Engineers Day weekend returns to Sault Ste. Marie June 26-27 with an array of free events and educational activities.
Engineers Day features engineering exhibits, family activities, community engagement opportunities and a close-up look at the famed Soo Locks. The popular annual event is hosted in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the City of Sault Ste. Marie, the Sault Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and numerous community organizations.
Activities begin at 9 a.m. on Friday with booths, exhibits and giveaways in Soo Locks Park.
Other Friday fun includes:
The second annual Art in the Park will also be taking place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. by the east entrance of Soo Locks Park.
Saturday brings two big events with the International Bridge Walk and Little Sailors Day.
The 3-mile walk allows people to cross from Sault, Michigan to Sault, Ontario by foot over the International Bridge. The walk kicks off at 9 a.m. Walkers should bring a passport or other approved ID. Walkers age 15 or younger must be accompanied by an adult and have a copy of their birth certificate.
There is pre-walk and post-walk busing available between the Marconi Cultural Events Center and the LSSU Arts Center for a $10 per person or $20 per family fee.
To see a full list of rules, visit facebook.com/SSMbridgewalk.
Saturday also includes Little Sailors Day at Original Soo Locks Boat Tours.
From 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., kids ages 5-17 can enjoy a free lock tour and take part in activities like throwing life rings, designing fleet flags and more.
A celebration of the Soo Locks and its engineers
Thousands of people are expected to flood into downtown Sault Ste. Marie to experience the Engineers Day fun.
“We’re very aware of the fact that the Soo Locks is our biggest tourist attraction and we celebrate that here,” said Sault Ste. Marie Convention & Visitors Bureau Marketing and Content Assistant Lauren Mulder.
The Soo Locks are operated and maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Detroit District, with a dedicated office that oversees the locks, 75 miles of navigation channels and numerous Great Lakes harbors. The facility operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the shipping season while handling more than 7,000 vessel passages annually.
While it is difficult to confirm an accurate count of the number of engineers that live and work in the community, a September 2024 article in Engineering News & Record estimated that several hundred engineers live and work in or around Sault Ste. Marie. Some local employers of engineers include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Great Lakes shipping companies, construction-related firms involved with the Soo Locks, electric and hydropower companies, and more.
“There are a lot of good job opportunities around here for engineers,” Mulder said, adding that this is one of the draws for recruiting families to the region.
Lake Superior State University also offers accredited Bachelor of Science engineering degrees and associate and engineering technology pathways in fields such as electrical, mechanical and computer engineering.
This year’s event comes as construction continues on the New Lock at the Soo project. Access to the locks is limited this year, but Engineers Day organizers have expanded educational displays and community activities throughout the park and downtown.
“Most of the events are free and you can choose from (several) segments and activities around town to take part in,” Mulder said.
This article originally appeared on The Sault News: Engineer’s Day, International Bridge Walk coming to Sault June 26-27
Reporting by M. Alan Scott, Sault Ste. Marie News / The Sault News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By M. Alan Scott, Sault Ste. Marie News | USA TODAY Network
