Staff Blogger: Alexandrea Stelzer, Director of Marketing
The 20th Annual Lakeside-Marblehead Lighthouse Festival, a cherished fall tradition held on the second Saturday in October, will take place from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 in Lakeside Chautauqua and throughout the Marblehead Peninsula.
This free, peninsula-wide event will include a variety of activities for the entire family to enjoy. There will be tours of the Marblehead Lighthouse, live entertainment, children’s crafts, a pumpkin-decorating contest, arts & crafts vendors, farmers’ market, hayrides and much more.
Parking in Lakeside for the festival is free. Guests are encouraged to park in the South Gate parking lot off Route 163, Bradley Temple parking lot, Fountain Inn and Hotel Lakeside parking lots, as well as along streets that do not have designated parking. A complimentary golf cart shuttle service will be available throughout the Lakeside Chautauqua grounds.
The Lakeside-Marblehead Lighthouse Festival is sponsored by the Marblehead Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and Lakeside Chautauqua.
Marblehead Lighthouse & Wolcott House Tours
Marblehead Lighthouse Tours 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Marblehead Lighthouse State Park (110 Lighthouse Dr., Marblehead, Ohio) ($2/person, age 6 & older) Tours of the Marblehead Lighthouse will be given to guests on the day of the festival. The Marblehead Lighthouse, built in 1821, is the second oldest lighthouse on the Great Lakes and the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the Great Lakes. A total of 15 keepers have tended the light. The tower’s history boasts the first female lighthouse keeper in the U.S.
Free Wolcott House Tours 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Keeper’s House (9999 E. Bayshore Rd., Marblehead, Ohio) The Ottawa County Historical Society will offer free tours of the Wolcott House on the day of the festival. It is one of the oldest surviving homes in Ottawa County and a home to the first three Marblehead Lighthouse keepers.
Live Entertainment in Lakeside Chautauqua
In Lakeside, there will be live entertainment for all ages performed on Hoover Auditorium Porch from 11:45 a.m.-3 p.m.
Musician Lance Horwedel 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., Hoover Auditorium Porch (115 Third Street) A noted sound engineer and musician, Lance Horwedel, will play acoustic rock music from the 1960s, 1970s and today. He has been playing music in North Central Ohio for 25 years and is a Lakeside Chautauqua favorite. Horwedel is a member of a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, The Rumours, two classic rock cover bands, Legends of Rock and Dazey Chain, and the hard rock band, The End.
Musician Gary Cover 1-2 p.m., Hoover Auditorium Porch (115 Third Street) Guitarist and singer, Gary Cover, will bring his extensive song list to the festival. For his performance, he will use a harmony generator to create background vocals in real time, making it sound like he is singing with a group. Cover’s set list includes more than 400 songs, ranging from classic rock to country and folk to current hits.
Juggler Matt Jergens 2:15-3 p.m., Hoover Auditorium Porch (115 Third Street) Comedy juggler Matt Jergens will use a variety of props and fast-paced tricks to bring life and energy to the Hoover Auditorium Porch. Jergens’ favorite tricks include balancing a basket of eggs on a 20-foot pole, juggling razor sharp knives and riding around on a tall unicycle. The audience will be left on the edge of their seats as he appears to defy gravity in a never-before-seen kind of way.
Pumpkin-Decorating Contest
Pumpkin-Decorating Contest Drop Off 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Hoover Auditorium Lobby Lakeside’s Pumpkin-Decorating Contest will feature several carved, painted and decorated pumpkins. Enter an already carved, painted or decorated pumpkin to receive a 2016 (one-game) Miniature-Golf Pass. Prizes will be awarded to Most Creative Design Overall, Best Child Design (age 11 & under), Best Teen Design (ages 12-17), Best Painted Design, Scariest Design and Best Use of Props.
Announcement of Pumpkin-Decorating Contest Winners 3:15 p.m., Hoover Auditorium Porch Following the live entertainment, the Pumpkin-Decorating Contest winners will be announced. The child and teen winners will each receive two Orchestra Hall Movie Passes. Winners of the other categories will receive two 2016 (one-day) Daily Chautauqua Passes, including auto. The overall winner will receive four 2016 (one-day) Daily Chautauqua Passes, including auto.
