Fudge capital of the world
Mackinac Fudge Festival: A Delicious Celebration on Mackinac Island
Introduction and History of the Mackinac Fudge Festival
Introduction
With just bicycles and horses instead of cars, Mackinac Island is a mystical location. With its stunning scenery and rich customs, it’s like traveling back in time. One tradition stands out—Mackinac fudge. This sweet treat is famous nationwide, drawing visitors from all over. Every year, the island celebrates this beloved dessert with the Mackinac Fudge Festival. Anyone who like cuisine and entertainment should not miss this event. From fudge-making shows to family games, it’s a perfect summer outing. If you’ve never been, this festival is your chance to enjoy Mackinac’s sweetest event.
A Sweet History of Mackinac Fudge
The Origins of Mackinac Fudge
Fudge wasn’t always an island tradition. It began in the late 1800s. Local confectioners brought their candy-making skills to the island. Tourists loved the rich, creamy fudge and spread the word. Soon, fudge shops became a main attraction on Mackinac Island. Watching fudge being made was just as popular as eating it. The process is mesmerizing, with skilled hands folding and shapin
🚂 FUDGE CAPITAL of the WORLD: Mackinac Island, Michigan! 🍫🐴🌸
Hellooo Culture Kids! Grab your imaginary passports and your sweet tooth—because today we’re off to the
fudge capital of the world
… Mackinac Island, Michigan!
Join Kristen and Asher as they hop on the Culture Train to explore this enchanting car-free island, where horses clip-clop down lilac-lined streets and the smell of freshly made fudge fills the air. You’ll meet our friend
Mr. Aaron
from Joann’s Fudge and discover how creamy, dreamy fudge is made right before your ears—yes, even the marble table has a job to do!
🎧 In this episode, you’ll:
Learn why cars aren’t allowed on the island
Visit a fudge kitchen and hear the sizzling magic of hot fudge on marble
Find out how Mackinac Island became
the
fudge capital of the world
Taste-test (well, almost!
Hear what life is like on an island with just 400 year-round neighbors
🌸 Bonus fun: Find out what lilac festivals, snowmobiles, and community spirit have in common—and why they make Mackinac Island one of the most unique places in America.
Want to try fudge for yourself or send some to a fellow Culture Kid?
A (Slightly Fudged) History of Mackinac Island Fudge
The origins of fudge are about as opaque as a block of the beloved treat, but the theories swirling about are pretty sweet.
This article first appeared in
Traverse Northern Michigan.
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Let’s start with some chewy etymology. The word fudge is thought to have originated in the 17th century. Some historians think the verb “to fudge” stems from the archaic verb “fadge,” meaning “make suit, fit.” And sailors were said to use fudge as an expletive when confronted with nonsense or lies.
According to Merriam-Webster, fudge was first used as a transitive verb meaning “to fake” in 1674, and
The New York Times
writes that author Oliver Goldsmith used fudge as an interjection in 1766—a character in
The Vicar of Wakefield
would cry out “Fudge!” at the end of every sentence.
Today, etymologists still aren’t sure how or when the word became associated with sweet, sugary
How Mackinac Island became fudge capital of the world
Ten thousand pounds! That’s how much world-famous Mackinac Island fudge gets handcrafted daily during peak tourism season. Five tons of fudge every day! All that fudge begs the question: How did little ole Mackinac Island become such a huge producer of the sweet treat?
The History of World-Famous Mackinac Island Fudge
The history goes back more than 100 years and features hard-working entrepreneurs whose creativity and showmanship turned Mackinac Island’s fledgling candy industry into a multi-million-dollar global phenomenon, according to Phil Porter, author of “Fudge: Mackinac’s Sweet Souvenir.” Here are some highlights:
As Mackinac Island evolved from a center of fur trade into a summer resort destination, Victorian-era vacationers began to identify the island with sweets. At first, the most common candy was maple sugar harvested by Native Americans. Other treats, including fudge, soon followed. “The idea of enjoying sweets while on vacation was rapidly becoming part of the Mackinac Island tourist experience,” Porter writes.
In the 1880s the Murdick family came to