Isabella Nitzchke: We'll just pretend, thats how you do it.

Haylie: I'm Haylie Robinson, and I'm a former fair queen full of wanderlust.

I explore art, culture, community, heritage, history and more.

One festival at a time.

I invite you to join me in finding festivals.

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Toledo.

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Haylie: horse drawn carriages and fashioned charm transports Guests back in time with panoramic views of Lake Huron.

Mackinac island is a summer gem visitors return to year after year.

Since 1949, the island has celebrated the beautiful lilacs during the annual Lilac Festival.

The ten day event begins the second weekend of June and concludes with a grand parade on the third weekend in in June Before exploring downtown, it's time to check in.

We're staying at the Lilac Tree Suite, which is conveniently located downtown Mackinac Island, fitting right?

before deep diving into the festival history, I connected with local author Sue Allen to discuss the significance of lilacs on Mackinaw Island.

Sue Allen: Well, obviously, beauty and fragrance and I think friendship.

We always talk about how much we love the lilacs, but then we talk about how well the lilacs do here.

So I think it's a two way love affair.

The lilacs love us.

Haylie: What kind of inspired you to write the book?

I know that we had a lot of creative assets to work with, and it was co-produced.

But what really drove you to be part of the project?

Sue Allen: Well, one main thing was my friend Jennifer, who produced the book, and she designed and took all the photos for it.

So she just asked me if I would do it.

And I love lilacs and a lifelong summer resident of the island.

And we're looking right now for evidence of any disease to them.

And there's something called a lilac borer, which gets in the bark, puts its larva in the bark, and then needs the bark, which would destroy the shrub.

And we started the tourism bureau started a lilac preservation fund two years ago with the book and the proceeds, the profits from the book go to that.

Haylie: So your book is actually a philanthropic project as well.

It's able to kind of pay it forward towards this preservation project.

Sue Allen: Yeah.

Haylie: in my personal opinion, friendship should be celebrated.

And what better way than a ten day festival?

I sat down with Steph from the Mackinaw Island Tourism Bureau to learn more about the annual Lilac Festival and the island.

Haylie: How long have you been at the tourism board?

Steph Castelein: Yeah, this is my third summer here.

So, two full years on the island takes about that long to kind of understand all the unique qualities of the island.

But yeah, I've been doing this two years.

Haylie: And when it comes to the like festival, do you guys kind of organize that or is a special group?

Steph Castelein: Yeah, it's all mostly through the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau.

And then of course, our businesses are doing different events throughout the festival.

And so we just help push those, promote those and get the word out.

Haylie: And this year's really big, though, because it's the 75th anniversary.

I mean, what does that mean for your team?

Steph Castelein: Yeah, I think, you know, for me as a transplant to Mackinaw Island, Right.

So I'm not originally from the island nor Michigan in general.

It's just really special to see this community.

That's something I've fallen in love with, with Mackinac Island is the people here, the people who make everything happening 75 years.

You know, it started in 1949.

This is 75th Annual Festival, two ladies, Langhorne and Stella King saw the cherry blossoms out in Washington, D.C. and they were inspired by the Grand Parade and all of the activities happened around the cherry blossoms.

And they're like, We have lilacs.

Why not do that on Mackinac Island?

So it started with a one day event.

They crowned the first ever Lilac Festival Queen.

It was six year old Sue Chambers, who actually joined us the other night.

And that's how it all began.

One day event into a ten day event.

And so to go back to your question, it just really means community in my opinion.

Haylie: It's a community identifier.

Steph Castelein: Yes, absolutely.

Haylie: And furthermore, because of the lilacs thriving in this environment, I think it speaks a lot to who the people are, too.

Steph Castelein: Yeah.

You know, one thing I've noticed just in my role is the care that people have for them.

They want to take care of their lilacs.

Haylie: I love that.

And it's such a beautiful event, beautiful island as well.

Now, why did the island choose to be this way with only the horse drawn carriages and or bicycle, right?

Steph Castelein: Sure.

Yeah.

Yeah, that's a great question.

It's not only the 75th annual Mackinac Island Lilac Festival.

We're also celebrating 125 years of the motor vehicle ban this year.

So some big anniversaries this year.

Yeah, it's pretty cool.

What happened was they started to bring, you know, it was a horse drawn community.

Then vehicle came along and it started startling.

The horses started scaring them.

