Hundreds of Mackinaw City residents and visiting historical reenactors will portray Native Americans and French and British soldiers when they present the traditional Memorial Day pageant depicting the taking of Fort Michilimackinac by Native American forces in 1763 this weekend in Mackinaw City. The 47th annual pageant also features a Grand Parade, Mackinaw City's largest of the year, Saturday at 1 p.m. and a fireworks display Saturday evening at dusk. Contests and cultural demonstrations will be scheduled all weekend, Saturday, May 23, through Monday, May 25.

The pageant commemorates historical events that happened at the site during Chief Pontiac's attempt to overthrow British forces at outposts in the region. An apparently innocent game of baggataway played by Native American men in front of the fort was a ruse that allowed them to gain access and overthrow the British soldiers garrisoned there.

Organizers of the Fort Michilimackinac Re-enactment Pageant will host a community dance Saturday, May 23, at the Mackinaw City Recreation Complex at 507 West Central Avenue to help raise funds for next year's pageant. The "Turtle Dance" will take place from 7 p.m. to midnight and is open to the public. Reenactment volunteers are encouraged, but not required, to attend in their costumes.

"Anybody can come in any clothes that they want," said dance organizer Cindy Snider.

She is hoping 150 people attend the dance, which will feature door prizes and raffles, as well as food and a cash bar.

The Mackinaw City-based band The Chubby Chasers will provide music during the dance.

Organizers are hoping funds raised at the dance, along with donations collected during the various weekend events, will help fund next year's pageant. Pageant funds are also raised through donor names listed in the pageant Gazette.

The Fort Michilimackinac Pageant Committee hopes to make the dance fundraiser an annual event, Ms. Snider said.

Pageant events begin Saturday, May 23, at Mackinaw City High School with a knife and tomahawk throw at 9 a.m., followed by a biscuit toss, lance throw, and archery contest at Mackinaw Bay Trading Company at 9:30 a.m.

The Grand Parade, featuring costumed re-enactors, will proceed down Central Avenue beginning at 1 p.m.

The day will close with a tomahawk, knife, and archery competition between the "Spirits" and "Voyageurs" at the performance court in Mackinaw Crossings at 6 p.m., and an auction of 18th century crafts at Mackinaw Bay Trading Company at 7 p.m.

Sunday, May 24, events at the high school include a muzzleloading rifle shooting contest at 9 a.m., voyageur children's games at 10:30 a.m., a cannonball roll contest at 4 p.m., and a frying pan toss at 7 p.m. The Spirits of the North Awards and Voyageurs Awards presentations will both take place at 8 p.m. at the Mackinaw Bay Trading Company and the high school, respectively.

The evening will close out with fireworks at dusk at the state dock area, and a "paddle dance" at the high school at 10 p.m.

A Memorial Day service will be Monday, May 25, the final day of events, at Marina Park at 10 a.m.

Eighteenth century fashion shows will take place each day at the fort, at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday, followed by re-enactment scenes one-half hour later each day.

All pageant events, except the Turtle Dance, are free to the public.

Organizer and committee board member Lori Alexander said she expects about 200 volunteers to participate in the re-enactment pageant this year.