Lighthouse Festival attendees can enjoy free tours of the lighthouse. (Submitted photo)

PORT CLINTON – The Port Clinton Lighthouse & Maritime Festival, now in its seventh year, will take place on Saturday, Aug. 16, at Waterworks Park in Port Clinton. Admission to the festival, which takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is free. Nautical-themed vendors, food and entertainment will be the order of this one-day festival, as many great items will be raffled off.

The popular Incredible Rubber Duck Race, sponsored by the United Way of Ottawa County, returns to the festival this year after debuting at the festival last year. The race will again be held in Derby Pond beginning at 2 p.m. supported by the Port Clinton Volunteer Fire Department.

The Cardboard Boat Regatta, an event that has gained popularity nationwide, will be featured at the festival for the first time this year. Participating teams will construct and decorate their own life-size cardboard boats in advance of the regatta from cardboard and duct tape, bring them to Derby Pond, board their boats and race to the finish. Prizes will be awarded for First Place, Best Boat Design, and Most Dramatic Sinking. The race will begin at 11 a.m., with registration at 10 a.m. A complete list of rules and a registration form are available at portclintonlighthouse.org by selecting the Lighthouse Festival tab.

A Cardboard Boat Regatta will begin at 11 a.m. during the festival. (Submitted photo)

Other popular events at the festival include a Plein Air Art Show sponsored by the Greater Port Clinton Area Arts Council and the popular Antique & Classic Wooden Boat Show. Last year, sixteen boats competed for prizes in multiple categories. Historic talks will include a presentation by Louise Terry on the history of Gem Beach with tidbits about the prohibition era.

Live music will again be a highlight of the festival, with performances by the eclectic Celtic group Brigid’s Cross, local favorite Ottawa County Bluegrass Band, and Second Base Duo. In addition to these performances in the Entertainment Tent, North Coast Tempo, a barbershop singing group, will perform at the lighthouse as festival goers enjoy free lighthouse tours. The Coast Guard Auxiliary will present the colors to open the festival, followed by Rosemary Schramm singing The National Anthem. The Reverend Bob Butcher will give the invocation and Mayor Mike Snider will offer some opening remarks.

The Port Clinton Lighthouse and Maritime Festival will be held at Waterworks Park on Aug. 16. (Submitted photo)

The Port Clinton Lighthouse Conservancy established the lighthouse festival to showcase both the historic structure and the maritime heritage of Port Clinton. The Conservancy restored, owns, and operates the 129-year-old pier light, which saw service on the west pier at the mouth of the Portage River from 1896 until 1952. The festival is held each year on the third Saturday in August to coincide with International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend, honoring lighthouses around the world and the radio operators who made communication light stations possible. In this tradition, HAM radio operator and Conservancy board member Geoff Mendenhall will broadcast on short wave radio from a tent near the lighthouse.