Making a memorable visit to Port Clinton to fish for walleye — and have photos taken with the famous Wylie Walleye — last summer was Grammy Award winner Brittany Howard and her band members with Capt. Mark Cahlik and Don Clemons at the Bait House River Bar. (Photo by D’Arcy Patrick Egan)

With so much to offer party goers on New Year’s Eve, the Wylie Walleye Foundation Committee needs extra help this year to make Wylie Walleye and Port Clinton the largest New Year’s Eve event in the region for years to come.

The 25th annual “Walleye Drop” is organized and run by a small group of area volunteers. All donations and sponsorships are used to maintain Wylie, fund event operations, and provide donations for area nonprofit organizations. To join the decade group of volunteers, and promote Port Clinton and the Walleye Drop, join the next meeting to be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 14 at the Knights of Columbus Hall at Perry and Madison streets in Port Clinton. Email the Wylie Walleye Foundation Committee with any questions at: wyliewalleyefoundation@gmail.com.

For the 25th anniversary edition of the Walleye Drop, the committee is excited to plan this year’s in-person event, continue live streaming, and provide the 3rd annual “Bar Swim,” extending the party to a wide variety of peninsula bars and taverns expanding the event on the Peninsula in a safe manner.

Volunteers are busy with meetings to organize and plan the festivities to ring in 2022, and eagerly welcoming more helpers to join this great team of volunteers and helping to make the 25 annual Walleye Drop bigger and better than ever!

Volunteer Positions: Help is needed on New Year’s Eve anytime between 6 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

Bus tour Guides – To create an experience for our visitors. Guides will entertain and educate party goers with stories of the local history of our area, and let them know of the specials or entertainment for each bus stop.

Merchandise, games and ticket sales. Selling shirts, 50/50 raffle tickets, Walleye Raffle Tickets and Grand Prize Raffle Tickets are sold in the Port Clinton Fish Company on Madison Street.

With thousands expected to brave the cold weather and gather at local pubs, taverns and bars to awaiting Wylie’s flight on New Year’s Eve, the Walleye Drop and New Year will begin. Stoking the fires is the newest version Wylie, an LED-lit, 20-foot, 600-pound walleye named Wylie Jr., who will be accompanied at the stroke of midnight with a spectacular fireworks show.

The annual “Bar Swim,” a bar loop around the peninsula on heated luxury buses, begins at 7 p.m. The buses also have bathrooms, Wifi and power outlets. All buses will end their night in downtown Port Clinton at 11:30 p.m.