Festival Activities & Events in Lakeside Chautauqua
Arts & Crafts Vendors 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Wesley Lodge, Wo-Ho-Mis Lodge, South Auditorium & Adjacent Lawn Organized by the Marblehead Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, there will be more than 100 arts & crafts vendors displaying quality collectibles on the day of the festival.
Farmers’ Market 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Walnut Avenue (between Second & Third Streets) Local farmers will sell vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, pumpkins, jams and baked goods along Walnut Avenue.
Free Corn Hole 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Walnut Avenue (between Third & Fourth Streets) Corn Hole will be set up on Walnut Avenue for all to play.
Free Lakeside Golf Cart Shuttle Service 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Lakeside Chautauqua Grounds A complimentary golf cart shuttle service will be provided throughout the Lakeside Chautauqua grounds. Shuttle stops will be located at the Welcome Center, Wo-Ho-Mis Lodge, Third Street/Central Avenue, Orchestra Hall, Hotel Lakeside and Fifth Street/Walnut Avenue.
Heritage Hall Museum Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Heritage Hall Museum (238 Maple Ave.) The unique history of Lakeside Chautauqua and the Marblehead Peninsula is preserved and exhibited in Heritage Hall Museum. Displays include photographs, memorabilia and antiques from the Lakeside, Marblehead and Danbury areas. The museum gift shop will also be open.
Children’s Crafts 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Walnut Avenue (between Third & Fourth Streets) ($4/child) Children will have the opportunity to participate in several fall-themed crafts on the day of the festival.
Free Miniature Golf & Shuffleboard 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Central Park Enjoy a free game of miniature golf at the newly renovated course or play a game of shuffleboard in Central Park.
Hayrides 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Departs from Hotel Lakeside ($1/child, $2/adult) Hayrides throughout Lakeside Chautauqua will be provided by the McClung family of My Mother’s Market, a local farmers’ market vendor.
Family Movie: “Minions” (PG) 4 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., Orchestra Hall ($7/adult, $3/child – age 12 & under) Orchestra Hall will feature the family movie “Minions” throughout the weekend of the Lakeside-Marblehead Lighthouse Festival.
Shopping & Dining
Businesses will be open throughout Lakeside Chautauqua and the Marblehead Peninsula, offering sales and specials. In addition to local restaurants throughout Lakeside Chautauqua and the Marblehead Peninsula being open, food will be served from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at various locations in Lakeside.
Lakeside United Methodist Men Food 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Walnut Avenue (between Second & Third Streets) Enjoy brats, pulled pork, chips, soft drinks and cookies. All proceeds benefit the Lakeside United Methodist Church mission projects.
Marblehead Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Food 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Wesley Lodge Feast on hot dogs, chili dogs, sloppy Joes, pulled pork, seafood bisque, soft drinks and desserts provided by Avery’s Café & Catering. Proceeds benefit the Lakeside-Marblehead Lighthouse Festival.
Fall Weekend Getaway Special
Reservations are being accepted for a fall weekend getaway at the Fountain Inn during the Lakeside-Marblehead Lighthouse Festival weekend. Stay one night and receive 50% off your second night, available Friday, Oct. 9 and Saturday, Oct. 10.
The discount is available for standard rooms only, suites are excluded. Quantities are limited and rates are subject to availability. Each reservation includes complimentary Wi-Fi and continental breakfast.
Book online, and use the promocode: FALLFEST15, or call the reservation line at (419) 798-4461, ext. 230.
Calling All Volunteers
Volunteers are needed at the Lakeside-Marblehead Lighthouse Festival from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10. Volunteer opportunities include set-up, children’s crafts, shuttle service and cleanup. Volunteers are not required to work the entire day, as shifts will be available.
If interested in volunteering, email mahirsch@lakesideohio.com or call (419) 798-4461, ext. 248. In addition, please download and return the Volunteer Application.
