Things to Do in Manitowoc
Manitowoc’s cultural calender is filled year-round with entertaining programs and events that present great opportunities for cultural enrichment and growth. The downtown Capitol Civic Centre, referred to as the ‘Jewel on the Lakeshore,’ is the gathering place for more than 70,000 each year. Once a movie house, the theatre was renovated and reopened in 1987. It regularly presents local, regional and nationally recognized musical talent and Broadway theatre on tour.
The Manitowoc County Ice Center, located on the County Expo grounds, is open for skating from October through March. During the remainder of the year, the 23,700 sq. ft. of dry floor space and bleacher seating for 3,000 people is used for various activities. The Expo grounds also hosts various shows, stock car racing and the County Fair in August.
The Historic Forst Inn in downtown Tisch Mills is a bed and breakfast inn that offers delightful theatre performances throughout the year.
Music is an integral element of the deeply-rooted and diverse cultural heritage of Manitowoc and Two Rivers residents who join together in a number of clubs and organizations. Some of these are the Clipper City Chordsmen, The Lakeshore Wind Ensemble, Music for Tots (Silver Lake College) and the Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra.
The visual arts community in Manitowoc is as strong as ever due to the influence of the Rahr-West Art Museum. Originally a late 19th century mansion, the Museum regularly mounts special themed exhibits and shows in celebration of the visual arts. The annual ‘Christmas in the Mansion’ runs from November through early January. The Rahr-West also has a permanent collection of 19th century American paintings and furniture, and international carvings, porcelains, and other pieces that have enabled it to emerge as a renown cultural center in the upper Midwest.
Kidzarts, the Lakeshore’s family theatre, provides creativity workshops and live theatrical performances for children, by children. The Summer Youth Art Program at Silver Lake College is open to all elementary and middle school students.
Another of the more active and visible artists’ groups is the Lakeshore Palettiers.