Put-In-Bay Events - 2021
Put-in-Bay welcomes guests year-round to Lake Erie’s most popular vacation destination. While the busiest months are May through September, there’s always something to see and do. Situated off the shores of Port Clinton and Sandusky, Ohio, Put-in-Bay offers a wide range of activities. Spend a day at local entertainment parks like Cedar Point, known as the “Roller Coaster Capital of the United States,” or Kalahari, and then unwind in our island paradise, enjoying local events and attractions.
Check out Put-in-Bay Ohio’s entire year of Upcoming Events on the Island Club’s 2021 Put-in-Bay Events Calendar.
January marks the start of the year, and we eagerly prepare for our upcoming summer visitors. While the ferries usually aren’t running and local residents stay cozy at home, we extend a hearty Happy New Year to all our visitors, old and new!
January is perfect for ice fishing! Check out the Commodore Resort for the few open rooms available on the island this time of year. Typically, at least one restaurant/bar and the grocery/beer store remain open. January is the quietest time of year in Put-in-Bay, with no events, making it a peaceful retreat.
In February, Put-in-Bay remains in mid-winter mode, with many locals heading south to sunny Fort Myers, Florida. They also visit unforgettable Key West, Florida, for fun and sun! Join your northern island friends for some southern island revelry and start planning your summer vacation.
The Annual Put-in-Bay Days at Sloppy Joe’s Bar in Key West features a fantastic entertainment lineup. Island favorites typically performing include Mike “Mad Dog” Adams, Pete and Wayne, Ray Fogg, the Killer Flamingoes, That Allie Girl, and of course, Patrick Houston Dailey. Join us at Sloppy Joe’s in sunny Key West, Florida, for Put-in-Bay Days!
March brings St. Patrick’s Day to Put-in-Bay, just as it does around the world. Everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day! If you can make it to the island, join us for some Irish brew and a song or two. There’s always a party somewhere.
Hooligans Irish Pub is the focal point for all things Irish on the island. You might even catch a parade while you raise a pint, or two, of great Irish brew. Check with the [Island Club Taxis](http://www.putinbayislandclubtaxis.com) for affordable rides from the ferry to the downtown events.
Don’t forget: There are many more events than this, and complete island event calendar is available online.
In April, there’s only one thing to say… WE ARE OPEN FOR THE SEASON! This marks the unofficial start of island tourism for the new year. All April weekends are bonus weekends at Put-in-Bay resort hotels and home rentals for two main reasons: Lake Erie fishing and bachelorette parties.
This time of year, the waters off the Lake Erie Islands offer the best walleye fishing in the United States! Anglers travel from as far as North Dakota to catch our fish. Reduced rates at the island’s most popular hotels and homes also attract numerous bachelorette parties eager to celebrate before their big May and June nuptials.
For bachelors and bachelorettes, the third weekend of April features Mr. Ed’s Annual Island Pajama Party, perfect for guests looking to shake up their routine and kickstart their season at the bay. This weekend usually coincides with the Whiskey Light lighting over the Roundhouse bar entrance. Check out special low discounted rates on hotel rooms at the Commodore Resort and 8-12 person houses at the Island Club, a favorite among out-of-town fishermen.
May is always a bright spot for island businesses. Most have cleaned up from winter and opened their doors for visitors to explore. Find a hot bar, buy a new knick-knack, or wander through our many parks and enjoy the May flowers (after the April showers). And don’t forget to rent a golf cart at your lodging.
One of the premier events of the season is the Annual Island Club Official Spring Fling Customer Appreciation Party! This annual spring bash is the de facto kickoff to the Put-in-Bay summer season. Thousands of guests pack the Commodore Resort, Put-in-Bay Condos, Victory Station Hotel, Bird’s Nest Resort, and of course the Island Club Home Rentals, where the party is held. It’s always a sellout! The event features two days of free food, free adult beverages, free live entertainment, and a chance to see your island buddies for the first time this year.
In June, the summer season is in full swing. The sun is shining, live entertainment at island bars has ramped up, and the Jet Express is running its full summer schedule. Weekend day-trippers arrive in full force to explore all the family fun and activities on this small Lake Erie island.
The biggest event this month is the Annual Pyrate Fest, which has everyone saying “Ahoy, Me Hearties!” For over ten years, the Put-in-Bay Chamber of Commerce has sponsored this fantastic family-friendly event held in downtown Put-in-Bay at DeRivera Park. Highlights include a Pirate Parade, Costume Contest for kids and adults, and the infamous Cardboard Boat Races. For safety, the Brig Niagara usually returns to protect the harbor from marauding pirates while offering tours. Join in on the fun!
