter and all of the volunteers who continue creating the traditions and experiences that make our downtown — and our community — such a wonderful place to call home and visit.

We’ll see you on the bridge! ❤️🌉

MEET ME AT THE BRIDGE. ❤️

Labor Day in Cheboygan means coming together for one of our favorite community traditions — the annual State Street Bridge Walk & Community Picnic!

📅 Monday, September 7
👟 Line up at 11:45 AM
🌉 Bridge Walk at 12:15 PM
🌭 Community Picnic immediately following at Festival Square

No registration. No fuss. Just show up, bring your family and friends, and be part of a great Cheboygan tradition.

A special thank you to the community partners helping make this year's event possible: Cheboygan Area Visitors Bureau , Reusch Jewelers , Brewing Company , Straits Area Federal Credit Union , Walmart Cheboygan , and Fireside Hearth & Leisure of Cheboygan & friends of Main Street Splash and Dash Car Wash.
Powered by Cheboygan Main Street in partnership with the City of Cheboygan .

08/27/2026

There is something about fall in Northern Michigan that I wish everyone could experience at least once. 🍂❤️

For me, one of my absolute favorite things is a fall boat ride.

The lake gets a little quieter. You pull on your favorite sweatshirt, cozy up in the boat with your family, and feel that crisp fall air fill your lungs. And then you look toward shore and see those brilliant reds, oranges and golds reflecting back at you from the water.

It’s one of those moments that makes you think, this is why we live here.

Summer may get a lot of attention in Northern Michigan, but fall has a beauty all its own. The days can still be wonderfully warm, the evenings are cool enough for a bonfire, our trails are changing by the day, and our downtowns, waterways and scenic roads seem to slow down just enough to really enjoy them.

There’s still time for a boat ride. Still time for dinner overlooking the water. Still time to wander downtown, take a drive with no particular destination, hike beneath a canopy of color or simply sit somewhere beautiful and take it all in.

And maybe that’s what I love most about fall here, it invites you to slow down. The synergy creates the best moments to experience against the most gorgeous palette of colorful landscape.

So if you’ve always thought of Northern Michigan as a summer destination, let us introduce you to another side of the place we love.

Pack a sweatshirt. Bring someone you love. Take the long way here.

Northern Michigan is waiting for you this fall. 🍁

08/26/2026

🚘❤️ THE END OF THE ROAD…AND WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO FINISH! ❤️🚘

There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about an old-fashioned road trip — windows down, small towns along the way, classic cars and miles of two-lane highway stretching ahead of you.

And every August, the Michigan Old U.S. 27 Motor Tour brings a little of that magic back to life.

This year was especially exciting as the tour celebrated its 20th year, traveling through 13 Michigan communities over six days before reaching its final destination — CHEBOYGAN! 🚗✨ (old27tour.com⁠)

And there’s a reason the journey ends here.

Long before I-75 carried generations of families north, U.S. 27 was the road north. When the U.S. Highway System was established in 1926, U.S. 27 traveled right through the heart of Michigan, with its northern terminus in downtown Cheboygan. (michiganhighways.org⁠)

Imagine those early road trips — packed cars, roadside stops, diners, service stations and families watching the scenery change as they made their way farther and farther north.

Eventually, the interstate system changed the way we traveled. In the early 1960s, U.S. 27 north of Grayling was decommissioned, and the stretch between Indian River and Cheboygan became the M-27 we know today. M-27 still reaches its northern terminus at US-23 in downtown Cheboygan. (michiganhighways.org⁠)

But the story of Old 27 wasn’t finished. ❤️

The late Craig Parrish, founder of the Old U.S. 27 Motor Tour, dreamed of preserving the history of this highway and recreating the experience of traveling Michigan’s old roads in classic automobiles. The first tour took place in 2007, and Craig famously approached communities along the route with a wonderfully simple idea:

“I will bring the cars and the people, you bring the party.” 🚘🎉 (old27tour.com⁠)

Twenty years later, that tradition is still rolling.

From Coldwater to DeWitt, Clare, Grayling, Ga***rd and Wolverine, these beautiful automobiles make their way north — until finally…

📍 THEY REACH THE END OF THE ROAD IN CHEBOYGAN. ❤️

There is something pretty special about being that finish line.

We love welcoming the drivers, passengers and beautiful automobiles of the Old U.S. 27 Motor Tour to our community each year. They aren’t simply arriving at another stop on the itinerary — they are completing a journey through Michigan history in the very community where historic U.S. 27 once ended.

For the Cheboygan Area Visitors Bureau, events like this are exactly what tourism is all about: discovering the small towns along the way, learning their stories, supporting local businesses, making new friends and remembering that sometimes the journey really is as important as the destination.

To everyone who made the trip north this year — WELCOME TO CHEBOYGAN!

We’re proud to be your final destination.

We’re proud to be part of the history of Old U.S. 27.

