Put-in-Bay Music Fest To Make Its Annual Debut
Put-in-Bay Ohio–Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial are tuning up for the first-ever Put-in-Bay Music Fest to be held here on Saturday, June 10th, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The park’s maintenance crew has worked hard getting the garden ready for the May 20 opening, Perry Education Days, and the Memorial Day Remembrance ceremony. The same unit and Park Rangers will set up and welcome visitors to the Put-in-Bay Music Fest. “We are a collaboration-centric organization,” said Superintendent Barbara Fearon, “and planning this Music Festival with partners such as Miller Boat Line, the chamber, the historical society, and our friends’ group has run very smoothly.”
Fearon credited Scott Market, the former bass player with Put-in-Bay band Ben Dover and the Screamers, and co-owner of Miller Boat Line, for bringing the idea of the Put-in-Bay Music Fest coming to Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial. “Part of our mission as a National Park is to make the park accessible to everyone,” Fearon said, “and in that regard, the music festival, the music workshops, and the kids’ field games are free and open to the public.” She added that Miller Ferry Boat Line signed on as the event’s title sponsor, and a matching grant was obtained from the Ohio Arts Council to cover the cost of the bands, equipment rentals, and incidentals.
Seven Put-in-Bay bands will perform, including the Flyin Jays, Emily Keener from The Voice, MC Bob Gatewood, JP and the Chatfield Boys, Mo ‘Mojo, Strung Like a Horse and the Floorwalkers. Legendary performer Pat Dailey recently agreed to perform his new song during the day-long festival. The music lineup is tentatively set (times are approximate and subject to change): 11:15 am – Flyin Jays 12:15 pm – Emily Keener 1:15 pm – Bob Gatewood • 2.pm – JPand the Chatfield Boys 3:15 pm – Mo ‘Mojo 4:15 pm – Pat Dailey • 5. pm – Strung Like a Horse 6:45 pm – Floorwalkers
Free music workshops will be given during the day. Mo ‘Mojo will give a workshop on zydeco dance and a second on drumming. Put-in-Bay resident Dick McCarthy will also give two workshops on playing the ukulele, one for beginners and a second for those with experience. The workshop tent will also have a “Guitar Hero” competition. There is also a single-elimination single and doubles cornhole tournament. The Battle of Lake Erie Corn Toss has an entry fee for both tournaments, and players can register online. “This is a family-friendly event that we hope will be entertaining and educational,” Fearon said.
The National Park at Put-in-Bay has a long history of celebrating peace through music and has hosted many musical performances over the years, including the Toledo Symphony, the Central Ohio Symphony, the Firelands Symphony, island performers, drumming and other music workshops, and a series of concerts in conjunction with the Put-in-Bay Arts Council and the Put-in-Bay Chamber of Commerce. Planning for the event has involved collaboration between the National Park, the Put-in-Bay Chamber of Commerce, the Perry Group, and the Lake Erie Islands Historical Society — all non-profits — as well as Miller Boat Line, Heidelberg Distributing, and PepsiCo.
According to Put-in-Bay Hotel Owner Mark Mathys, reservations for Put-in-Bay Hotels should be made early as the event is expected to draw a large number of attendees.
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