Discover Presque Isle: What's back, what's new, what's not to miss

Dana Massing, Erie Times-News
·8 min read

Filling a bucket with water at the edge of Lake Erie, dumping it onto dry sand on a Presque Isle State Park beach and shaping a castle, a fish, a mermaid. Sculpting sand is something many people do at the shore from their earliest visits.

"That's one of the highlights of a day when you go to the beach," said Jon DeMarco, executive director of the Presque Isle Partnership.

The sand sculpture competition is one of the most popular events at Discover Presque Isle, the festival and fundraiser put on by the nonprofit partnership that supports the state park. This year's competition will take place July 30 at Beach 11, with sculpting starting at 9 a.m. and judging at 1 p.m. Entry is free and the top prize is $200 cash.

"It's so neat to see how creative people get," DeMarco said. "It's open to the imagination."

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The sand sculpture competition is just one returning feature of Discover Presque Isle, which runs Monday through July 31. DeMarco said the festival is meant to leave visitors with a deeper appreciation for the park and an understanding of what a rich resource it is. The celebration also has some new experiences this year and some you won't want to pass by.

What's back

Some events have become staples of Discover Presque Isle and visitors return for them year after year. They include:

Pancakes: The Presque Isle Rotary Club will serve its pancake breakfast on July 30 and 31 from 7:30 a.m. to noon in the Rotary Pavilion. The cost is $9 for adults and $5 for those younger than 12.

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Volleyball: A tournament will take place July 30 starting at 9 a.m. at Beach 6. DeMarco said the tournament is open to six-player teams of several ability levels. Registration is $90. Watching is free.

People watch the giant bonfire on July 24, 2021, at Presque Isle State Park's Beach 11 in Millcreek Township during Discover Presque Isle.
People watch the giant bonfire on July 24, 2021, at Presque Isle State Park's Beach 11 in Millcreek Township during Discover Presque Isle.

Bonfire: The giant bonfire will burn July 30 on Beach 11 from 9 to 10 p.m.

Kites: Kites are likely to fly above Sunset Point on any given day and especially during Discover Presque Isle. But the festival brings the addition of the Kite Beach Illumination on July 29 from 8 to 10 p.m.

What's new

While the festival still offers favorite events, organizers aren't opposed to making changes and adding new things. This year, look for:

Longer event: The festival was canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. When Discover Presque Isle returned in 2021, it was expanded from three to five days to help reduce crowding. "This year, we're going a full week of celebrating all Presque Isle has to offer," DeMarco said. "Because there is just so much to experience on the park." He said holding the festival over seven days will help reduce congestion. DeMarco anticipates more than 100,000 people will visit the peninsula for Discover Presque Isle. "It will be a lot more manageable with it being spaced out," he said.

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Fish fry: "One of the things we're excited about is the Discover Presque Isle Fish Fry on (July 28) at the Rotary Pavilion from 4 to 7 or until the food is gone," DeMarco said. The meal is a joint effort between the Presque Isle Partnership and S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie, who will cook and serve haddock, two cold sides, a roll, chips and a drink for $15. DeMarco said proceeds will benefit the partnership and only 300 meals will be prepared.

The Presque Isle Lighthouse will host an artist showcase during Discover Presque Isle.
The Presque Isle Lighthouse will host an artist showcase during Discover Presque Isle.

Art exhibits: A craft and food vendor area won't be part of the event this year, like in 2021, because of concerns about crowds. DeMarco has said the partnership is working to establish a separate weekend for a Presque Isle craft and food vendor festival in the future. In the meantime, Discover Presque Isle will feature two smaller art events. An artist showcase will be held July 29-30 at the Presque Isle Lighthouse, which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. That event will also include the Straw Hat Sundae Shop food truck. An artists pop-up will take place July 31 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Presque Isle Gallery & Gifts in the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, 301 Peninsula Drive.

Flat Naturalist self-guided hikes: These educational tours will allow visitors to explore North Pier Trail, Dead Pond Trail, Fox Trail/Multi-Purpose Trail and the Perry Monument. At various points on the trail, signs will alert people that they can learn more about the park via a smart device. DeMarco said more details, including information that can be printed out in advance, is available on the Presque Isle Partnership's website.

What's not to miss

While the bonfire, pancake breakfast and sand sculpting are all worthy things to put on your to-do list, here are a few others:

UPMC Sunset Music Series: The last concert in the free weekly series will take place July 27 on Beach 11 with Psych Patrol opening at 5:30 p.m. and Crush headlining at 7 p.m.

