The Port Clinton Walleye Festival takes place over Memorial Day Weekend with plenty of vendors, rides and games, live entertainment and delicious food – including perch and walleye.
2024 Date: May 23-27, 2023
Location: Waterworks Park
205 E. Perry St
Port Clinton, OH 43452
Website: https://www.facebook.com/WalleyeFest/
I first visited the Port Clinton Walleye Festival in 2010 right after a huge rainstorm washed out most of the festival goers. If you want to read that review, you can go to https://ohiofestivals.net/8-the-port-clinton-walleye-festival-may-31-2010/
This post documents my experience on May 25, 2015.
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With my mom and Max, I headed back up to Port Clinton…
…the Walleye Capital of the World…
…and walked on over to the Walleye Festival.
Upon entering the grounds, we strolled along a road of vendors…
…made up mostly of large Peruvian and discount vendors…
…where it almost had the feel of a flea market at times.
Fortunately, there were some local organizations (Safe Harbor Schnauzer Rescue)…
…face painting and a Jungle Island Zoo for the kids…
…and even a cool tackle vendor which related to the festival theme (Someday Isle Tackle)…
…but I think most people came for the rides and the food.
The former was gathered together like a city seemingly raised and separated from the festival by only a small section of grass.
There were all sorts of rides for all age groups along with games and fair food for those who didn’t want to wander too far.
Meanwhile, the latter offered a pretty decent selection…
…including crab cheese fries…
…and perch tacos and baskets.
We went to the main tent for lunch (where there were also adult refreshments and musical entertainment)…
…and had a perch sandwich with fries.
Max enjoyed some fried shrimp.