Three Rivers amphitheater grand opening set for October 25 with live music

The public is invited to celebrate the unveiling of a vibrant new venue in downtown Three Rivers with live music and friends on Saturday, October 25.

After several years of planning, research, and grant writing, construction on the amphitheater, located on Joshua Drive in Three Rivers, is nearing completion, according to John “Charlie” Wolgamood of the Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority. The grand opening event will not only mark an infrastructural milestone but serve as a showcase for local musicians.

What to expect

Weather permitting, the following performers are slated to headline the celebration: Three Rivers High School Marching Band, Kalamazoo Concert Bass, The Four Tones, Flatlanders and Outlaws, Tornado Warning, and Grace Theisen. Also appearing are local favorites Faux Beamage and the Three Rivers German Band. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets — the event is outdoors and casual.

Behind the scenes

Wolgamood emphasized that while the structure may look simple, bringing it to life required rigorous testing and coordination.

“You think they could just show up, even though it’s kind of almost like a prefab. You have to do a million tests when you do stuff like this. I didn’t realize,” he said.

He noted the project team traveled to neighboring communities, for example, Hastings, which has its own riverfront amphitheater. Wolgamood said they received input from local officials who already have an amphitheater along their river.

While the final push has been swift, the idea has roots going back decades, Wolgamood said.

“I’ve run into a lot of people who said: ‘We’ve been talking about this for years. We were talking about it in the ’80s, ’90s, 2000s. We need to get something going.’ That nice open area back there by the river, it’s a beautiful area. We wanted some kind of permanent stage, amphitheater-type thing.”

Wolgamood credited several people for assisting  the project from idea to completion, including Tricia Meyer for her grant-writing work, Jason Ballew for planning, City Manager Joe Bippus and Director of Public Services Amy Roth for their ongoing support, and Brussee/Brady for overseeing construction.

Funding and future goals

According to a public notice from the City of Three Rivers, the total estimated project is about $2,005,445. The amphitheater and adjacent gathering areas were built with ADA access in mind, including accessible restrooms and walkways.

During the project’s groundbreaking in March 2025, Watershed Voice reported the project was backed by a roughly $1.95 million Community Development Block Grant through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), with approximately $195,344 in matching funds from the DDA, which were provided through the Three Rivers City Commission with additional support from local donors. City officials initially aimed for a September 2025 completion.

Wolgamood said the amphitheater fits into the city’s aim to energize downtown through arts and culture.

“Vibrancy comes from energy from arts and music entertainment. The more we can do music, it provides energy for people who want to come downtown. We’ll have more people downtown, and fill up more of the stores,” he said. “People like these old buildings, they like the character, it’s right downtown here.”

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.