2025 Summer Concert Series
Our annual Summer Concert Series is approaching! The free concerts are July 10, 17 and 24 and start at 7 p.m. outside the Carriage House, 6597 138th Ave. in view of the historic Felt Mansion. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Food and drink service begins at 6 p.m. No outside alcohol is allowed but outside food and sealed beverage containers are permitted. Coolers and bags will be checked. No pets except registered service dogs.
Our lineup this year consists of 3 unique bands that should surely please everyone’s listening ears.
You are welcome to bring your lawn chairs, a blanket to sit, or dance with others!
The first concert is July 10. The band 6 Pak will perform. The seven-piece high energy, all female rock ’n’ roll band plays a variety of timeless music from the 1960s, 1970s and more.
On July 17, BBOP – Big Band of Praise – performs. Beginning as a group of musicians playing together at a Holland area church, BBOP is an18-piece band performing big band, swing, jazz, gospel and ballads. The audiences will enjoy music such as Gershwin ballads sung by the band’s vocalists, big band standards including “In the Mood” and “Caravan,” and big band arrangements of pop and gospel music.
On July 24, Chicago Mule takes the stage. The group is a cover band from the north side of the Windy City. Consisting of guitarist/vocalist Matthew Gordon and pianist/vocalist Megan Burback, the duo puts its own spin on favorite songs from oldies and rock classics to current pop hits.
Changes this year
The concert season has been shortened from the traditional four shows to three this season. “Due to a lack of dedicated funding for the concert series this year, we’ve had to make the difficult decision to shorten the season,” said Beth McEwen, executive director of the Felt Estate.” We know how much the community loves these events, and we’re committed to keeping them accessible and free to attend. That’s why we’ve added a $5 premium parking option close to the venue — it’s a small way to help offset rising costs while preserving the spirit of the series.”
Organizers are actively seeking local businesses and individuals to help sponsor the concerts and encourage everyone who enjoys these events to consider becoming a Friend of the Felt Estate. “Memberships and donations make a meaningful difference and help sustain programming like this. Donations will be gratefully accepted during the concerts, and every contribution helps us keep the music playing for seasons to come,” said McEwen.
Parking Updates
New this season is a “premium” paid parking option on the lawn next to the Carriage House for $5. Free parking is still available by the Felt Mansion solar array and at Shore Acres Park.
The Interurban bus service will also be available this year. For more information on the transportation service and costs, visit www.saugatuckinterurban.org.
Mansion Tours and History
The mansion will be open for free self-guided tours during the shows with donations appreciated. Doors open at 5pm for free tours.
Construction of the Mansion began in 1925 by Dorr E. Felt, inventor of the Comptometer, the first machine that could do all four math functions — add, subtract, multiply and divide. The building was finished in 1928. Felt’s wife Agnes died that year. Dorr died a year-and-a-half later. In 1949, the family sold it to The Saint Augustine Seminary, a Catholic prep school for young men. For over 10 years, the Mansion itself was housing for 30-40 boys and faculty, and the carriage house was used for classrooms. By the early 1960s and several years of growth, the Seminary built a large school on the ridge, west of the mansion, and a group of nuns lived in the mansion. It is in this larger complex that Future Pope Leo XIV spent his high school years from 1969 to 1973 at the Augustine Seminary. Enrollment in the school declined severely toward the end of the 1970s, and the State of Michigan purchased the land and converted the complex into a minimum security prison, with offices inside the Mansion. When the prison closed, the State Sold it to Laketown Township for $1, and the property declined until our restoration story began in 2002. Be sure to step inside these walls and experience the hidden gem of West Michigan.
The Felt Estate is a non-profit organization that aims to preserve history through preservation of the Estate; protect the environment with the responsible use of the natural and built environments; and educate through tours, classes, field trips, and seminars.