Declaration250 - Lake Erie Heritage Foundation

250 Years of Freedom. One Unforgettable Weekend.

Celebrate 250 Years of American Independence

Join us August 1-2, 2026, for a weekend of living history, family activities, and revolutionary spirit in Put-in-Bay, Ohio, to commemorate the true signing date of the Declaration of Independence — August 2, 1776.

Watch this clip from the Hugh Hewitt Show of Lake Erie Heritage Foundation’s David Zavagno as he discusses the Declaration 250 event.

Special Guests Scheduled to Appear!

Hugh Hewitt

Lee Greenwood

Joe Manchin

Vivek Ramaswamy

Tentative Schedule of Events

Subject to Change

Friday, July 31, 2026

3:00 PM — Declaration 250 Historical Speakers Presentation

5:00 PM — VIP Welcome & Partners Reception (Invitation Only) — Lettie Howard Tall Ship

Donor/sponsor, partner, and agency thank yous

7:00 PM — Island Concert; Vendor Setup

Saturday, August 1, 2026

10:00 AM — Gates & Encampments Open; Start of Scavenger Hunt

Security screening begins

Opening of living-history tents, signers’ exhibits, and youth activities on the plaza

Official start of scavenger hunt at South Bass Island State Park

11:30 AM — Bristol County Fifes & Drum (BCFD) Corps Performance

1:00 PM — Guard Drill Team Performance

2:00 PM — Patriots Symphonic Band Performance

3:00 PM — Colonial Era Cricket Game (Organized by Tom Melville)

3:30 PM — US Military Band Performance

6:00 PM — Descendants Reception on the Lettie Howard Tall Ship; Washington Society

8:15 PM — Sunset Colors at the Monument

Presentation of colors

Brief moment of reflection

Sunday, August 2, 2026

10:00 AM — Military Band Performance

12:00 AM — Arrival of The Ohio State University (OSU) Marching Band

2:00 PM — OSU Marching Band Performance on the Grounds of the Monument

2:45 PM — Opening Declaration Ceremony; Military Flyover; & Goodyear Blimp Flyover

Hugh Hewitt (Master of Ceremonies)

Vivek Ramaswamy (Speaker)

Former US Senator Joe Manchin III (Speaker)

Other speakers (to be determined)

5:00 PM — Bowling Green State University (BGSU) Marching Band Arrival & Performance

7:30 PM — Lee Greenwood Concert

10:00 PM — Fireworks; Close of Festivities

Plan Your Visit

Hotels & Lodging

Anchor Inn Boutique Hotel
500 Catawba Ave.
419-285-5055
anchorinnpib.com

Bay Lodging Resort
405 Lakeview Ave.
419-285-2041 | 888-742-7829
baylodging.com

Commodore Resort
272 Delaware Ave.
419-285-3101
commodoreresort.com

Historic Park Hotel
234 Delaware Ave.
419-285-3581
parkhotelpib.com

Put-in-Bay Resort & Conference Center
439 Loraine Ave.
419-285-7427 | 888-742-7829
putinbayresort.com

Victory Station Hotel
489 Catawba Ave.
419-285-0120
putinbayvictorystation.com

Vacation Rentals

A-Place-at-the-Bay
1589 Put-in-Bay Rd.
216-898-9450
aplaceatthebay.com

Bay Club Cottages
34 Bath St.
419-285-3581
parkhotelpib.com/cottages

Put-in-Bay Island Club Rentals
1490 Put-in-Bay Rd.
216-898-9951
islandclub.com

Put-in-Bay Villas
440 Loraine Ave.
419-285-7427 | 888-742-7829

Food & Drink

Big Man’s Burrito Stand at Frosty Bar
252 Delaware Ave.
Mexican
frostys.com

The Boardwalk
341 Bayview Ave.
419-285-3695
American, Seafood
the-boardwalk.com

Boathouse Bar & Grill
218 Hartford Ave.
419-285-5665
American, BBQ, Seafood
theboathousebarandgrill.com

Book’s Seafood at The Boardwalk
341 Bayview Ave.
419-285-3695
American, Seafood
the-boardwalk.com

