Virus Concerns Prompt Cancellation Of Annual Fort Fright

MACKINAW CITY, Mich. (AP) — A popular Halloween-themed event held annually in northern Michigan has been canceled this fall due to concerns over the coronavirus that include the rising number of cases of the Delta variant in the area.

Fort Fright at Colonial Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City was scheduled for October 8-9.

The event is drawn from a collection of short stories published by Mackinac State Historic Parks and based on French-Canadian folktales brought to the Mackinac Straits area by the voyageurs during the height of the French fur trade.

Staffing challenges and concerns about housing volunteers also played into the decision to cancel the event, according to organizers.

"This was a difficult decision for us," said Steve Brisson, Mackinac State Historic Parks director. "As a matter of public safety, as well as the safety of our staff, we feel this is the right decision."

Colonial Michilimackinac is an 18th-century fort and fur trading village located along the Straits of Mackinac. It was reconstructed based on historic maps and more than 60 years of archaeological excavations.

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