Photo by Manistee Forest Festival

Top Events in Manistee

All year long, there are activities, festivals, and special events happening in Manistee County, located along the West Michigan lakeshore. 

Here we’ve condensed the most popular annual happenings, so you can see at a glance which time of year you may want to visit our wonderful area. Welcome to Manistee!

T.J.'s Pub
The Painted Lady

Tight Lines for Troops

Tight Lines for Troops is a charity fishing tournament for Michigan’s disabled veterans, held every May from the port of Manistee, Michigan. 

Manistee Forest Festival

The Manistee Forest Festival began as a way to celebrate and honor the Manistee Forest, which encompasses over 480,000 acres. It’s one of the largest July 4th celebrations in the state.

Hops and Props on the River

The Annual Hops & Props on the River focuses on the city’s rich boating history, plus the popularity of Michigan craft beer, cider and wine. The wooden boat parade is the highlight of the event. 

Manistee's Ghost Ship

One notable highlight of the Halloween season in Manistee is the popular Ghost Ship, otherwise known throughout the year as the S.S. City of Milwaukee, docked off Arthur Street in Manistee.

Sleighbell Parade & Old Christmas Weekend

The highlight of the Victorian Sleighbell Parade & Old Christmas Weekend is the Belgian draft horses that pulls a 30′ Christmas tree down River Street in downtown Manistee. 

Summer Music

Summer means outdoor music events, which include Concerts in the Village Park in Onekama, Roots on the River in Manistee, Music on Bear Lake, and more.

More Manistee County Travel Information

Planning a visit to the Manistee area? Have questions about your trip? Here’s where you can find help: 

Contact the Manistee County Tourism Authority here:

Scroll below for more articles about the Manistee area.
 

Experience the Manistee Area

Winter in Manistee County

Winter in Manistee County includes great outdoor activities like skiing, snow shoeing, hiking, ice skating, and more.

Explore the Manistee River

The Manistee River spans for miles and provides the perfect watershed for kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and exploring.

Relocate to Manistee, Michigan

Manistee has the unique combination of beauty, history and nature, which attracts visitors from all over and inspires many to call it home.

Manistee National Forest

Manistee National Forest together with the Huron National Forest occupies almost a million acres of land in Michigan’s lower peninsula.