About The Garden Theater
In 2018, the 501(c)3 Friends of The Garden Theater was formed with the mission to use our historic theater to build a stronger community. Our vision is that the Garden Theater will act as a gathering space, using film, music and private events to enhance our community vitality. We have committed to the growth of the theater, becoming more than just a movie house, now offering live music, dance, storytelling and theater. By increasing the amount of shared artistic and cultural experiences, we strive to further the depth of community connectivity and artistic appreciation in Benzie County.
Located on the corner of Main Street in downtown Frankfort, mere blocks from idyllic Lake Michigan, The Garden Theater has served its community since it opened its doors in 1924. The theater has been in continuous operation, bringing arts and culture to Benzie County and beyond, for nearly a century. Due to its age, of course the theater was in need of a makeover. The historic art-deco theater has undergone extensive upgrades throughout the last few years, being fully transformed into a top-tier performing arts venue in Northwest Michigan. These upgrades include new state of the art lighting, sound, and rigging systems, allowing for elevated programming. The Garden Theater is the proud home to the Frankfort Film Festival, Frankfort 48 Film Contest, the annual Holiday Gala at The Garden, the Live at The Garden Summer Concert Series, and so much more.
The Garden Theater boasts a rich and valuable history. Though it has been in continuous operation since 1924, the building had fallen into disrepair in the early 2000s. In 2008, The Garden was purchased by a group of community members with the intent of restoring the theater to its former art-deco glory, bringing a state of the art theater to Frankfort. This extensive renovation project was truly a community-wide effort. 100s of volunteer hours were put in to bring The Garden back to life. We are so grateful to these community members who saved the theater back in 2008, so that we may now have the opportunity to act as stewards with the goal to keep the theater running for another 100 years. Many of the community members who assisted in The Garden Renaissance all those years to go, are still active volunteers and donors at the theater to this day.
The Garden Theater supports an inclusive environment for experiencing art and community without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or disability. All staff and volunteers at The Garden must adhere to this code of ethics. The Garden has advanced its efforts in the past year to be accessible for all by the construction of ADA compliant restrooms, building out a new area for wheelchair access, and upgrading the hearing impaired system and equipment. The Garden Theater is also extremely proud to announce that through IBCCES, the theater has been designated as a Certified Autism Center. This certification allows us to create an inclusive, safe environment for every patron who wishes to experience art at The Garden. You can learn more about what being a Certified Autism Center means here.
