Cruise and Dine with the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association July 26

Staff reports
·2 min read
The White Shoal Lighthouse is shown.
The White Shoal Lighthouse is shown.

MACKINAW CITY — The Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association is offering members of the public a chance to see and learn about harder to reach lighthouses around the area with an event on July 26.

This dinner and cruise will leave from Mackinaw City at 2 p.m. on July 26 and take spectators to see lighthouses around the area, including Old Mackinac Point, St. Helena, White Shoal, Squaw Island, Lansing Shoal, Gray’s Reef, and Waugance.

During the cruise, as part of a Shepler Westbound Lighthouse tour, an expert from the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association will give details about each structure.

The tour will end around 6:30 p.m., returning to Mackinaw City. Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association members will then meet those who attend for a dinner program at the Headland’s International Dark Sky Park. The dinner from Audie's Restaurant at 7:30 p.m. will feature locally made and harvested ingredients.

The featured speaker for the dinner program is maritime historian, shipwreck researcher, diver, television writer and producer and Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association President Emeritus Ric Mixter.

The featured speaker during the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association's dinner and cruise will be the group's president emeritus Ric Mixter.
The featured speaker during the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association's dinner and cruise will be the group's president emeritus Ric Mixter.

Mixter has worked for more than 20 years to preserve the history of Michigan's maritime. He also has produced a number of shows featured on the Outdoor Channel, History Channel and PBS.

The dinner and cruise will also feature a silent auction. The silent auction will have a number of lighthouse and maritime-themed prizes, beginning at 7 p.m.

Tickets for this event can be purchased at the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association website, www.gllka.org, or by calling (231) 436-5580. Dinner tickets are $90 per person, dinner and cruise tickets are $190 per person.

The proceeds from this event go toward the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association's continued efforts to restore and preserve lighthouses all around the Great Lakes.

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association hosting dinner, cruise