Dairy Isle
213 Bayview Ave.
419-285-3506
American, Ice Cream
dairyislepib.com

Dan Dee’s Snack Shack at Perry’s Cave Family Fun Center
979 Catawba Ave.
419-285-2283
American, Ice Cream
perryscave.com

The Dog House
324 Loraine Ave.
419-285-2323
American
theroundhousebar.com

Fish Shak at The Boardwalk
341 Bayview Ave.
419-285-3695
American, Seafood
the-boardwalk.com

Frosty Bar
252 Delaware Ave.
American, Mexican, Pizza
frostys.com

The Goat, Soup & Whiskey
820 Catawba Ave.
419-285-4628
American, Italian, Seafood
soupandwhiskey.com

Hooligans
421 Catawba Ave.
419-285-8000
American, Irish
hooliganspib.com

The Keys
227 Bayview Ave.
419-285-5397
American, Seafood
thekeyspib.com

Mojito Bay Tiki Bar
389 Catawba Ave.
American
mojitobaypib.com

Mossbacks/The Fish Bowl
371 Catawba Ave.
419-285-8888
American, Seafood
mossbackspib.com

Pasquale’s Café
240 Delaware Ave.
419-285-8600
American, Coffee, Seafood, Pizza
pasqualescafe.com

Red Moon in Historic Park Hotel
234 Delaware Ave.
419-285-2323
redmoonbar.com

Rita’s Cantina at The Boardwalk
341 Bayview Ave.
419-285-3695
Mexican
the-boardwalk.com

Round House Bar
228 Delaware Ave.
419-285-2323
American
theroundhousebar.com

Upper Deck at The Boardwalk
341 Bayview Ave.
419-285-3695
American, Seafood
the-boardwalk.com

Wineries

Heineman Winery
978 Catawba Ave.
419-285-2811
heinemanswinery.com

Put-in-Bay Brewery & Distillery
441 Catawba Ave.
419-285-4677
putinbaybrewery.com

Amusements

Island Transportation Train Depot & Bus Stop
154 Delaware Ave.
419-285-4855
putinbaytrans.com

Kimberly’s Carousel
160 Delaware Ave.
carriagehousepib.com

Perry’s Cave Family Fun Center
979 Catawba Ave.
419-285-2283
perryscave.com

The Butterfly House at Put-in-Bay
979 Catawba Ave.
419-285-2446
perryscave.com/attractions

Historical & Educational

Aquatic Visitors Center
310 SR 357
419-285-1800
ohiodnr.gov

Lake Erie Islands Nature & Wildlife Center
255 Meechen Rd.
419-285-3037
lakeerieislandswildlife.com

Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial
93 Delaware Ave.
419-285-2184
nps.gov/pevi

Water Recreation

Lake Erie Islands Water Trails
lakeerieislandsconservancy.org/water-trails

Lighthouse

South Bass Island Lighthouse
2368 Langram Rd.
419-285-1800
ohioseagrant.osu.edu/visit/south-bass-lighthouse

Explore Nature

Benjamin Woods
Langram Rd.
419-285-4772
lakeerieislandsconservancy.org

Cooper’s Woods
Catawba Ave. (west of Concord Ave.)
419-285-4772
lakeerieislandsconservancy.org

DeRivera Park
Bayview Ave.
419-285-2076

Dodge Woods Preserve
Thompson and Langram rds.
419-285-4772
lakeerieislandsconservancy.org

Duff Homestead and Bayfront Preserve
630 Bayview Ave.
419-285-4772
lakeerieislandsconservancy.org

Duff Woods Preserve
Meechen and Put-in-Bay rds.
419-285-4772
lakeerieislandsconservancy.org

Island Paws Dog Park
60 Airline Dr.
419-285-337

Jane Coates Wildflower Trail/Ladd Carr Wildlife Woods
Put-in-Bay Rd. (north of Langram Rd.)
419-285-4772
lakeerieislandsconservancy.org

Massie Cliffside Preserve
611 Columbus Ave. (SR 357)
419-285-4772
lakeerieislandsconservancy.org

Morrison Woods Preserve
Meechen and Put-in-Bay rds.
419-285-4772
lakeerieislandsconservancy.org

Oak Point State Park
western end of Put-in-Bay Harbor
419-285-2112
parks.ohiodnr.gov

