The 2nd annual Fudge Festival will celebrate fudge on Mackinac Island Friday, August 26, to Sunday, August 28. One of the highlights will be a golden ticket contest.

The contest will feature five participating Island fudge shops. From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, August 27, five golden tickets will be hidden in fudge boxes. Purchasers of the winning boxes will receive a 2006 visitor package that includes two nights for four people, ferry tickets, a carriage tour, kayaking, lunch, fudge, and a chance to win $10,000 in the Mackinac Heritage Boating Foundation raffle. Participating fudge shops are JoAnn’s Fudge, May’s Candy Shop, Murdick’s Fudge, Murray Hotel, and Ryba’s Fudge.

From 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Maycroft Square Tappers will be perform at Mission Point Theater, followed at 7 p.m. with a performance by the Fine Arts Academy of Dance. The Children’s Ballet Theatre of Michigan will perform Sunday, August 28, at 1 p.m., also at Mission Point Theater. All three performances are free.

Stone skipping competition will be Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon.

A feather masked wine and fudge tasting and feather sword fencing competition will be Sunday at the Inn at Stonecliffe. Feather masks are available for purchase at the hotel. Fudge and wine will be paired, and a sword fencing with ostrich feather competition will award the winners a vacation on Mackinac for two.

Fudge dinners will be Friday, August 26, at 6 p.m. at Village Inn, and Saturday at Mary’s Bistro, also at 6 p.m.

Fudge drink specials at bars and restaurants, special fudge treatments at Island spas, hiking and bicycle tours, and an architectural walking tour will also be on tap for the weekend.