Put-in-Party
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Spring optimism running amok is once again the uniting force among Put-in-Bay lovers looking to pre-game for the summer season in fine fashion.
The 9th annual Put-in-Palooza takes place March 15 at Nick's Roadhouse with an Islands-friendly bill.
"This is an annual event that is meant to bring together a bunch of Put-in-Bay entertainers to be a spring fling warm-up party for the upcoming island season," said show visionary and Put-in-Bay singer-songwriter Ray Fogg, who regularly performs at the Put-in-Bay Brewing Co. and the Roundhouse during the summer. "But we get to party on the mainland because you can't get to the island right now."
The lineup includes Fogg's comedy/music act, along with Roundhouse veterans Bob Gatewood & Calabash (known for popular Islands song "Friends of the Bay"), the Detroit-based Killer Flamingos and Put-in-Bay legend Ben Dover, who will appear with all the acts for a few songs.
Emceeing the event is Press House Joe, who owns Put-in-Bay's Joe's Bar.
"It's kind of an interesting little phenomenon," Fogg said. "It's become a party of its own. I'm sure people are into the actual different bands that are playing, but some people are coming for the general party."
Fogg said just like any other summertime tourist town in the winter, Port Clinton is pretty quiet when the temperatures are cold.
However, that changes for the Put-in-Palooza, where hotels get booked up with an influx of Island partiers.
"The show is for people who would normally drive to Port Clinton or Catawba and board a ferry to go to Put-in-Bay," Fogg said.
"So people are used to going there to have a good time for the weekend. It's just they're not going to get on the ferry. They're going to stop right there in Port Clinton."
Fogg said if history serves, he expects over 500 people to attend the upcoming Put-in-Palooza.
"There's two reasons why people should come out," Fogg said. "Number one, we're going to have the ultimate St. Patty's Day Party because it's on that weekend this year, so it'll be a fun time that way.
"And we're going to try to kick start the island season and the summer. We're going to start summer on March 15 in Port Clinton."
John Benson can be reached at jbenson@funcoast.com.