Manistee National Forest Festival returns

A giant duck leads children, including the Manistee National Forest Festival Princess and Prince, toward downtown during 2019 festivities. Courtesy photo.

From staff reports

MANISTEE ̶ Five full days of fun, including Independence Day celebrations, will take place near the waterfront during the annual Manistee National Forest Festival, June 30-July 4.

The festival, with events held primarily at Douglas Park and First Street Beach, is hosted by the Manistee County Chamber of Commerce.

Advertisement for Marie Marfia Fine Art is an announcement of an upcoming show of pastel paintings called "Woods, Waves and Ways," a local artist paints the Ludington State Park by Marie Marfia. the show will take place July 18 through August 14 at Timeless Picture Framing and Gallery, 103 East Ludington Avenue in downtown Ludington. A reception will be held on the 18th from 4 to 7 p.m. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday thru Friday or by appointment. Click on this ad to be taken to the artist's website.

Ad for Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts says celebrating 250 years of the United States of America, Scan the QR code toward the bottom right corner for the summer line up or click on this ad to be taken to the website. This ad is in red, white and blue with a solid navy ribbon of color at the top followed by a red white and blue ribbon across the ad with white stars in blue, a white stripe in the middle and a red stripe at the bottom of the ribbon. The address is at the bottom of the ad: 101 Maple Street in Manistee, Michigan. Zip code is 49660. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram. the website address is ramsdelltheatre.org. Theater is spelled t-h-e-a-t-r-e.

During this year's Manistee Forest Festival, on July 2, the 4th Annual Little Big Shots Talent Show for kids will be hosted by TV's Brandon Phillips and is sponsored by Shirley Madden of the Blue Tigers. Courtesy photo. — During this year’s Manistee Forest Festival, the 4th Annual Little Big Shots Talent Show for kids will be hosted on July 2 by Brandon Phillips and is sponsored by Shirley Madden of the Blue Tigers. Courtesy photo.

The festival tradition stretches back more than 80 years.

“This signature festival draws thousands of people, along with many returning with ties to the area and region, and embodies the idea of ‘Community’ that so many love about Manistee County,” stated Stacie Bytwork, president and CEO of the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce.

**Smokey the Bear and his forest rangers at First Street Beach during the 2016 Manistee National Forest Festival. Courtesy photo.**

Favorite festival activities include Anderson Midway carnival rides, family day, Jaycees beach bash, Whispering Pines Mobile Zoo, a concert by the Scottville Clown Band, an Independence Day flag-raising ceremony and parade, and fireworks over Lake Michigan.

Find the full schedule at: ManisteeForestFestival.com and follow Manistee National Forest Festival on Facebook.