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Island Diary September 2025
Mon., Sept. 1st – The antique car takes place behind the Put-in-Bay Winery. It’s dog day in the Crew’s Nest pool since it is closing for the season. Those at the send off of the last ferry at the Lime Kiln enjoy a special fireworks display.
Tue., Sept. 2nd – Workers are cleaning out the old Kunzler House in preparation for remodeling. Workers are power washing a large section of headstones in Maple Leaf cemetery. They are cleaning years of dirt and moss off of the stones.
Wed., Sept. 3rd – It’s a gorgeous late summer day, but with the lack of visitors, PIB is like a ghost town. Pickers are busy in Russ and Lisa Brohl’s vineyard. The Lime Kiln Freight barn begins closing at 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday (closed Sundays). Alfred Parkers Park on the West Shore is temporarily closed for hydro-seeding. This is part of the renovation of the park to add better green space for visitors.
Thu., Sept. 4th – The Tarpon Springs special at Boardwalk’s main deck is absolutely delicious!
Fri., Sept. 5th – It’s a windy day and the lake water is low. PIB Village police officers Jason Simon and Gary Allred are trying out the electric police car that’s on loan to the department. There’s an Elvis impersonator entertaining on the patio at Put-in-Bay Winery.
Sat., Sept. 6th – There’s Art in the Park in DeRivera Park. Two amateur radio broadcasters are at the corner of Meechen and Langram taking part in a contest to reach other state parks in Ohio. Laureen Mooney enjoys a 75th birthday party at her home on the West Shore. Friends of Stone Lab hosts an open house on Gibraltar Island and celebrates its 100th anniversary.
Sun., Sept. 7th – The PIB Mossbacks play the Ohio Village Muffins in a baseball game using the rules from the 1860s! The Muffins win the close game 19-18 in an exciting back and forth battle.
Mon., Sept. 8th – A group of island women celebrate Kathi Spayde’s birthday a couple of days early at the Goat.
Tue., Sept. 9th – A group meets at the Duff Homestead house to plan for the upcoming 25th anniversary celebration of the Lake Erie Islands Conservancy.
Wed., Sept. 10th – An Ultra Lite flies over the harbor just as the lunch hour ends. Members of the PIB Garden Club tour the downtown park with Andrew Petrarca, the owner of Petrarca Arbor Care. The group learns a lot about tree health. The lake is flat and calm and Glenn Cooper and Jackie Taylor enjoy a pleasant boat ride to Hen Island.
Put-in-Bay Quick Links
- Things To Do At Put-in-Bay
- 2026 Put-in-Bay Event Calendar
- Our Favorite Places To Eat At PIB
- Put-in-Bay Ferry Service
Thu., Sept. 11th – The lake is flat and perfect for a boat ride. Debbie Fuchs and Barb Hunter are celebrating birthdays with dinners at the Goat. A fox runs through the Grove of the Middle Bass Club, and the crows there go absolutely crazy and cawing at it something mad.
Fri., Sept. 12th – The Put-in-Bay Yacht Club has a cruise out to the Middle Bass Yacht Club. Village officials learn they can buy Storm, the K-9 police dog, from the Ottawa County Sheriff.
Sat., Sept. 13th – The sky is overcast, but the weather is warm. There’s lots going on again…1/2 Way to St. Patty’s Day, Oktgoaterfest at the Goat’s Biergarten, and the Monarch Festival out by the SBI Lighthouse. Dave Church from Fox’s Den turns 80.
Sun., Sept. 14th – The Lake Erie Islands Conservancy celebrates it 25th Anniversary Party with a wonderful party at the Duff Vineyards. Besides enjoying delicious food and beverages, guests can see the sea of beautiful yellow blooms in Al Duff’s pollinator field in the distance. Thanks goes out to all those who made the party truly delightful. Cars and drivers taking part in this week’s Road Race Reunion begin arriving on the island. The antique car afterparade is at the Goat’s Biergarten.
Mon., Sept. 15th – The road racers register at the new airport terminal and then head to Heineman Winery where their cars go on display in the front yard. Johnny Martens is playing guitar and saxophone has he hosts Island Jam Night at Topsy’s.
Tue., Sept. 16th – The M/V Mary Ann has an early trip for 19000 gallons of propane and 3000 of gas. The road racers parade their cars in the original course on island streets and roads. They then enjoy a wine and cheese reception at Heineman Winery. Bernadette Hineline from Fox’s Den celebrates her 75th birthday.
Wed., Sept. 17th – It’s another great day for boating. After trial runs at the PIB Airport, the road racers head to the Goat where the famous “rocker cover” races are happening. Bill and Alice Boag host a party for their island Perdido Key, Florida friends. On Middle Bass, Jeff and Jennifer Glauser-Marshall are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary.