Haylie: So the vehicles aren't here because the horses came first.

Steph Castelein: Yeah.

horse is king here on the island.

Haylie: Wow.

It is kind of fun to just step onto the island and almost kind of be transported back in time with the horse drawn carriages and the bicycles.

And you almost feel like you're kind of just in a totally different time zone.

Steph Castelein: Yeah.

Hayle: That's beautiful.

Steph Castelein: That sense of stepping back in time without the vehicles, the slower pace, but having to earn everything.

If you want to go see for Mackinac, you have to walk up there.

Haylie: And it gives you more reason to eat more fudge.

Steph Castelein: Absolutely.

That's the main.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Haylie: The only reason we come here.

Lets get a few more steps before I earn my fudge.

There are horses everywhere.

Which begs the question, when do they get a break?

Joe goes above and sometimes below to ensure his team succeeds.

Joe Herscher: So they'll work about four or 5 hours a day.

Then we switch him out with a different two horse or three horse team, and they won't come back in until the next day in the afternoon.

Haylie: Okay, gotcha, just they get almost 24 hour.

Break Joe Herscher: and they get the whole winter off as well.

They only work about six months, so they take six months off.

Haylie: So how long does it take for a horse to train on the route?

Joe Herscher: We have Jim Pettit and he trains most of the horses that come here.

We won't start working until about four or five on the island, four or five years old.

And we just have to get him used to all the people downtown.

I mean, it's very busy downtown here in the summers, all the bikes as well, and just getting used to all the people flying by him and whizzing by and all the kids double fisting and fudge running around downtown.

And then the horses, you know, they're ready to go by the first few days and they're ready to rock and they're acclimated.

And we give them to a strong driver, somebody, a veteran that's been here for a few years for the new teams.

But the drivers get about two weeks.

They train.

So we train about 50 to 60 new people every year.

Haylie: How long does the horse serve?

Joe Herscher: So they'll work till about 20, 25 years old on the island here.

Yeah.

And they'll stay in the same teams, too.

So our teams, you know, after we get them, after they work together for about a month, they stay friends for life.

And exactly how they're hitched is how they stay.

And they'll stay like that in the corral, too.

Haylie: What do you love most about your job?

Joe Herscher: The people.

I mean, I love people.

I'm a people person.

And it's so rewarding training, especially just to see them blossom.

A lot of the kids that come and work here have might be their first job.

It's their first time away from home, really.

There's you work so many hours here.

I mean, we're working, you know, 12, 13 hours a day sometimes.

And just to see them blossom, they've never done public speaking a lot of time.

They were in the entertainment business.

So I watch them, you know, they're making money.

They're having fun, and they're it's so rewarding.

Haylie: I can imagine, especially because your background, you started as a theater kid and being able to kind of see talent blossom in that way is rewarding.

Joe Herscher: Absolutely.

Yeah, absolutely.

And I would I was going back to school.

I wanted to be an English professor, so.

Haylie: Oh, look at that.

Everything's tying in.

Joe Herscher: Absolutely.

Haylie: The horses are living out the “work hard, play hard ”, lifestyle.

From what Joe shared, they may be a mode of transportation throughout the summer, but during the grand parade, the horses are the stars of the show.

Considered a local legacy event by the Library of Congress.

The Lilac Festival Grand Parade stands out with creative costumes, horse drawn floats and marching bands.

Oh, look, there's the Queen.

I'll catch up with her in a bit.

Open since 1887, The Grand Hotel is a timeless summer destination rooted in old world hospitality and charm, most known for the longest porch in the world at 660 feet.

In addition to being the principal meeting place for all Mackinac Island in the 1890s, it was also the place for lovebirds of all ages to promenade.

By 1957, the Grand Hotel was selected by the Michigan Historical Association as a state historical building.

Taking a step inside feels like a step in time as guests are greeted by the grandeur and details found throughout every inch of the hotel.

Even the workers immerse visitors in the old world experience.

I am taken back by the vibrancy and openness of this space.

The Grand parlor serves as an elegant gathering place, whether here for the black tie events in the evening or enjoying the timeless tradition of afternoon tea, it's a space for stimulating conversation and relaxation.

Speaking of afternoon tea, I'm meeting with Lilac Festival royalty Queen Izzi to chat about her recent victory and life on the island.

So what made you want to go after this role and represent this festival?

