Port Clinton to host annual Sip and Shop

Jessica Denton
·2 min read

PORT CLINTON – Businesses across the City of Port Clinton and nearby Portage Township are gearing up for the holiday shopping season blitz with a special event this weekend.

The 8th Annual Sip and Shop Holiday Hop will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday with shopping, drinking, dining, and entertainment all connected by free shuttle service.

Singing Santa was at the Northern Exposure in Downtown Port Clinton.
Singing Santa was at the Northern Exposure in Downtown Port Clinton.

More than 50 businesses and vendors are participating this year, Sip and Shop Chair Kelly Rigoni said.

Event to include more area businesses

The event has expanded to Harbor Light Landing and Knoll Crest shopping plazas in Portage Township, in order to help the local businesses with customers while the Ohio 53 exit remains closed.

“It’s all about bringing the community together and supporting local businesses,” Rigoni said.

With it now being the offseason, and with people’s wallets feeling the pinch of high inflation rates, Rigoni said it has been hard for small businesses like hers and others in the area.

“We’re thankful for our customers,” she said. “This event is about kicking off the holiday season and to bind together to help fellow businesses.”

Downtown Port Clinton will be the site of 8th Annual Sip and Shop on Saturday.
Downtown Port Clinton will be the site of 8th Annual Sip and Shop on Saturday.

There will be drawings, giveaways, dinner and drink specials at participating businesses and vendors, Rigoni said.

Shoppers can collect tickets for each $10 they spend at each business and turn those tickets in by 8 p.m. at the Clinton House, where there will be a social gathering to cap off the evening’s festivities.

Grand prizes to be drawn at 8:30 p.m.

Two grand prizes will be drawn, one for a person present at Clinton House, and another grand prize for someone not present. Grand prizes will be drawn starting at 8:30 p.m.

Looking for a way to get around? This year there will be two free Ohio SWIG Shuttle buses making loops from Mr. Ed’s on Lakeshore Drive, down into the heart of downtown and east to Harbor Light landing for shoppers’ convenience.

Port Clinton’s 2023 Christmas Tree has been donated by the Hohmans, of Catawba Island Township.
Port Clinton’s 2023 Christmas Tree has been donated by the Hohmans, of Catawba Island Township.

Tree lighting set for 6 p.m. Saturday

The City of Port Clinton also will be lighting its Christmas tree at the corner of Madison and Perry streets at 6 p.m. Saturday, Rigoni said.

The Hohmans from Catawba Island Township donated this year’s tree, according to Port Clinton Mayor Mike Snider.

The tree will be decorated with 2,500 to 3,000 lights and a tree topper.

For more information about the Sip and Shop event, visit the Facebook page “Sip & Shop Port Clinton.”

This article originally appeared on Port Clinton News Herald: Port Clinton's 8th Annual Sip and Shop set for Saturday