Thu., Sept. 18th – A Ford Trimotor flies over the island. There’s a rare Thursday wedding at Mother of Sorrows. Sally Duffy takes Gerri Dunfee and Middy Church from Fox’s Den, and Terry and Linda Naylon out to see the white pelicans on the Chicks west of Hen Island in Canadian waters. Jake and Renee Market, Brian and Justine Cultice, Ryan and Jenny Stoiber and Jill and Mike Koch from Put-in-Bay head to Rattlesnake Island for dinner.
Fri., Sept. 19th – A huge limb falls and blocks the roadway below the Lime Kiln ticket booth. It’s not the best way to start a busy day. Thanks to Terry Jenkins, David Dress and Jon Scarpelli for clearing the path. A meeting about paid parking takes place at the Town Hall in the morning. After the meeting, it appears paid parking may go away this coming season.
Sat., Sept. 20th – Talk about a busy island Saturday. How many of these events did you attend? … The Miller Boat Line 5k, the island “Sale Away” garage sale, The Big Day at the Bay with Monte Carlo games on the main street, the Kids Carnival in the park, the 49th annual PIBFVD Clambake, the Roper Romp at the Round House, the Socrates/Sheehan wedding and the historical society’s annual meeting.
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Sun., Sept. 21st – There’s a brunch for the Socrates-Sheehan wedding at the Boardwalk main deck where lobster bisque over a croissant is served. Jake Market reports he only has one propeller left from the prior day’s Miller Boat Line yard sale. The 2025 Great Lakes Islands Summit starts on Beaver Island. PIB Twp. Trustee is on Middle Bass where he checks out the new metal roof on the EMS/Police housing building. He also attends a meeting with Burgundy Bay residents concerning the upgrade of the marina there. There’s good rain for the first time in a while in the evening.
Mon., Sept. 22nd – The new museum board of directors meet after lunch. It rains in the evening and there’s a beautiful full rainbow over the lake east of the island.
Tue., Sept. 23rd – A crew is tearing down the old Sharkey/Ciacchi cottage on Squaw Harbor . There’s a meeting at the yacht club to discuss plans for Put-in-Bay’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence next August. Miller Boat Line’s employee party is at the Boardwalk. It has a 1980s theme.
Wed., Sept. 24th – To celebrate its 150th Anniversary, First National Bank of Bellevue has a food truck at its island branch serving delicious lunches.
Thu., Sept. 25th – The PIB Township Office is closed for carpet cleaning. Among the islanders attending the Great Lakes Islands Alliance Summit on Beaver Island are Russ and Lisa Brohl, Peter and Amy Huston, Bill and Patty Sulesky, Renee Fultz and Jordan Jenkins.
Fri., Sept. 26th – There’s a police K-9 fundraiser at the Erie Islands Petroleum Pit Stop. It’s entertainer Bob Gatewood’s last Friday night show of the year at the Reel Bar.
Sat., Sept. 27th – In honor of National Public Lands Day, you can visit the top of Perry’s Monument for free. The Change of Watch takes place at Put-in-Bay Yacht Club. Commodore Doug Seib turns over the reins to the new Commodore, Kristin Wygant. The Crew’s Nest holds its close down party with a wonderful spread from Chef Mike Catey. The theme is “Wild, Wild Nest.” Over at the Middle Bass Yacht Club, there’s chili cookoff. Unlike the other Saturdays in this month, there are no special events.
Sun., Sept. 28th – It’s a beautiful day at the Bay with people just enjoying themselves at Put-in-Bay.
Mon., Sept. 29th – The PIB Twp. Trustees meet in a special meeting in the Township Hall to discuss and pass a resolution to comply with Ohio’s new Cybersecurity requirements for Public Entities according to HB 96 and to authorize the Put-in-Bay Township to participate in the Department of Administrative Services Prospective Cooperative Purchasing Program Membership. Joan Rhoad goes out fishing on her birthday with her husband Roger and daughter Justine. They catch perch and she doesn’t. Over on Middle Bass, Tom Bartlett is banding Eastern Screech Owls at the airport. Mannie Wood from the Boardwalk celebrates her 30th birthday.
Tue., Sept. 30th – Islanders are invited to hear motivational speaker Damon West at Put-in-Bay School in the morning. The Market house on Bayview Ave. next to the Crew’s Nest is getting a new roof.
Putinbay.com is proud to present the Put-in-Bay Gazette’s Island Diary for September 2025, in the October 2025 issue of the Gazette.
To subscribe to the Put-in-Bay Gazette please visit their website by clicking here.
