Special Events

Policy and Fees: 

• Special Event Policy
• Parks & Streets Equipment and Facility Rental Fees  and Rental Equipment Descriptions
• Parks & Recreation Ticket & Pass Donation Policy
• City Hall Facility Use Policy
• Trolley Use Policy
• Outdoor Cooking Guidelines
• Demonstration Information from the Manitowoc Police Department

Applications and Permits:

Applicants must read related policies before submitting applications. 

• Special Event Application Form 
  • NOTICE: Applications for 2026 events will incur delayed approval due to internal process changes. Thank you for your patience.
  • Applications submitted within 60 days of the event are subject to a $100 late fee. 
  • A Special Event is a planned occurrence of 50 or more people on City property. 
  • For events at the Manitowoc Public Library, call (920) 686-3000, or call (920) 686-3090 for events at the Rahr-West Art Museum.
  • For large events, consider a safety plan and utilizing a Festival Toolkit. 
• Waiver of Fees Request Form Only nonprofits hosting events not on City of Manitowoc property or nonprofits only requesting use of a Parks or Recreation facility and/or equipment should use this form. All other events should fill out the Special Event Application which includes a Waiver of Fees section. 
• Residential Block Party Permit Application  Businesses & organizations must complete a Special Event Application form.
• Stake Permit Events with bounce houses or stakes greater than 6" into the ground need to submit a stake permit.  Bounce houses/inflatables are not permitted unless approval has been obtained from the City of Manitowoc Common Council.
• Extension of Premise for Beer/Liquor Contact the Clerks Office at (920) 686-6950 for more information.
• Mariners Trail Special Use Permit (Use only if the event is entirely on the trail itself & no equipment is requested; otherwise, complete a Special Event Application Form)
• Mobile Food Vendor License Application (Find more information in 11.100 of the Municipal Code.)
• Wenger Bandwagon Form (Use only if you are NOT completing a Special Event Application)
• Waiver of Noise Ordinance Application (Use only if you are NOT completing a Special Event Application)
• Waiver for ATV UTV use in parks

Maps to Use for Planning Special Events

• City Hall & Quay Street
• Briess Lot (Downtown Farmers Market lot)
• Washington Park

City of Manitowoc Logos for Advertising

• City of Manitowoc logo (full color .png file)
• City of Manitowoc logo (black & white .png file)
• Visit Manitowoc logo (preferred .png file)
• Visit Manitowoc logo (stacked .png file)

Discover Manitowoc Grant Program

The City of Manitowoc is pleased to offer this funding assistance opportunity to bring more people to locally held events through targeted and effective marketing strategies (e.g., promotion, and advertising). If you have a great event or project that is well-organized and attracts visitors to the community but could benefit from additional funding for marketing efforts, then you could be a good candidate for a grant. For more information, contact the Tourism Department at (920) 686-3508 or go to manitowoc.org/2469/Discover-Manitowoc-Grant. 

Special Events Organized by the City of Manitowoc & Who to Contact

• Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony, Mayor's Office, (920) 686-6980
• Arbor Day Celebration, Parks Division, (920) 686-3580
• Easter Eggstravaganza, Recreation Division, (920) 686-3060
• Intergenerational Day at the Zoo, Recreation Division, (920) 686-3060
• International Migratory Bird Day, Recreation Division, (920) 686-3060
• 4th of July Parade, Tourism Department, (920) 686-3508
• Fourth on the Shore, Tourism Department, (920) 686-3508 
• Moo at the Zoo, Recreation Division, (920) 686-3060
• Zoo Boo, Recreation Division, (920) 686-3060
• Lakeshore Holiday Parade, Tourism Department, (920) 686-3508 

Parks & Streets Equipment and Facility Rental Fees”.