2023 Event Schedule

The Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce is the host and coordinator of the Manistee National Forest Festival. Events are individually run and operated by local organizations and businesses.

This year’s festivities are still in the works! If your business or non-profit is hosting an event during the Festival (June 29 – July 4), please submit it fill out the online form before June 10th to be included on the digital brochure. Any events submitted after June 10th will only be listed below.

Thursday, June 29, 2022

June 29 – July 4 – 75th Birthday of the Lake Bluff Farms Giant Sequoia 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Lake Bluff Farms / 2890 Lakeshore Rd (just north of the State Park)

Lake Bluff Farms (2890 Lakeshore Rd, Manistee, MI 49660) is the home of the largest Giant Sequoia east of the Rockies. The biggest of three trees, a.k.a the Michigan Champion, is 116 feet tall. Since the “natural” distribution of the Giant Sequoias is a limited area in the western Sierra Nevada in California, the Lake Bluff sequoias are one of a kind. Foresters and arborists around the world are in awe of its great success in a place so far from its natural growing area. It is nearly one-half the size of the biggest known sequoias in the world. During the Manistee National Forest Festival, Lake Bluff Farms will be open for tours from 10:00 AM – 3 PM, highlighting one of Manistee’s hidden treasures of the forest. 

Complimentary

June 29 – July 4 – Festival Marketplace 9:00 AM – Dusk

First Street Beach / Douglas Park

Come shop for a variety of goods with over 30 Vendors that come from all across the state. Enjoy all the unique items that they bring for you to purchase!

 June 29 – July 4 – Anderson Midway Carnival 12:00 PM – Dusk 

First Street Beach / Douglas Park

Take the family to enjoy the rides, games, food and fun only the Carnival can provide!

Cost: TBD

June 29 – Manistee National Forest Open House 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

1170 Nursery Rd, Wellston MI 49689

The headquarters sits on the historic Chittenden Nursery where guests are invited to come say hello to Smokey Bear, visit our gift shop and interact with our district staff. Want to see how your local Forest Service district is helping to save the American Elm tree? Exhibits will include a tour of an active seed bed where the Forest Service is planting copies of surviving American elm that will be included in a Dutch Elm Disease Tolerance Trial. Our firefighting unit will also have some equipment on display and talk about wildland fire management in our local area. District Botanists will be showing off the districts native plant and pollinator garden and there will be additional presentations from our Recreation, Wildlife and Timber management programs. Upon departure visitors can pick up a self-guided tour map of recent forest management projects containing the location and information about the different stages of forest management.

Cost: Free 

Friday, June 30, 2022

June 30 – Wine on the River 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Fricano’s Manistee River | 440 River Street, Manistee

Kick off the Forest Festival with a wine tasting on our deck, with charcuterie snacks provided! Tickets will be on presale June 15th at Fricano’s, as well as at the door. Brought to you by Fricano’s Manistee River and Great Lakes Wine & Spirits.

Cost: $3 per ticket, per pour.

Saturday, July 1, 2022

July 1 – July 2 – Manistee World of Arts and Crafts 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Red Szymarek Park / Fifth Avenue

Artists from all over the United States apply for the juried show to sell their wares. The show is held in the Red Szymarek Park on Fifth Avenue where people can stroll in comfort to view the booths, enjoy the excellent food and musical entertainment. 

July 1 – Summer Book Sale hosted by the Friends of the Manistee County Library  9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Behind the Manistee Library at 95 Maple Street

Sale of thousands of used books for all ages, as well as recorded books, DVDs, CDs, and puzzles.

Cost: Free

July 1 – Manistee Firecracker 5K Run/Walk & 1K Fun Run 8:00 AM 

Manistee Middle / High School (525 12th Street, Manistee)

Competitive road race to raise funds for the Manistee Area Community Track. Click here to register today!

Cost: $27 by June 24th, $32 afterward 

July 1 – Rosie Solberg’s Annual Fourth of July Bake Sale 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

On the way to the Arts & Crafts Show– North On the way to the Arts & Crafts Show- North West Corner of Hastings & 5th Ave, Manistee MI 49660

Rosie Solberg’s Annual Bake Sale for Local MIssions-Manistee United Methodist Church Women’s Ministeries

 

July 1 – Family Day hosted by The Tabernacle 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Armory Youth Project – Parking Lot 

This is a FREE family friendly event. Please come enjoy games, prizes, hotdog lunch, cotton candy, snow cones, bounce houses and so much more. Yes, ALL FREE. See what some of our local businesses and agencies have to offer. You can expect to see experiments, games, arts and crafts, tug of war, and even a dunk tank! Keep your eyes open for Smoky The Bear. blow bubbles with “The Bubble Lady”, and even take a seat in a drag race car. Look forward to winning raffle prizes from some of our favorite downtown businesses. Family Day is all the fun that you can imagine.

