Laura Kovach serves perch at the Marblehead Peninsula Lions Club Perch Festival on Aug. 22. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

MARBLEHEAD – The weatherman predicted rain, and the dark sky threatened a storm, but the beginning of the 34th Annual Marblehead Peninsula Lions Club Perch Festival was only showered with a few light sprinkles on Aug. 22. The festival parade, which featured Grand Marshal John Englebeck, was ending, and a line was just beginning to form at the perch tent at James Park when the sky peeked open and dropped a gentle rainfall on the festival.

And then it stopped nearly as quickly as it started.

Perch Festival Event Cochair Tod Kelly was happy that a long line of people were already lined up to buy perch dinners before 11 a.m. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“God gave us a break with the weather, but he teased us a little,” said Perch Festival Event Cochair Tod Kelly. “I’m very happy with it so far. Here we are, not even 11 o’clock yet, and there’s already a line of people buying perch dinners. It will be another great Perch Festival.”

Lakeside Chautauqua hosted free rock painting at the festival. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

The festival featured a car show, vendors, raffles, Amrize Quarry tours, a bouncy house, kids games, and entertainment by Gary Cover and Chip Richter. The festival raised funds for the Lions’ Club’s many community projects. The event also provided an opportunity for neighbors to connect and for the village to highlight the beauty of Marblehead to visitors.

Terry Hartley of Catawba knows how to enjoy life in Ohio – by eating a fresh perch sandwich at the Marblehead Peninsula Lions Club Perch Festival. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Jennifer Hensley and her daughter, Amelia Hensley, 15, traveled from their home in Bellevue for their very first visit to the Perch Festival. Amelia is a member of the 2026 Bellevue Snowflake royalty court, so she was in town for the Perch Festival Parade and stayed for the fest.

“I think it’s really cute,” Amelia said. “I bought something for my sister and something for myself.”

Volunteers work the fryers at the Perch Festival on Aug. 22. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Jennifer and Amelia have traveled to many parades across Northwest Ohio this summer.

“I think the festival is lovely,” Jennifer said. “We’ve done about 15 parades so far, and this is one of the nicest and most organized.”

A volunteer breads perch at the Perch Festival on Aug. 22. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

There were many activities to entice people to the festival, but the biggest draw was the perch. Lions Club members fried 500 pounds of perch this year. Marblehead native and current Catawba resident, Patty Lanum, said the perch was some of the best she has ever eaten.

“The breading was perfect. It’s not too heavy. It’s not too greasy,” she said. “It was real yellow perch, not the fake perch some places sell.”