Isabella Nitzchke: All my friends are older than me and they've all been in the past Lilac Queen's.

There's the last three that I can remember where like my closest friends when I was with them in volleyball and basketball and stuff.

So I kind of looked up to them and it made me want to apply and represent the community.

Haylie: Of the years that you've been attending the festival and even more so serving this year.

What do you love most about the Lilac Festival?

Isabella Nitzchke: I think it's I think I like being the Queen and be able to represent the community is really important, it's an honor because I have to go to all these community events and just interact with everybody and get to know them and they think, Oh, she's like the head of the island right now.

She's like representing everything.

So it's nice to be that like person who gets to represent for this like week or so.

It's an honor.

Haylie: It really is.

You know, you when you're in it as a queen, you truly are an ambassador for the event, for the community traditions.

Isabella Nitzchke: I think it's fun like being involved with the community.

Haylie: Absolutely.

And this particular coronation was really special this year because you have queens representing all 75 years.

Isabella Nitzchke: Yeah.

Haylie: What was that like standing in that kind of legacy?

Isabella Nitzchke: That was interesting.

I'm one of my best friends Moms was a queen, so she was there too, and then her kids were there.

And then most of the former queens still live on the island.

And I've like worked for some of them.

And then we have this Queens banquet after.

So I got to meet, like the first Queen and it's just kind of cool to see, like the community come together.

I'm like all the queens in one place.

That was Fun.

Haylie: Thas incredible.

So who's the nearest court to you?

Isabella Nitzchke: I want to say Traverse City Haylie: Traverse City?

Isabella Nitzchke: with the Cherry Queen.

They come up every year.

So that's a big one.

Isabella Nitzchke: Yeah.

Haylie: We have a gorgeous tea set up for us here at the Grand Hotel.

And shall we pour ourselves some tea?

Isabella Nitzchke: Yes.

You know what kind of tea it is?

Haylie: You know, that's an excellent question.

I guess we'll find out the hard way, right?

Isabella Nitzchke: I've had tea here a couple of times with my parents.

Haylie: Oh, good.

So you are seasoned.

Pick it up.

Oh, I love little green cups theyre so cute.

Isabella Nitzchke: I know theres little flowers in them.

Haylie: Oh, it Has like a lavender hue.

Are you getting that?

Haylie: That's just me?

Isabella Nitzchke: I was going to say it's English breakfast, but I don't think it is.

Its lavendery.

Haylie: it does taste lavendery.

That is delectable.

I always love macaroons.

Theyre so good, now is there like, an island favorite as far as treats?

Isabella Nitzchke: Well, Joanne's fudge is like home to the island.

They're known for their fudge.

Oh, they also do ice cream.

Haylie: So that Joannes is Like, if you're going to get fudge, then Isabella Nitzchke: going to.

Yeah, you're going to go to Johannes for the fudge.

Haylie: All right.

Well, thanks for let me in on the on the tea.

Isabella Nitzchke: Of course.

Haylie: I like it.

Some sips of sherry and delightful string melodies conclude afternoon tea.

Heading back downtown, I got an alluring whiff of fudge following Queen Izzy's tip.

I headed into Joanne's fudge.

Now what are you cutting up for us right now?

Aaron Bates: Right here is.

The chocolate cherry fudge.

Haylie: I like chocolate cherry.

Aaron Bates: We use specifically Traverse City dried tart cherries.

In this one, we try to use as many Michigan ingredients as possible.

We're kind of the new kids on the block.

We've only been around since 1969, so a little over 50 years now.

Haylie: Ill ask this final question, what do you love most about this position?

Aaron Bates: It might sound corny, but the best part about making candy is just having people really appreciate what you do and get to see what goes into it.

Haylie: Very good.

It's clear everyone here is generous with their time and resources.

One person in particular is the mayor.

She may have been serving in this role since 1975, but Margaret Doud started advocating for Mackinac Island when she was the Lilac Festival Queen.

Margaret Doud: I was on the court twice on two different courts, and then I was queen in 1963.

And it is like being an ambassador because you interact with so many different people and you go to different events and it's a fun time.

Haylie: I love it so much, I created a show about it right?

I couldnt let it go.

And there's even a couple other establishments with your last name.

Did I see that right?

Margaret Doud: Yeah, it is correct.

That was my grandfather started Douds Market, which is the oldest family operated grocery store in the United States of America.