And we hope when you reach the end of the road, you discover that Cheboygan is a pretty wonderful place to stay awhile. ❤️🌲🚘

Special Thanks to Kim Davis, Tour Organizer and the Cheboygan FOE 1282 who hosted the End of The Road Ceremonies and Party and Alice's Restaurant who hosted the travel group for Sunday breakfast.

👇 Did you see the Old 27 cars roll into Cheboygan? Share your photos in the comments — and tell us which classic caught your eye!

Learn more about the history and tradition of the Michigan Old U.S. 27 Motor Tour⁠.

08/18/2026

⚓ BUSINESS AFTER HOURS — DOCKSIDE! ⚓

There’s nothing quite like summer networking on the water! ☀️🌊

Join the Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce this Thursday, August 20, from 5–7 PM for Business After Hours at Jack’s Mullett Lake Marina!

📍 7700 Mullett Lake Road, Cheboygan

Business After Hours is about more than exchanging business cards. It’s an opportunity to get to know the people behind the businesses that make our community thrive, build relationships with fellow professionals, make new connections, and discover more of what our Chamber network has to offer.

And what better place to do it than dockside? Jack’s Mullett Lake Marina is a family-owned, full-service marina located on beautiful Mullett Lake and serves as a gateway to Michigan’s famous Inland Waterway. From boat sales and rentals to service, storage, fuel, docking and more, Jack’s has become a destination for local boaters and visitors alike. ⚓🚤

🎟️ PLUS — OUR FIRST BEACON OF FORTUNE EARLY BIRD DRAWING!

We’ll be drawing our first $500 Early Bird winner during Business After Hours!

Haven’t purchased your Beacon of Fortune tickets yet? There’s still time!

🎟️ $100 each or 3 for $250
🎟️ Purchase at the Chamber office
weekdays 9am - 4 pm or text Carole at
231-445-0318
🎟️ Or purchase at Business After Hours until 6 PM

And remember — our Early Bird winner stays in the running for the BIG Beacon of Fortune prizes in January! 🍀💰

Come for the refreshments and snacks, stay for the connections, and enjoy a beautiful Northern Michigan evening with some great company.

Thursday, August 20 | 5–7 PM
📍 Jack’s Mullett Lake Marina
7700 Mullett Lake Road, Cheboygan

Your next customer, collaboration, referral, or great idea may simply begin with a conversation. Come connect with us! ⚓

08/18/2026

🎀 TWO RIBBON CUTTINGS. ONE EXCITING EVENING OF CELEBRATING CHEBOYGAN! 🎀

Join the Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Team tomorrow, Wednesday, August 19th, as we celebrate two exciting milestones happening right here in our community!

🕰️ 4:45 PM | Cheboygan Rendezvous Ribbon Cutting
City Park Long the Cheboygan River

Help us welcome Cheboygan Rendezvous as a new Chamber member and get a first look at this exciting new event coming to our community August 20–23!

Meet the people behind the Rendezvous, hear about everything planned for the weekend, and help us officially welcome them into the Chamber family. There is a lot to look forward to!

🌳 5:00 PM | Grand Opening of Majestic Riverview Park
Main Street Cheboygan across from
Nicolet Bank and Secrets on Main

Immediately following, we’ll head to Main Street, across from Nicolet Bank, to join the City of Cheboygan, Kristen Baggett, Connie and Dale Rieger, and community partners for the official ribbon cutting and grand opening of Majestic Riverview Park!

This beautiful new pocket park adds another special touch to the heart of downtown—creating visual interest, celebrating our history, and offering residents and visitors a welcoming place to sit, relax and enjoy the beauty of the Cheboygan River.

These are the moments we love! ❤️ Being on the front line as new ideas become reality, businesses and organizations grow, and investments are made in the community we call home.

Ribbon cuttings are also a great opportunity to meet the people making things happen, connect with fellow community members and business leaders, and celebrate Cheboygan’s continued progress together.

🎀 Come join us tomorrow afternoon and help us cut TWO ribbons!

We look forward to celebrating with you! ✂️❤️

08/18/2026

🎨 PLACES TO GO • THINGS TO SEE | Palette Knife Gallery 🎨

There’s more to discover in downtown Cheboygan—and sometimes the best finds are the ones that invite you to slow down, step inside, and experience a little local creativity.

Add Palette Knife Gallery to your next downtown stroll! Artist Kati Rosenbaugh brings color, texture, and a distinctive artistic style to the heart of Cheboygan through her beautiful palette knife artwork.

🖼️ Browse original artwork available for purchase
🎨 Experience Kati’s unique palette knife technique
❤️ Discover a special piece to take home as a reminder of your time in Northern Michigan
📸 Ask about custom commissioned artwork, where Kati can transform a favorite photograph or meaningful memory into a one-of-a-kind work of art

Galleries, artists, boutiques, restaurants, and locally owned businesses are part of what gives a downtown its personality. They create those unexpected stops that turn a simple afternoon into an experience—and Palette Knife Gallery is a wonderful addition to Cheboygan’s growing arts and cultural scene.

