The Mandeville Trailhead Amphitheater is one of the Southeast's most intimate outdoor venues that offer a great concert-going experience. Whether the concert is "Standing Room Only" or a "Lawn-chair Show", you're guaranteed a great view every time!

The Mandeville Trailhead Amphitheater and grounds has become a favorite destination for concertgoers. The amphitheater can accommodate up to 2,500 fans in front of the stage, and approximately 500 more in additional lawn areas throughout the grounds.

The Mandeville Trailhead Amphitheater is a not-for-profit venue. The facility is owned by the City of Mandeville and managed by the Mandeville Trailhead Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

A typical season at the Trailhead includes something for everyone with performances ranging from adult contemporary, country, folk and blues to dance and theater performances, as well as concerts geared toward "all ages" crowds.

Performances are held from April through October because it is an outdoor venue, and every show is rain or shine.

The City of Mandeville, as the gateway to the North Shore and St. Tammany Parish, enjoys a lifestyle that is quite different from New Orleans, its South Shore neighbor. As a waterfront and water-oriented community, Mandeville enjoys a temperate climate and the serenity of its rich naturalistic environment.

The conceptual intent of the Mandeville Trailhead & Cultural Interpretative Center was to create a focal center in the City of Mandeville. This center of town concept was established to revitalize the older portions of the City and re-instate a feeling of community throughout the City.

Realizing that recreation was a major interest for its citizens and taking in consideration the newly created Tammany Trace, a lineal park/bicycle/pedestrian path throughout the Parish of St. Tammany, the City of Mandeville sought advice from Tulane University's School of Architecture to develop a site that would become this focal center of town. Led by Mr. Grover Mouton, his classes conducted public meetings on possible uses for the property and developed a plan based on public advocacy. The Mandeville Trailhead & Cultural Interpretative Center was developed.

The City acquired a full city block of property strategically placed on the Tammany Trace in the older section of the City. The property was once a delivery yard along the railroad tracks for pre-stress concrete used to construct the Greater New Orleans Causeway Bridge.

Lynn Mitchell, a local architect responsible for spearheading the St. Tammany Rails-to-Trails project, was enlisted for the project. The basis of his design was the result of public input acquired during the Tulane study.

A Trailhead facility featuring a cultural interpretative center, public restroom facilities, pavilions, and public access to the Tammany Trace was created. The interpretative center was to promote public awareness of the history of Mandeville as well as the environmental habitat that co-exists along the Tammany Trace. The amphitheater staging area was created to promote artistic endeavors in the musical, acting, and artistic community. The Tower houses a fitness trail and the fountain provides aquatic fun for children of all ages.

Phase I was financed in part by a U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) economic development grant and completed in 2000, and continued improvements on Phase II are in the works.