Cost: Free

July 1 – Pete The Cat 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Happy Owl Book Shop (358 River St.)

Pete the Cat will be at the Happy Owl Bookshop to meet his fans and pose for pictures.

Cost: Free

Sunday, July 2, 2022

July 2 – Fireworks Over Lake Michigan sponsored by Little River Casino Resort 10:30 PM (Dusk)

First Street Beach / Douglas Park

Enjoy a traditional fireworks show located at First Street Beach! Tune in to the countdown and synced music on Eagle 101.5 FM. Fireworks will commence at dusk! RAIN DATE: In the event of inclement weather, the Fireworks show will be rescheduled for Tuesday, July 4th. Proudly sponsored by Little River Casino Resort.

 

Monday, July 3, 2022 

Tuesday, July 4, 2022

July 4 –  City2Shore Port City Associates Real Estate 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

340 River Street, Manistee

City2Shore Port City Associates team will have a greeting table set up & will be giving away Parade Bags & goodies to the public attending the parade festivities on River Street.

July 4 – Independence Day Flag Raising Ceremony 9:45 AM

Division / River Street (prior to the parade)

Kick off your 4th of July celebration with a traditional Flag Raising event before the Forest Festival Parade. 

July 4 – Independence Day Parade 10:00 AM

Division / River Street

Travels west on River Street from Division Street to the Armory Youth Project parking lot, providing a view of  all of the floats, marchers and other fun parade participants as we recognize our Independence as a nation!

July 4 – 338th Army Band 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

VFW (1211 28th Street, Manistee) 

Rock and country music and celebration of our veterans!

Cost: Free

 

June 29 – 75th Birthday of the Lake Bluff Farms Giant Sequoia 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Lake Bluff Farms / 2890 Lakeshore Rd (just north of the State Park)

Lake Bluff Farms (2890 Lakeshore Rd, Manistee, MI 49660) is the home of the largest Giant Sequoia east of the Rockies. The biggest of three trees, a.k.a the Michigan Champion, is 116 feet tall. Since the “natural” distribution of the Giant Sequoias is a limited area in the western Sierra Nevada in California, the Lake Bluff sequoias are one of a kind. Foresters and arborists around the world are in awe of its great success in a place so far from its natural growing area. It is nearly one-half the size of the biggest known sequoias in the world. During the Manistee National Forest Festival, Lake Bluff Farms will be open for tours from 10:00 AM – 3 PM, highlighting one of Manistee’s hidden treasures of the forest. 

Complimentary

 

June 29  – Festival Marketplace 9:00 AM – Dusk

First Street Beach / Douglas Park

Come shop for a variety of goods with over 30 Vendors that come from all across the state. Enjoy all the unique items that they bring for you to purchase!

 

June 29 – Anderson Midway Carnival 12:00 PM – Dusk 

First Street Beach / Douglas Park

Take the family to enjoy the rides, games, food and fun only the Carnival can provide!

Cost: TBD

June 29 – Manistee National Forest Open House 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

1170 Nursery Rd, Wellston MI 49689

The headquarters sits on the historic Chittenden Nursery where guests are invited to come say hello to Smokey Bear, visit our gift shop and interact with our district staff. Want to see how your local Forest Service district is helping to save the American Elm tree? Exhibits will include a tour of an active seed bed where the Forest Service is planting copies of surviving American elm that will be included in a Dutch Elm Disease Tolerance Trial. Our firefighting unit will also have some equipment on display and talk about wildland fire management in our local area. District Botanists will be showing off the districts native plant and pollinator garden and there will be additional presentations from our Recreation, Wildlife and Timber management programs. Upon departure visitors can pick up a self-guided tour map of recent forest management projects containing the location and information about the different stages of forest management.

Cost: Free 

June 30 – 75th Birthday of the Lake Bluff Farms Giant Sequoia 8:00 AM – 9:00PM

Lake Bluff Farms / 2890 Lakeshore Rd (just north of the State Park)

Lake Bluff Farms (2890 Lakeshore Rd, Manistee, MI 49660) is the home of the largest Giant Sequoia east of the Rockies. The biggest of three trees, a.k.a the Michigan Champion, is 116 feet tall. Since the “natural” distribution of the Giant Sequoias is a limited area in the western Sierra Nevada in California, the Lake Bluff sequoias are one of a kind. Foresters and arborists around the world are in awe of its great success in a place so far from its natural growing area. It is nearly one-half the size of the biggest known sequoias in the world. During the Manistee National Forest Festival, Lake Bluff Farms will be open for tours from 10:00 AM – 3 PM, highlighting one of Manistee’s hidden treasures of the forest. 

Complimentary

 

June 30  – Festival Marketplace 9:00 AM – Dusk

First Street Beach / Douglas Park

Come shop for a variety of goods with over 30 Vendors that come from all across the state. Enjoy all the unique items that they bring for you to purchase!

