The Manistee Amphitheater Foundation (MAF) is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization founded in January 2025 to design, fundraise and build a low-maintenance, multi-purpose venue that will complement and enhance the amenities at First Street Beach/Douglas Park.  The MAF has been supported by the Salt City Rock and Blues organization, who provided start up funds for the new foundation, and an infusion of start up capital from West Shore Bank.  The foundation board consists of a broad representation of the Manistee community all bringing specific skills and expertise to the group.

The MAF has partnered with the City of Manistee on the amphitheater project as the completed venue will be a City of Manistee asset.  The Foundation is aligned with the City of Manistee Beach Master Plan which identities the open area south of the Lion’s Pavilion Picnic area as the ideal location for the new venue. The Manistee City Council has passed a resolution supporting the efforts of the MAF to pursue private fundraising, site plan, design, construction budgets and timelines. This resolution of support is linked below. Behind-the-scenes fundraising with institutional donors and other sources is underway with the public phase of the fundraising campaign beginning Spring 2026. 

The MAF is engaged with Grand Rapids-based, Integrated Architecture, principal, Mike Corby and his team. The design concept for “The Dune” has taken painstaking efforts to integrate the stage structure, green room, bathrooms and vendor/concession area into the existing landscape, preserving the dune, group of willow trees and open park area. The open area will be shaped into a gradual bowl with landscaping features that can accommodate lawn chairs and blankets. The living roof will allow the venue to blend into its natural surrounding, making it unnoticeable to a passerby while housing a 55’x35’ stage, sufficient to host high school and community bands or other large groups. 

The stage is positioned to the WSW directing all sound over Lake Michigan and away from local residences. The natural dune area surrounding the venue will be untouched, with the exception of the south plaza to feature and preserve the large group of historic willow trees on the site. This plaza will also offer street-level handicap access to the venue and allow the MAF the option of selling bricks as a fundraiser in the future. 

The MAF will be hosting a campaign kickoff fundraiser at the site on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at the site of the new venue. The event will feature all day and night music, food trucks, the return of the famous Manistee Fish Boil and a world-class drone show over the harbor at dark. This will become an annual fundraising event to help support the long term asset management plan for the facility. 

When completed, the facility will be available to the public on a per-event basis. On-going events, such as Tuesday’s Shoreline Showcase will move to the new venue along with other entertainment at the beach. The venue will be available to host weddings, reunions and other public gatherings.