Whether you’re visiting for the day, spending the weekend, or simply playing tourist in your own hometown, make time to wander downtown Cheboygan and stop into Palette Knife Gallery.

You may just find a piece of Cheboygan you’ll want to take home with you. ❤️

📍 Palette Knife Gallery | Downtown Cheboygan

08/14/2026

💰🍀 FEELING LUCKY, CHEBOYGAN?! 🍀💰

The Beacon of Fortune Raffle is officially underway, and our FIRST $500 EARLY BIRD DRAWING is coming up THIS THURSDAY, August 20 at 6:00 PM during Business After Hours at Jack’s Mullett Lake Marina! ⚓

🎟️ ONLY 350 TICKETS WILL BE SOLD!

That means some pretty terrific odds to win some serious CASH!

💵 1 ticket — $100
💵 3 tickets — $250

And why wait? Purchase your ticket—or THREE—by 6 PM on August 20 and you’ll be eligible for our first $500 Early Bird Prize!

⭐ THE BEST PART?
If your ticket wins an Early Bird drawing, it stays in the raffle! You still have a chance to win again, all the way through our $5,000 GRAND PRIZE!

💰 LOOK AT THESE PRIZES! 💰

🍀 Aug. 20 Early Bird — $500
🍀 Dec. 11 Early Bird — $1,000
🍀 Jan. 23 — $500
🍀 Jan. 23 — $1,000
🍀 Jan. 23 — $2,000
🍀 Jan. 23 GRAND PRIZE — $5,000!

🎟️ READY TO GET YOUR TICKET?

Stop into the Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce, Monday–Friday from 9 AM–4 PM.

📞 Call 231-445-9045 to purchase by credit card.

🍔 Find us this weekend at Yecks Family Drive Inn.

🙋 Or purchase from any Chamber Board Member or Ambassador!

⚓ AND COME JOIN THE FUN THURSDAY!

Business After Hours at Jack’s Mullett Lake Marina is a great opportunity to get out, make connections, enjoy a summer evening on the lake—and be there when we find out who takes home our first $500!

Only 350 tickets. Multiple chances to win. $10,000 in cash prizes.

🍀 Someone has to win… WHY NOT YOU?! 🍀

Get yours before Thursday’s Early Bird drawing and join us at the marina! 💰⚓🎟️

07/31/2026

🎣🐟 Good Luck to All the Anglers in the 28th Annual Cheboygan Salmon Tournament! 🐟🎣

The excitement is building as fishermen from near and far get ready for an incredible weekend on the waters of Lake Huron! The Captain’s Meeting is Friday, July 31st, with tournament action taking place Saturday, August 1st.

The Cheboygan Area Visitors Bureau is proud to sponsor and support this amazing event that brings anglers, families, visitors, and our community together for a weekend of friendly competition, great memories, and a celebration of our beautiful waterfront.

To all the captains, crews, and fishermen — good luck, tight lines, and we hope you reel in the big one! 🎣🏆

Thank you for choosing Cheboygan as your fishing destination and for helping showcase the incredible outdoor adventures our area has to offer.

07/28/2026

🏁 Feel the Need for Speed at the Top O’ Michigan Outboard Marathon Nationals! 🚤💨

Every August, Northern Michigan’s beautiful Inland Waterway comes alive with one of the most legendary outboard races in the world, the Top O’ Michigan Outboard Marathon Nationals!

Founded in 1949, this incredible event has become known as the “World’s Toughest Outboard Marathon,” drawing racers from across the United States and around the globe to test their skill, endurance, and determination. This year marks the race’s 78th anniversary, continuing a tradition that has become part of Northern Michigan history. (Top O’ Michigan Outboard Racing Club⁠)

🌊 The Route
The race covers approximately 87 miles over two days through Michigan’s breathtaking Inland Waterway, traveling across:
• Burt Lake
• Indian River
• Mullett Lake
• Cheboygan River
• Crooked River
• Crooked Lake

Saturday’s course takes racers from DeVoe Beach in Indian River through the Indian River, across Mullett Lake, and up the Cheboygan River into downtown Cheboygan before returning. Sunday’s course heads west through Burt Lake, Crooked River, and Crooked Lake before looping back through the Inland Waterway. (Fishweb⁠)

👀 Where to Watch
There are fantastic viewing opportunities throughout the Inland Waterway, with especially exciting action along:
📍 DeVoe Beach (Indian River)
📍 Topinabee
📍 The Cheboygan River
📍 Downtown Cheboygan waterfront

The combination of narrow rivers, wide-open lakes, tight turns, and changing water conditions makes this one of the most challenging—and thrilling—marathon boat races anywhere.

Whether you’re a lifelong race fan or seeing it for the first time, the Top O’ Michigan Marathon Nationals is a Northern Michigan tradition that showcases speed, skill, and the incredible beauty of our region.

📍 Plan a weekend, explore the Inland Waterway, support our local communities, and experience one of Cheboygan County’s signature summer events!

07/28/2026