While many head up to Michigan’s upper peninsula for Labor Day, those cities on the way are going to have a busy weekend.
Assistant Director of the Petoskey Visitors Bureau, Diane Dakins, said they’re going to have a lot of people coming through the city. “This labor day weekend, it looks like we’re going to have a lot of people here to enjoy northern Michigan and all of things our community has to offer,” she said.
Some may choose to stay a little closer south in Petoskey as they get ready for the annual Mackinac Bridge Walk on Monday.
“Of course with the labor day bridge walk the hotels in congestion in Mackinaw City and St. Ignace is really rampant so this is a great place to stay and drive up and do the bridge walk,” said Dakins. “It’s a great alternative to being in all of the congestion that’s up there.”
That means businesses are going to have their hands full, especially since many of them have been dealing with staff shortages.
“They’ve lost a lot of their college and high school staff as they return to school,” said Sarah Van Horn, president of the Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce. “They’ve made it through summer and this is kind of the last hoorah so they just need some patience. Expect to be waiting a bit but you’ll get served with friendly faces as soon as you’re able to.”
The Mackinac Bridge Authority said the peak traffic times going across the bridge will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday.
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