 

June 30 – Anderson Midway Carnival 12:00 PM – Dusk 

First Street Beach / Douglas Park

Take the family to enjoy the rides, games, food and fun only the Carnival can provide!

Cost: TBD

June 30 – Wine on the River 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Fricano’s Manistee River | 440 River Street, Manistee

Kick off the Forest Festival with a wine tasting on our deck, with charcuterie snacks provided! Tickets will be on presale June 15th at Fricano’s, as well as at the door. Brought to you by Fricano’s Manistee River and Great Lakes Wine & Spirits.

Cost: $3 per ticket, per pour.

July 1 – 75th Birthday of the Lake Bluff Farms Giant Sequoia 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Lake Bluff Farms / 2890 Lakeshore Rd (just north of the State Park)

Lake Bluff Farms (2890 Lakeshore Rd, Manistee, MI 49660) is the home of the largest Giant Sequoia east of the Rockies. The biggest of three trees, a.k.a the Michigan Champion, is 116 feet tall. Since the “natural” distribution of the Giant Sequoias is a limited area in the western Sierra Nevada in California, the Lake Bluff sequoias are one of a kind. Foresters and arborists around the world are in awe of its great success in a place so far from its natural growing area. It is nearly one-half the size of the biggest known sequoias in the world. During the Manistee National Forest Festival, Lake Bluff Farms will be open for tours from 10:00 AM – 3 PM, highlighting one of Manistee’s hidden treasures of the forest. 

Complimentary

July 1 – Manistee Firecracker 5K Run/Walk & 1K Fun Run 8:00 AM

Manistee Middle / High School (525 12th Street)

Competitive road race to raise funds for the Manistee Area Community Track. Click here to register today!

Cost: $27 by June 24th, $32 afterward 

July 1 – Rosie Solberg’s Annual Fourth of July Bake Sale 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

On the way to the Arts & Crafts Show– North On the way to the Arts & Crafts Show- North West Corner of Hastings & 5th Ave, Manistee MI 49660

Rosie Solberg’s Annual Bake Sale for Local MIssions-Manistee United Methodist Church Women’s Ministeries

July 1 – Manistee World of Arts and Crafts 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Red Szymarek Park / Fifth Avenue

Artists from all over the United States apply for the juried show to sell their wares. The show is held in the Red Szymarek Park on Fifth Avenue where people can stroll in comfort to view the booths, enjoy the excellent food and musical entertainment. 

July 1 – Summer Book Sale hosted by the Friends of the Manistee County Library  9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Behind the Manistee Library at 95 Maple St.

Sale of thousands of used books for all ages, as well as recorded books, DVDs, CDs, and puzzles.

Cost: Free

July 1 – Festival Marketplace 9:00 AM – Dusk

First Street Beach / Douglas Park

Come shop for a variety of goods with over 30 Vendors that come from all across the state. Enjoy all the unique items that they bring for you to purchase!

July 1 – Family Day hosted by The Tabernacle 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Armory Youth Project – Parking Lot 

This is a FREE family friendly event. Please come enjoy games, prizes, hotdog lunch, cotton candy, snow cones, bounce houses and so much more. Yes, ALL FREE. See what some of our local businesses and agencies have to offer. You can expect to see experiments, games, arts and crafts, tug of war, and even a dunk tank! Keep your eyes open for Smoky The Bear. blow bubbles with “The Bubble Lady”, and even take a seat in a drag race car. Look forward to winning raffle prizes from some of our favorite downtown businesses. Family Day is all the fun that you can imagine.

Cost: Free 

July 1 – Pete The Cat 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Happy Owl Book Shop (358 River St.)

Pete the Cat will be at the Happy Owl Bookshop to meet his fans and pose for pictures.

Cost: Free

July 1 – Anderson Midway Carnival 12:00 PM – Dusk 

First Street Beach / Douglas Park

Take the family to enjoy the rides, games, food and fun only the Carnival can provide!

Cost: TBD

 July 2 – Manistee World of Arts and Crafts 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Red Szymarek Park / Fifth Avenue

Artists from all over the United States apply for the juried show to sell their wares. The show is held in the Red Szymarek Park on Fifth Avenue where people can stroll in comfort to view the booths, enjoy the excellent food and musical entertainment. 

 

July 2 – 75th Birthday of the Lake Bluff Farms Giant Sequoia 8:00 AM – 9:00PM

Lake Bluff Farms / 2890 Lakeshore Rd (just north of the State Park)

Lake Bluff Farms (2890 Lakeshore Rd, Manistee, MI 49660) is the home of the largest Giant Sequoia east of the Rockies. The biggest of three trees, a.k.a the Michigan Champion, is 116 feet tall. Since the “natural” distribution of the Giant Sequoias is a limited area in the western Sierra Nevada in California, the Lake Bluff sequoias are one of a kind. Foresters and arborists around the world are in awe of its great success in a place so far from its natural growing area. It is nearly one-half the size of the biggest known sequoias in the world. During the Manistee National Forest Festival, Lake Bluff Farms will be open for tours from 10:00 AM – 3 PM, highlighting one of Manistee’s hidden treasures of the forest. 