Haylie: Really?

Okay.

Margaret Doud: Continuous, and then the new establishment in town is Patrick Doud Irish Pub, which is named after my great uncle Patrick Doud, which just opened this year.

Haylie: Oh, it's so it's new this year?

Margaret Doud: its brand new.

Haylie: Oh, I do love some Irish flair, gotta of get down on that When it comes to the Lilac festival, what does that mean for the City of Mackinac in your eyes?

As the mayor?

Margaret Doud: Well, it's a special time of the year.

People come, first of all, to enjoy the beauty of the lilacs.

And this year it's been an outstanding year.

Every tree that I have seen has just been overloaded with lilacs.

And it's the fragrance is just incredible.

And it's a happy time of the year where people can come and do different activities and enjoy seeing the beauty of the island.

And so everybody looks forward to it every year.

Haylie: The strength of the community is evident and I was curious if it's always been this way.

Dominick from Fort Mackinac paints a different picture of the island's past.

Dominick Miller: This fort is an authentic Revolutionary War era fort.

The British started construction on it in 1779.

They were here until the late 1700s, took it back by force in the war of 1812, and it was an American fort through 1895.

And of 20 years of it, it was a national park.

Actually, this was America's second national Park for a few years when the Army left 1895.

And, you know, it was like, what's going to happen next with this with the structure?

These were all these original buildings were here.

They're not easy to maintain.

I can tell you that from working here now.

But luckily, the War Department gave them to the state of Michigan and created Michigan's first state park in 1895.

And so since then, that commission, there's a commission created to oversee it.

That commission has been tasked with protecting and preserving not only Mackinac Island, but really the historic structures here at Fort Mackinac.

And in the 1950s, it was decided, you know what, we're going to shift and become a museum.

We're going to we're going to move into that realm.

So in 1959, we opened as a museum here at Fort Mackinac and that's how we now pay to maintain these structures.

So every dollar that we earn here at Fort Mackinac admission goes right back into the preservation of this fort and of these buildings.

Haylie: So theres certain locations within the fort that we should pay particular attention to.

Dominick Miller: So I have some of my favorites that I'm happy to go over.

So the Post hospital over here, that's Michigan's oldest hospital building actually right here inside Fort Mackinac, details military medicine.

You know, in the 1800s when this fort was active.

And it makes me just very excited to live when I do.

You know that I live now and not in the 1800s.

I don't know how anybody survived back then.

And then this building right here, the stone quarters, that's right behind us, that is actually Michigan's oldest building.

And I have two small kids.

So there's a kids museum and they're called the kids quarters.

And I spend the majority of my time in there with my kids.

It's just you can build a fort, you can shoot a little cannon.

You can see how kids kind of play it and interacted in the 1800s a little bit.

Haylie: we'll try that again.

Dominick Miller: Yeah, that one may not have had the damage they wanted.

Haylie: Not they did not have the gusto.

I wanted.

All right.

Fire!

Dominick Miller: There it was.

Haylie: took down the enemy.

We know many businesses on the island participate in the like festival, including Fort Mackinac.

Dominick Miller: We have a special program that we do every day at 1 p.m. that just it talks about a different aspect of our history.

This allows us to kind of explore a different avenue for us.

And so Marquette Park, which is the greenspace down below for Mackinac, where most of the islands are today, it's kind of like the centerpiece of the Lilac Festival down there a little bit.

That was the pasture for the fort back in the day.

It was a garden for the fort.

So we have a program then kind of talk about the history of that space a little bit so we can take people out into the front of the fort, look, you know, over the fort and kind of talk about the various things that were happening in that park.

And then we have a bunch of special programs and we have a walking tour, two walking tours that we're doing during the week as well.

Haylie: Since walking was a little challenging for me, I sit down with an who is a lilac decent and leader of some of the walking tours during the festival.

Anne Borowicz: Some of the highlights when we're doing the tours they can expect are just getting into the culture of the people that live here on the island.

the lilacs here, you can see all the different varieties and Marquette Park is an island from the International Lilac Society is written up as one of the fourth largest areas in North America that has the greatest amount of lilacs in a very concentrated place and differing cultivars and whatnot.

Haylie: Now when it comes to the lilacs, I mean, there's something special about Mackinac that really makes them thrive.

And what's the secret?

