Soo Locks Engineers Day 2026
Join us on June 26, 2026 for Soo Locks Engineers Day! It’s a day full of celebration and amazement. It’s your chance to enter the Soo Locks park to get up close to the freighters and learn about the Soo Locks complex.
The event is put on in partnership with the City of Sault Ste. Marie and the United States Army Corps of Engineers, we are ecstatic to help put on this special event. Beginning at 9 a.m., a section of West Portage Avenue in between Ferris Street and Gov. Osbourne Boulevard will be closed off to traffic until 3:30 p.m. and will feature over 50 vendors. The Soo Locks Park and observation deck will both be open from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m.
The day celebrates the engineers who built the Soo Locks along with the men and women of the past and present who maintain the Locks. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers invites people of all ages to come explore the Soo Locks for free. Visitors are invited to stroll the Soo Locks Park, explore history in the Visitor Center and climb observation platforms as mammoth freighters ply the waters of the St. Marys River system. Be sure to stop into the Visitors Center to explore all of the new displays and test your hands at being a Lock Master.
What is there to do on Engineers Day?
Community Booths at Soo Locks Park
9 AM – 3:30 PM | Soo Locks Park
Community organizations and agencies will host informational booths, exhibits, and giveaways inside Soo Locks Park during Engineers Day.
Annual Book Fest
10 AM – 4 PM | Outside Island Books & Crafts, corner of Ashmun St. and Portage Ave.
Annual Book Fest held outside Island Books & Crafts in downtown Sault Ste. Marie.
7 Authors Confirmed
Arts, Crafts & Family Fun Fair
10 AM – 6 PM | City Hall Lawn
Sponsored by Hospice of the Eastern Upper Peninsula and Superior Health Systems. Located .04 miles from the Soo Locks Visitor Center.
Cloverland Touch-A-Truck
10 AM – 1 PM | Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours Parking Lot
Get up close with big trucks, drones, and safety gear! At the Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours parking lot, kids and families can explore vehicles, enjoy Powertown safety demos, meet crews, and win prizes, fun for all ages!
LSSU Center for Freshwater Research and Education Open House
10 AM – 4 PM | Lake Superior State University CFRE
Open house at the Center for Freshwater Research and Education at Lake Superior State University.
Kokosing Alberici Traylor Engineers Day 5K
6 PM | Ashmun St.
A scenic, soft-surface 5K along Ashmun Bay with freighter views, post-race refreshments, and age-group awards. Registration required. Click Here
Saturday, June 27, 2026
International Bridge Walk
9 AM | International Bridge
Walk the iconic International Bridge for stunning views of the Soo Locks and St. Marys River. U.S. and Canadian citizens must bring a valid Passport, Nexus Card, Enhanced Driver’s License, or INAC. Participants 15 and under must be with an adult and have a birth certificate. Shuttle service is available for a fee. Little Sailors Day
Original Soo Locks Bat Tours
10 AM – 4:30 PM | Original Soo Locks Boat Tours
Set sail for fun at Original Soo Locks Boat Tours! Kids ages 5–17 can enjoy free lock tours (2 kids per adult), hands-on sailing activities, water safety demos, games, and prizes.
Clear bag reminder
If bringing a bag into the Soo Locks please note: Clear bags only and no larger than 12 inches long, 6 inches deep, and 12 inches wide will be required for entry to the Soo Lock. No diaper bags. Medical bags are exempt. Wallets without straps may not exceed 4.5″ x 6.5″
Parking on Engineers Day
Looking for a spot to park? Check the City of Sault Ste. Marie’s metered parking map. Meters accept coin and use the Passport Parking app.
Stay tuned to this page and our Facebook page for more updates on Soo Locks Day.
