Welcome Message
from the
DDA Director
Lee Brown
Welcome to the City of Sault Ste. Marie’s Downtown Development Authority’s Website. This website was recently established to help visitors discover the assets that Downtown Sault Ste. Marie (often referred to as just “Sault”) has to offer. Sault Ste. Marie is the oldest city in Michigan, and the third oldest city West of Allegheny Mountains. The city was established in 1668. But, the area was inhabited for many years prior by the Ojibway Indians, and the French Voyagers who were the first Europeans to set foot on the banks of the St. Mary’s River. The Sault is full of a rich cultural and historic past and visitors and historical researchers could spend many years researching all of the Sault’s past history.
The Downtown is a thriving community full of independent business owners who provide excellent shopping and dining experiences, and pride themselves on customer service. A destination for entrepreneurs and tourists, downtown Sault is the commercial hub for the Eastern Upper Peninsula. The downtown has experienced significant growth over the last decade, and it now offers more than 130 retail businesses to satisfy all your shopping needs.
This website is designed to offer immediate information to all of its visitors. The downtown event’s calendar will keep visitors updated as to what is happening in historic downtown Sault. The site also lists all the businesses in the downtown, and it provides needed contact information to help you stay in touch with your favorite store. This site will also assist with the economic development by displaying all the available rental and purchase properties in the downtown. And, it will host pictures of the downtown from our historical past to present day.
On behalf of the Downtown
Development Authority and Downtown Business Owners, thank you for visiting our
site and best wishes with your future travels.
Your friend,
Lee Brown
Sault Ste. Marie
Downtown Development
Authority
2010 Calendar of Events
February
February 4th - 3rd Annual Pub500
Every year Sault Ste. Marie hosts a snowmobile party like nooo other! This year, to help celebrate the legendary I-500 Snowmobile Race, on Thursday February 4th, the Thursday before the race, visitors and area residents alike are invited to The 3rd Annual Pub500, a downtown pub crawl of popular Sault nightspots. There are 14 bars, restaurants and taverns participating. Stop in to any of them to purchase your T-shirt in advance, just $5, and wear it out to all the participating locations on the 4th.
February 6th - 42nd Annual International 500 Snowmobile Race
The world's oldest, longest and fastest snowmobile race. 500 miles on a 1 mile oval ice track. For more information visit www.i-500.com
February 27th - Yooper Winter Madness
Celebrate winter with Cardboard Sled Races at Sault Seal Recreation Area (formerly Minneapolis Woods), come downtown to Historic Water Street for the 7th Annual Outhouse Races and many other fun-filled winter activities. Check with the DDA office for more information.
June
Music in the Park - 13th Annual
Summer Concert Series
Location: Soo Locks
Dates:
June 16th - "S.T.A.R.S. (Soo Theatre Arts Resource Studios)"
June 23rd -
June 30th -
Time: Wednesday evenings at 7 pm
Farmer's Market
Date: June - Week of Thanksgiving
Location: Crossroads of Portage and Ashmun Street
(behind the Eagles Nest, under the twin peaks)
Time: 4 pm - 7 pm Wednesdays
Twilight Walking Tours
Location:
Portage Avenue, Main entrance
to the Soo Locks (Across from the Haunted Depot)
For more information visit their
website
Soo Locks Engineers Day
Date: June 25th, Friday
Location: The Soo Locks
For more information click
here
International Bridge Walk
Date: June 26th, Saturday
Location: Begins & ends at the LSSU Norris Center
Time: 9 am
For more information click
here
July
Twilight Walking Tours
Location:
Portage Avenue, Main entrance
to the Soo Locks (Across from the Haunted Depot)
For more information visit their
website
4th of July Parade & Fireworks
Date: July 4th, Sunday
Location: Parade starts at Kmart down thru downtown
Time: Parade at 8 pm & Fireworks at dusk
Contact the Chamber of Commerce to register your
entry for the parade by calling 906-632-3301.
Veterans Motorcycle Rally
Date: July 8th, Thursday - July 10th, Saturday
Location: Downtown Brady Park, American Legion
For more information visit their website
or call 1-800-647-2858
Registration form
here
Music in the Park - 13th Annual Summer Concert Series
Location: Soo Locks
Dates:
July 7th -
July 14th - "Blue Water Ramblers"
July 21st - Saline Fiddlers
July 28th -
Time: Wednesday evenings at 7 pm
Summer Beach Party - Saturday July 24th
Downtown celebrates summer with the 3rd Annual Summer Beach Party, featuring Beach Volleyball, Vendors, Restaurants and Taverns serving your favorite food and beverages in their outdoor seating areas.
As a special treat this year we will have the Air National Guard Band of the Midwest. They are a traditional military concert band of 35 personnel comprised of some of the finest musicians in the United States Air Force and have performed for numerous dignitaries across the country and in Europe. They can also perform as a 20 piece jazz band, 10 piece rock band, and several smaller chamber ensembles showcasing their versatility and flexibility.
August
Summer Arts Festival
Date: August 3rd, Tuesday
Location: 209 E. Portage Ave. Sault Ste. Marie
Time: 10 am - 8 pm
For more information visit their
website
Jean Jones
Email: saac@saultarts.org
Phone: 906-437-5463
Twilight Walking Tours
Location:
Portage Avenue, Main entrance
to the Soo Locks (Across from the Haunted Depot)
For more information visit their
website
7th Annual Slashin' Ashmun, Antique Car Show
Date: August 7th, Saturday
Location: Ashmun Street
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Registration form
here
Music in the Park - 13th Annual Summer Concert Series
Location: Soo Locks
Dates:
August 4th - Petoskey Steel Drum Band
August 11th -
August 18th -
August 25th - Rich Eddy's Rockin Oldies
Time: Wednesday evenings at 7 pm
Sidewalk Sales
Date: August 6th, Friday & 7th, Saturday
Location: Ashmun Street, Downtown
Time: 10 am - 6 pm
Vendor registration form
here
September
Twilight Walking Tours
Location:
Portage Avenue, Main entrance
to the Soo Locks (Across from the Haunted Depot)
For more information visit their
website
Oktoberfest
Date: September 25th, Saturday
Location: Portage Avenue
Time: 10am - 6pm
Vendor registration form
here
Live
bands, farmer’s market, food court, kid’s games and outdoor
service by restaurants and taverns.
October
Twilight Walking Tours
Location:
Portage Avenue, Main entrance
to the Soo Locks (Across from the Haunted Depot)
For more information visit their
website
Fall Fest - Friday October 29th
Downtown Trick or Treating with Hayrides, a Kid's Carnival at the Ojibway and a Costume Contest at the Avery Square.
Time: 5pm - 7pm
November
Christmas Parade
Friday November 26th, 7pm
Downtown Open House
Date: Friday and Saturday, November 26 & 27
Location: Downtown
Time: 11a - 5p, both days
FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADD THEIR EVENT TO THIS LIST PLEASE CONTACT THE DDA
saultdda@sault.com or 906-635-6973
Upcoming Events
3rd Annual Pub500 February 4, 2010
Yooper Winter Madness February 27, 2010
For more details click here
Our Office
Phone: 906-635-6973
Fax: 906-635-6974
Email: saultdda@sault.com