Ottawa County towns plan holiday events

Rebecca Brooks, Port Clinton News Herald
·4 min read

With the Christmas season at hand, businesses and communities are planning a long list of holiday activities now through New Year's Day. Port Clinton will be seeing Santa Claus visit The Liberty Aviation Museum and planning for its famous New Year's Eve Walleye Drop.

Area cities and villages also have holiday sales, craft shows and fun activities aimed at both children and adults. Here is a list of some of those activities coming up in Ottawa County:

Lakeside

Lakeside Christmas is Dec. 1 to Dec. 3. Activities include a Christmas tree lighting, train rides, holiday movies, a visit from Santa Claus, a holiday concert and more. On Dec. 1 there is a Christmas Scavenger Hunt all day. Pick up a clue list at the Lakeside Chautauqua Administration Office, 236 Walnut Ave.; visit Storybook Trail at Cherry Park where children and families can read and enjoy the outdoors; and the tree lighting ceremony at 6:45 p.m. in Walnut Plaza. For a full list of weekend events and more visit Lakesideohio.com.

Oak Harbor

Olde Fashioned Christmas Nights will be 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 1, Dec. 8 and Dec. 15. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at 5:15 p.m. Dec. 1 by firetruck parade. The tree lighting at the cabin follows at 6 p.m. Santa will be available for pictures and visits all three Fridays. Those who participate with the punch card in all the activities will be entered to win a $100 chamber gift card.

A Holiday Open House will be held at Magee Marsh from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 3 at the new Visitors Center, 13229 Ohio 2. Fifteen vendors will be set up and the gift shop will be open. There will be live music by Twisted Strands. Food will be available and kids crafts and coloring will be offered. Admission is free and the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge also will be holding its Holiday Open House that day.

Thousands turned out in Port Clinton to welcome 2023 with the city's famous Walleye Drop.
Thousands turned out in Port Clinton to welcome 2023 with the city's famous Walleye Drop.

Port Clinton

Playmakers Civic Theatre, 604 W. Sixth St., will host a Holiday Sweater Comedy Show at 8 p.m. Dec. 2. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets are available at pcplaymakers.org, the Port Clinton Chamber maybof Commerce, 419-734-5044 or at the door. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Hot dogs and snacks are available at this family-friendly event. Comedian Lee Hardin is featured and Joe Binkley is part of the show.

The North Coast Concert Band will hold a free concert at 3 p.m. Dec. 3 at Port Clinton High School’s Performing Arts Center, 821 Jefferson St. The Concert Band will present musical selections of carols from Christian traditions, a hymn and dance from Jewish Hanukkah traditions, and music from popular Broadway shows and pop singers.  Also performing will be the North Coast Big Band with vocalist Kate Volz.

Breakfast with Santa at The Liberty Aviation Museum, 3515 E. State Road, will be 8 to 10 a.m. Dec. 17. Tickets are $8 for 6 to 13 year olds, $11 for 14 to 17 and adults. Purchase tickets online at libertyaviationmuseum.org. Also on Dec. 17 there will be a Santa Fly-in from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. where children can watch free as Santa returns to the museum main hangar. For information on the museum call 419-732-0234.

Santa (National Honor Society member Noah Zimmerman) greets Marty Brown at the Port Clinton High School’s Holiday Breakfast with the Arts. Local residents enjoyed breakfast and a morning concert which has become a holiday tradition at Port Clinton High School.
Santa (National Honor Society member Noah Zimmerman) greets Marty Brown at the Port Clinton High School’s Holiday Breakfast with the Arts. Local residents enjoyed breakfast and a morning concert which has become a holiday tradition at Port Clinton High School.

The 22nd Annual Holiday Breakfast with the Arts will be at Port Clinton High School on Dec. 19.  The event is for Port Clinton City School District residents age 60 and older. Tickets are on sale at the PCHS Main Office, Mary’s Blossom Shoppe, and Otto and Urban Greenhouse and Flower Shop until Dec 8.  The cost is $2 per person and includes the cost of breakfast. Advance ticket purchase is required. The breakfast will begin at 8:30 a.m. This popular event allows students to show their appreciation to residents of the school district and showcase talented PCHS young artists and musicians. In case of school delay or cancellation the event will be postponed to Dec 20.  See more details at www.pccsd.net.

The Port Clinton Artists’ Club (PCAC) has two exhibitions in Port Clinton during the upcoming holiday season. The Sutton Center Gallery, 1848 E. Perry St., is showcasing nearly 50 works of art for sale. The Arts Garage, 317 W. Perry St., is hosting artists now through Dec. 3. The exhibition includes more than 20 artists. The Arts Garage is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Wylie Walleye New Year's Eve Drop will be 11:30 p.m. Dec. 31 to midnight, Jan. 1, 2024 on North Madison Street. Details for the 2023-2024 event have not been yet announced. For details visit New Years Event - Wylie Walleye Foundation. Wylie began in 1997 to aid in promoting Port Clinton as the "Walleye Captial of the World". The newest version of Wylie, which is LED lit, 20 feet long and 600 pounds, will be dropped from above and kick off a firework display on Dec. 31, to welcome 2024.

For any other community holiday events not on the list, email the information to fre-newsdesk@gannett.com or pcnewsdesk@gannett.com to be included in News Briefs and Community Events in coming weeks.

This article originally appeared on Port Clinton News Herald: From Santa Parades to Wylie Walleye, area towns prepare for the holidays