This year, among a crowd of at least 60,000 expected to walk the Mackinac Bridge on Labor Day, will be 200 people from a group called Walk Michigan. The group began as a movement in 1985 to promote health and fitness and to make residents aware of natural resources in their communities. They organize walks in their communities.
People can just show up and walk at the parks.
Communities that find a sponsor to underwrite the cost can give away a free trip to walk the bridge on Labor Day weekend as a part of the Walk Michigan program. For each walk, residents fill out a registration card to enter a drawing in communities that organize Walk Michigan events. This year's 200 hometown winners received three days worth of lodging on Mackinac Island, admission to Fort Mackinac, lunch at the Grand Hotel and ferry transportation during Labor Day weekend. They'll travel to the different walks so they'll have more of a chance to win the trip. It's part of their routines to do multiple walks in multiple communities.