Chilly breezes and overcast skies turned to warm sunshine for the return of the Mackinac Bridge Walk, welcoming back a crowd of about 21,000 to the event after a one-year hiatus.
“Returning for the walk this year after the only cancellation since 1958, we weren’t sure what to expect,” said Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) Bridge Director Kim Nowack. “Although total participation is less than we’ve had in recent years, there were still thousands of very happy faces on the bridge today, all glad to revive this tradition.”
A time-lapse video of this year’s walk is now available to view. The bridge, which closed at 6:30 a.m. to all vehicle traffic for the walk, reopened just before noon as scheduled.
Based on the success of the 2018 and 2019 events, the 2021 Annual Bridge Walk again started from both St. Ignace and Mackinaw City, which eliminates the need for busing and offers additional options for participants. Governor Gretchen Whitmer continued the tradition of Michigan governors leading the bridge walk.
The bridge walk has been an annual event since 1958, with the exception of 2020 when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 walk was the 63rd event. Between 25,000 and 30,000 people have participated in recent years.