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Discover the peninsula: DeMarco said the festival is a chance to draw people out and introduce them to what the park offers on a consistent basis that they might not have tried before. That could include visiting the Presque Isle Lighthouse, taking in a guided hike or program offered by the park's environmental education specialists, renting a bicycle to ride on the Multi-Purpose Trail, exploring the lagoons by pontoon or taking a boat ride on the Lady Kate, among other activities.

Donation booths: You can help the park you love by picking up a round keepsake wood chip featuring piping plover artwork. The chips require a minimum donation of $5 and come with a coupon for a free ice cream or yogurt at Sara's Restaurant. DeMarco said Discover Presque Isle T-shirts also will be available, for $15. Proceeds from the chips and shirts will go toward partnership efforts to improve park playgrounds, add toddler-sized picnic tables in play areas, build another lifeguard station, buy more mats that can be placed on beaches to allow access for wheelchairs and people who have trouble moving over sand, and provide another beach wheelchair available to be signed out for daily use from the Public Safety Building. DeMarco said people also can help out by volunteering to work at Discover Presque Isle. For volunteer opportunities and more information about Discover Presque Isle, visit www.discoverpi.com.

Contact Dana Massing at dmassing@timesnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @ETNmassing.

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Discover Presque Isle schedule, July 25-31

  • Flat Naturalist self-guided nature walks: daily, dawn to dusk, various trails. Free.

  • Tom Ridge Environmental Center: open daily, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., 301 Peninsula Drive. Free.

  • Archery for beginners: daily, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., play field. Free.

  • Presque Isle Canoe & Boat Rental: open daily, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Rental fees apply.

  • Presque Isle Lighthouse: open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free to walk the grounds, fees for tours.

  • Yellow Bike Rental Co.: open daily, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Rental fees apply.

  • Yoga, pilates and yogilates: daily, 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., Beach 8. Free.

  • Lady Kate boat tours: daily, times vary, Perry Monument. Fees apply.

  • Address Earth Kids Programs: July 25-29, noon-6 p.m., and July 30, 2-6 p.m. Free.

  • UPMC Sunset Music Series: July 27, 5:30 p.m., Beach 11.

  • Lagoons by pontoon tours: July 27, 9 a.m., and July 30 and 31, 9 and 10:30 a.m. Registration required. Free.

  • Discover Insects Program: July 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Beach 8 parking lot. Free.

  • Blacklighting for Moths Program: July 28, 8:45 p.m., Pine Tree Trail. Free.

  • Presque Isle fish fry: July 28, 4-7 p.m., Rotary Pavilion.

  • Kite Beach Illumination, July 29, 8-10 p.m., Sunset Point. Free.

  • Kite flyers: July 29 and 30, dawn to dusk, Sunset Point. Free.

  • Artist showcase: July 29 and 30, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Presque Isle Lighthouse. Free to view.

  • Sand sculpture competition: July 30, 9 a.m., Beach 11. Free to enter and view.

  • Volleyball tournament: July 30, 9 a.m. start, Beach 6. $90 per team.

  • Fishing with the S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie: July 30, 9 a.m.-noon, Waterworks floating dock. No license required; equipment provided. Free.

  • Discover archery with DCNR: July 30, 10-11:30 a.m., outdoor pavilion at Ridge Center. Free.

  • Presque Isle Behind the Lens: July 30, 2-3 p.m., Big Green Screen at Ridge Center. Registration required. Free.

  • Music Festival: July 30, 2-10 p.m., Beach 11. 2-3 p.m., Matty B; 3:30-4:30 p.m., Josh Travis; 5-6 p.m., Jess Royer; 6:30-8 p.m., Stephen Trohoske's Art Groupies; and 8:30-10 p.m., Tennessee Backporch. Free.

  • Fire performers: July 30, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Beach 11.

  • Giant bonfire: July 30, 9-10 p.m., Beach 11.

  • Pancake breakfast: July 30 and 31, 7:30 a.m.-noon, Rotary Pavilion. $9 for adults, $5 for under 12.

  • Lake Erie Cyclefest Sunrise Ride: July 31, 6:15-9 a.m., Beach 1. Registration required. $35.

  • Birding crafts and activities for kids: July 31, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., outdoor pavilion at Ridge Center. Free.

  • Artist pop-up: July 31, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Presque Isle Gallery & Gifts, Ridge Center. Free to view; prices vary to buy.

Outdoor events are weather dependent. Find more details at www.discoverpi.com/events/dpi.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Discover Presque Isle: What's back, what's new, what's not to miss