What’s happening: Downtown Port Huron is getting a theater district. Although it consists of theaters that have been there for years, the Port Huron Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has formalized an approximately two-block area of downtown as the
Port Huron Theatre District, officially recognizing the performing arts theaters that have been drawing visitors downtown for decades now. The inaugural Port Huron Theatre District Festival will celebrate the newly founded district with an outdoor street festival the weekend of Friday, June 5, through Sunday, June 8.
What it is: The Port Huron DDA has partnered with McMorran Place, Enter Stage Right at the Citadel Stage, the St. Clair County Community College Fine Arts Theatre, and the Port Huron Civic Theatre to form the district, an area loosely bound by McMorran Boulevard to Bard Street, and Huron Avenue to Erie Street.
“This collaboration is a perfect demonstration of the true spirit of Port Huron,” says Port Huron Mayor Pauline Repp. “It is exciting to have a dedicated area in our downtown spotlighting not only the physical buildings that make up the Port Huron Theatre District, but also the people that share their talents with showgoers to Downtown Port Huron.”
Why it’s important: Putting a name to the area that makes up the Theatre District imbues that particular part of town with a deeper sense of place, recognizing the hard work put in by the theaters there and bolstering marketing and tourism opportunities further down the road.
Kick-off party: The Port Huron Theatre District Festival is scheduled to open Friday, June 5, and run through the weekend, with each theater hosting four performances throughout the festival. Live performances and a local artisan and maker market will take over the city streets within the district. The festival has received grant funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, Arts Midwest, and the Michigan Arts and Culture Council as well as the Community Foundation of St. Clair County’s Blue Water Arts Committee.
“The Port Huron Theatre District is a collaboration of arts and community, highlighting the assets we have right here in Downtown Port Huron,” says Natacha Hayden, Port Huron’s downtown development director. “Downtown is excited to share all that we have to offer when it comes to arts and entertainment with this three-day festival. It’s a fun, engaging, family-friendly event which will really welcome summer to Downtown Port Huron.”
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