Don’t forget: There are many more events than this, and a complete island calendar of events is available online.
Don’t forget: There are many more events than this, and a complete island calendar of events is available online.
July is the peak of the season, and it’s usually hot, hot, hot at Put-in-Bay. With bands, singers, and barroom philosophers performing daily at nearly every downtown island bar, you won’t have to look far for fantastic island entertainment.
It’s no surprise that the July 4th holiday is one of the most popular times to visit. There’s no better place to celebrate America’s birthday than with a two or three-day getaway to Put-in-Bay! Kids and parents alike will enjoy a spectacular fireworks show at dusk over the downtown bay, sponsored by island businesses and friends. The best viewing spot is from the steps of Perry’s Monument and the surrounding grounds. Bring a blanket or chair and enjoy the display with accompanying music!
In August, the sun blazes overhead, and all the Put-in-Bay pool bars are packed every Saturday. MIST Pool Bar, the best on the island, takes reservations for their poolside cabanas up to a year in advance. A word of advice: BOOK IT a year in advance because if you wait until summer, they are usually all completely reserved.
Big crowds descend on the island at the end of the month for Labor Day Weekend events at the BAY! Join your friends and family for this three-day weekend of fun. Many of the island’s most popular entertainers perform at multiple venues, making it the biggest musical weekend of the summer! Be sure to book your lodging early as this weekend books fast. Everyone wants to be at Put-in-Bay enjoying the sun and fun.
September sees the kids start going back to school, and the last vacations of the summer are taken. Prices usually drop on the island at Put-in-Bay hotels and rental homes, making it an affordable family getaway. Yet, everything is still open, the pools are still crystal blue, and the sun is still hot. What’s not to love about this month? Great values abound.
One of the most popular family and island weekends of the summer occurs in early September with our big Historical Weekend. This event is actually many events wrapped into one. It features a variety of family-oriented activities centered around DeRivera Park. An old-time village is set up with sleeping quarters, cooking pits, and working craftsmen. The Art in the Park alongside it showcases regional artists, photographers, potters, painters, silversmiths, and displays all day long on Saturday.
At Perry’s Monument, the Boy Scout Camp-O-Ree is held as part of Historical Weekend and is the only one in the USA to be held on federal land. Musket and cannon firing demonstrations occur throughout the weekend, with reenactors explaining the meaning of the Monument. The Toledo Symphony performs a free concert at Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial on Saturday night.
The fun doesn’t end there. There is a Historical Grand Parade which slowly winds its way down Delaware Avenue in downtown Put-in-Bay in the afternoon. It features antique and classic cars, numerous area marching bands, and many civic and military dignitaries. This is followed by a bit of old-time fun with the Muffins vs. Mossbacks Historical Baseball Game. Each year, the Ohio Historical Society Muffins challenge the Put-in-Bay Mossbacks, playing by the original rules of baseball, complete with period uniforms and a big ball.
Don’t forget: There are many more events than this, so search the complete Put-in-Bay event calendar which is available online.
In October, the sun sets a little earlier, and autumn is definitely in the air. But that doesn’t mean the season is over yet. October arguably has some of the most fun weekends of the whole year! Plus, the prices are perfect for an extra island getaway before old man winter comes around. Check out some great Put-in-Bay lodging rates and partners ready to host your group.
The unofficial end of the season party, the Putinbay.com Fall Ball Customer Appreciation Party, is two days of festivities and fun, allowing us to thank you for being our island guests. Follow this up with the best Island Wine Festival in the area, featuring great local island vineyards. Add another weekend for the Annual Island Oktoberfest, showcasing your favorite German foods, sweets, beer, and dancing. Round it out with The Wake at the Roundhouse Bar (if you don’t know what this is, look it up!) and Ohio’s largest island Halloween Party to end the year on a spooky but fun note.
November and December are close-down months for the island. The ferries either stop running or have a very limited schedule. Island residents close up their businesses for the long winter and start making plans for the next year. Snowbirds take flight and head down south to Florida.
New construction occurs, businesses expand or erect new features, and a certain quiet and peace descends on the island. Whatever your plans are, this is a great time to start thinking about next year and pre-planning your next great Put-in-Bay island getaway!
As you can see, there is a lot to do on South Bass Island, especially in Put-in-Bay, Ohio, all throughout the year. Check out our complete Put-in-Bay Event Calendar and find one you like. Bring the family, bring a group of friends, or come by yourself. We are here to help you with any questions and assist with your Put-in-Bay lodging during your stay!