Scheeff East Point Nature Preserve
1159 Columbus Ave.
419-285-4772
lakeerieislandsconservancy.org

South Bass Island State Park
1523 Catawba Ave.
419-285-2112 | 866-644-6727
parks.ohiodnr.gov

Village of Put-in-Bay Beach
east end of Delaware Ave.
419-285-4313

Marinas/Boating

The Boardwalk Marina
341 Bayview Ave.
419-285-3695
the-boardwalk.com

Miller Marina
621 Bayview Ave.
419-285-5902
millermarinapib.com

Park Place Boat Club
223 Bayview Ave.
419-285-6183
parkplaceboatclub.com

Shopping

Bucket Shop
228 Delaware Ave.
419-285-2323
theroundhousebar.com/shop

Carriage House
160 Delaware Ave.
419-285-2212
carriagehousepib.com

Country House Gifts
246 Delaware Ave.
419-285-3104
lovinputinbay.com/country-house-gifts

Dockside Gifts
at Miller Ferry Lime Kiln Dock
2190 Langram Rd.
419-285-7300
millerferry.com

Lobster Trap
341 Bayview Ave.
419-285-3695
the-boardwalk.com

Mariner’s Locker
204 Hartford Ave.
419-285-7005
putinbayislandresorts.com/marinerslocker.html

Misty Bay Boutique
210 Delaware Ave.
419-285-7925
putinbayislandresorts.com/misty-bay-boutique.html

Put-in-Bay Surf Shop
405 Catawba Ave.
419-285-2242
putinbaysurfshop.com

The Picnic Basket
196 Hartford Ave.
419-285-7502
thepicnicbasketpib.com

Transportation

Ferries to Put-in-Bay (South Bass Island)

Miller Ferry (Catawba ↔ South Bass Island)
5174 E Water St., Port Clinton, OH 43452
419-798-9763
millerferry.com

Jet Express (Port Clinton & Sandusky ↔ Put-in-Bay)
49 Jackson St., Port Clinton, OH 43452
419-732-2800
Jet-express.com

Air Transportation

Put-in-Bay Airport (3W2) – No commercial airlines operate scheduled service
1494 Langram Rd.
419-285-3371

Griffing Flying Service (Sandusky)
3115 Cleveland Rd. W, Sandusky, OH 44870
419-626-5161
griffingflying.com

Island Air Taxi (seasonal)
1494 Langram Rd.
419-573-2960
islandairtaxi.com

Marinas (For Transportation Purposes)

DeRivera Park Docks
341 Bayview Ave.
419-285-2076
Deriverapark.com

Village Mooring Field
Bayview Ave.
419-285-2069

Miller Marina
1421 Harbor Ln.
419-285-5902
millermarinapib.com

The Boardwalk Docks
341 Bayview Ave.
419-285-3695
the-boardwalk.com

Park Place Boat Club – Members + reciprocal
234 Bayview Ave.
419-285-6183
parkplaceboatclub.com

Crew’s Nest Marina – Members only
460 Toledo Ave.
419-285-3625
thecrewsnest.com

Put-in-Bay Yacht Club – Yacht club visitors
536 Bayview Ave.
419-285-4505
pibyc.org

Golf Cart Rentals

Put-in-Bay Golf Cart Rentals
272 Delaware Ave.
419-285-2278
putinbaygolfcarts.com

Erie Island Carts
1961 Langram Rd.
419-285-5278
erieislandcarts.com

E’s Put-in-Bay Golf Carts
2132 Langram Rd.
419-285-5553
esputinbaygolfcarts.com

Island Bike & Cart Rental at Ferry Docks
2071 Langram Rd.& Bayview Rd.
419-285-2016
islandbikeandgolfcartrental.com

Put-in-Bay Golf Cart Depot
489 Catawba Ave.
419-800-2278
putinbaygolfcartdepot.com

Boathouse Cart Rentals
218 Hartford Ave.
419-285-3040
theboathousebarandgrill.com

Island Air Carts
1494 Langram Rd.
419-573-2960
islandaircarts.com

Other Island Transportation

Put-in-Bay Taxi Co.
205 Delaware Ave.
419-285-2227

Put-in-Bay Tour Train
154 Delaware Ave.
419-285-4855
pibtourtrain.com