Walleye Festival fun continues

PORT CLINTON – Dave Sorg got up early Saturday morning and parked his pickup across from the Ida Rupp Public Library.

By the time the Walleye Festival parade was ready to begin at 1 p.m., Sorg and his grandchildren had a prime view from the truck of the floats and participants.

Sorg relaxed in a lawn chair in the truck bed while his grandchildren picked up candy parade entrants tossed.

"This is really a big boost to this town in the spring," Sorg said of the Main Street Port Clinton Walleye Festival. "It's too cold to go swimming. This is something that brings people here."

The five-day festival — which is celebrating its 35th year — has a more than $1 million impact on the Port Clinton area, said Judi Halstead, who emceed the parade.

Sorg spent 20 years volunteering to help with concessions at the festival before retiring a few years ago when Main Street Port Clinton took over the organization.

Now, he gets to enjoy the festival with his family, although he sometimes misses the fun of seeing so many people at the concession stand.

"They have done a great job," Sorg said of Main Street Port Clinton's work on the festival.

The parade, called the Civilian Marksmanship Program Grande Parade, is one of the biggest festival parades in the area, Sorg said. It's also one of the many things volunteers organize.

The parade lasted 45 minutes and had entries that ranged from baton corps and the Port Clinton High School marching band to politicians and local businesses with floats. The Port Clinton Fullbackers Club was the grand marshal.

Antique fire trucks driven by the Erie Township Volunteer Fire Department and WPCR radio station were also well-received.

Weather was sunny, which has become a festival tradition, as well.

"It has never rained on our parade," Halstead said.

Getting the festival ready is a year-long undertaking that fewer than 10 volunteers handle, Halstead said.

The result is several days of events, vendors, carnival food, rides and entertainment. Pony rides and the Jungle Island Petting Zoo also are popular festival mainstays.

Amanda Smith, of Tiffin, came to the festival for the first time Saturday to spend time with her family.

"We rode the ponies, and now we're doing the rides," she said, as she watched her 10-year-old stepdaughter, Angel, get on a circular spinning ride called the "Roundup." "It's been fun so far."

The festival continues through 5 p.m. Memorial Day.

mksmith@gannett.com

419-334-1044

Twitter: @kristinasmithNM

Walleye Festival parade winners

• Most spirit — Black Swamp Runners Adrenaline Rush Sports

• Most entertaining — Erie Shores K-9 Academy

• Best of show — Port Clinton High School marching band

• Best theme — Haunted Hydro

• Port Clinton pride — Immaculate Conception School

• Best baton corps — Five-Star Baton Corps