Anne Borowicz: The soil were on what is known as a limestone and limestone as an alkaline lilacs are non-native to North America.

Many of the lilacs are from Southeastern Europe, and also a great part of them are from China.

And we have Korea and Japan and Russia and those areas.

And that's where they're native to early settlers, to the island.

They brought the lilacs with them.

And so with this limestone brazier that we are sitting on here on Mackinaw Island is what helps the lilacs grow.

The lilacs like a well-drained soil.

So this is perfect for the lilacs.

They thrive on this island.

Haylie: Now, is it common for them to get as tall as they do, or is that just because of the age?

Anne Borowicz: The lilacs that you see here, can grow up to 20 feet.

As far as Marquette Park.

They're in their natural environment, so they don't get heavy pruning or anything like that.

This is how you would see them in their natural environment in the mountains.

Haylie: They're actually more of a mountain flower.

Anne Borowicz: Exactly.

Haylie: And they've been really a staple and identifier of the community.

Anne Borowicz: Exactly.

They're in every fabric, they're in every business, every home, all over the island.

People have moved them.

They're in the state park here.

This island is 80% state park.

This is one of our 104 state parks that we have in here in Michigan.

And it's a great place to come and visit.

Haylie: I'm experiencing that myself.

I'm enjoying my time.

Anne Borowicz: And they have fun, too.

And great ice cream.

Haylie: Before departing the island, I wanted an up close view of the Mackinac Bridge and joined the evening sip and sail cruise.

There are several voyages throughout the summer and most cruises have live music.

I admired the nautical nods throughout the cabin.

It was a little rainy, but that didn't take away from the views of the Mackinac Bridge.

In addition to the views, there was an impressive cocktail list considering the space limitation, I chatted with Taylor on her inspiration behind this delicious mix.

Taylor Buller: So first thing I need is ice.

Haylie: Oh ice, yes, we always need some ice.

I'm officially the ice scooper.

Hmm.

Okay, I think that's good.

More?

Taylor Buller: Fill her up.

Taylor Buller: Got to have it cold.

Especially for those summer nights.

We wanted to put a French 75 on the menu, and we decided what better way than to combine it with a little Empress gin to make it lilac colored and to just, you know, play into the Lilac Festival that's happening right now that's popular with so many visitors and locals here.

Haylie: And later, make everything kind of portable almost because you're on the ship.

Taylor Buller: And working in this bar is definitely a challenge some time, especially when there's.

75 people to get drinks to.

But we have servers, we have crew that goes runs around and make sure everyone's doing okay.

And we, you know, we make do Haylie: We make it work?

Taylor Buller: Make it work.

All right.

Haylie: And there she is.

Taylor Buller: Enjoy.

Haylie: And what do you love most about your job?

Taylor Buller: I like being on the water.

I also really like my crew.

Haylie: That's good, because you kind of keep it afloat, right?

Taylor Buller: They do.

They do.

Haylie: Thanks for sharing this drink with us.

Taylor Buller: Yeah.

Haylie: And friends, cheers From the panoramic views of the lake to deeply rooted community traditions.

There is so much to experience a mackinac island during the annual Lilac Festival and we just scratched the surface.

Whether you sip on tea or indulge in fudge, one thing is for certain guilt free treats from all the walking, the beauty of the island will stay with me forever.

And I look forward to the next festival We find You can visit finding festivals.com to learn more about the series, get updates through the digital newsletter and connect with me on social media where you can access more content on festival fun.

Steph Castelein: And we Haylie: Thatll be a fun blooper Cam op: Okay.

Haylie: Im sorry I was thinking like I only have a ten step limit, Joe Herscher: Yeah, I will say that.

Yeah.

No, it's the skills cannons.

Yeah, Haylie: I dont even know if Im holding this right.

Anne Borowicz: This island, we don't have cars on the island.

Haylie: What?

We don't, huh?

No, I didn't notice Get in.

This topic.

Cam Op: That exact reaction.

Haylie: Okay.

Haylie: I like it.

Your crown is so big and sparkly.

Isabella Nitzchke: It is huge compared to the other ones like the past.

I was looking at them.

Haylie: well you don't need to brag.

Finding festivals is brought to you in part by Find some Lake Erie Love?

It's a SHORE thing!

Learn how at SHORESandISLANDS.com and start an adventure today.

Toledo.

More than you ever imagined.

Learn more at visittoledo.org.