Complimentary

 

July 2 – Festival Marketplace 9:00 AM – Dusk

First Street Beach / Douglas Park

Come shop for a variety of goods with over 30 Vendors that come from all across the state. Enjoy all the unique items that they bring for you to purchase!

 

July 2 – Anderson Midway Carnival 12:00 PM – Dusk 

First Street Beach / Douglas Park

Take the family to enjoy the rides, games, food and fun only the Carnival can provide!

Cost: TBD

July 2 – Fireworks Over Lake Michigan sponsored by Little River Casino Resort 10:30 PM (Dusk)

First Street Beach / Douglas Park

Enjoy a traditional fireworks show located at First Street Beach! Tune in to the countdown and synced music on Eagle 101.5 FM. Fireworks will commence at dusk! RAIN DATE: In the event of inclement weather, the Fireworks show will be rescheduled for Tuesday, July 4th. Proudly sponsored by Little River Casino Resort.

July 3 – 75th Birthday of the Lake Bluff Farms Giant Sequoia 8:00 AM – 9:00PM

Lake Bluff Farms / 2890 Lakeshore Rd (just north of the State Park)

Lake Bluff Farms (2890 Lakeshore Rd, Manistee, MI 49660) is the home of the largest Giant Sequoia east of the Rockies. The biggest of three trees, a.k.a the Michigan Champion, is 116 feet tall. Since the “natural” distribution of the Giant Sequoias is a limited area in the western Sierra Nevada in California, the Lake Bluff sequoias are one of a kind. Foresters and arborists around the world are in awe of its great success in a place so far from its natural growing area. It is nearly one-half the size of the biggest known sequoias in the world. During the Manistee National Forest Festival, Lake Bluff Farms will be open for tours from 10:00 AM – 3 PM, highlighting one of Manistee’s hidden treasures of the forest. 

Complimentary

 

July 3 – Festival Marketplace 9:00 AM – Dusk

First Street Beach / Douglas Park

Come shop for a variety of goods with over 30 Vendors that come from all across the state. Enjoy all the unique items that they bring for you to purchase!

 

July 3 – Anderson Midway Carnival 12:00 PM – Dusk 

First Street Beach / Douglas Park

Take the family to enjoy the rides, games, food and fun only the Carnival can provide!

Cost: TBD

July 4 – 75th Birthday of the Lake Bluff Farms Giant Sequoia 8:00 AM – 9:00PM

Lake Bluff Farms / 2890 Lakeshore Rd (just north of the State Park)

Lake Bluff Farms (2890 Lakeshore Rd, Manistee, MI 49660) is the home of the largest Giant Sequoia east of the Rockies. The biggest of three trees, a.k.a the Michigan Champion, is 116 feet tall. Since the “natural” distribution of the Giant Sequoias is a limited area in the western Sierra Nevada in California, the Lake Bluff sequoias are one of a kind. Foresters and arborists around the world are in awe of its great success in a place so far from its natural growing area. It is nearly one-half the size of the biggest known sequoias in the world. During the Manistee National Forest Festival, Lake Bluff Farms will be open for tours from 10:00 AM – 3 PM, highlighting one of Manistee’s hidden treasures of the forest. 

Complimentary

July 4 –  City2Shore Port City Associates Real Estate 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

340 River Street, Manistee

City2Shore Port City Associates team will have a greeting table set up & will be giving away Parade Bags & goodies to the public attending the parade festivities on River Street.

July 4 – Independence Day Flag Raising Ceremony 9:45 AM

Division / River Street (prior to the parade)

Kick off your 4th of July celebration with a traditional Flag Raising event before the Forest Festival Parade. 

July 4 – Independence Day Parade 10:00 AM

Division / River Street

Travels west on River Street from Division Street to the Armory Youth Project parking lot, providing a view of  all of the floats, marchers and other fun parade participants as we recognize our Independence as a nation! 

July 4 – Anderson Midway Carnival 12:00 PM – Dusk 

First Street Beach / Douglas Park

Take the family to enjoy the rides, games, food and fun only the Carnival can provide!

Cost: TBD

July 4 – Festival Marketplace 12:00 PM – Dusk

First Street Beach / Douglas Park

Come shop for a variety of goods with over 30 Vendors that come from all across the state. Enjoy all the unique items that they bring for you to purchase!

July 4 – 338th Army Band 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

VFW (1211 28th St.) 

Rock and country music and celebration of our veterans!

Cost: Free