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Founders Day
June 7 - June 9
Founders Day Weekend
One of the most prominent family weekends of the summer is Founders Day. Jose DeRivera was a Hispanic merchant who purchased the South Bass, Middle Bass, Sugar, Gibraltar, Ballast, and Starve Islands for the sum of $44,000 in 1854.
Jose DeRivera sold off parcels of the land to the community for a fraction of the price to improve South Bass Island. The school property was sold for $1, and the St. Paul’s church property for $10. Put-in-Bay Founders Day is in place to celebrate the rich history, strong island heritage, and the impact DeRivera’s good deeds had on the island community as a whole.
Founders Day is filled with delicious food and lots of fun for the entire family. Most of the events are organized in DeRivera Park, aptly named after Jose DeRivera, near the waterfront of downtown. Events will start at 10:00 AM and end at 4:00 PM.
Shops and tents will be selling the perfect gift among the local artisans’ mementos. Several community-based nonprofit organizations with booths will be on hand, ready to share their missions and make new friends with Put-in-Bay visitors.
Once the Founders Day celebrations are finished, head to Put-in-Bay Historical Museum. Here you can discover the story of Jose DeRivera and the chronology of the Lake Erie Islands. After scanning the exhibits, stroll over to the Old Forge Restaurant. Many people come for the wide variety of crepes but end up just as impressed by their full menu options. Everything on the menu is fantastic. If you’re in the mood for a mouthwatering sandwich, appetizer, or some tacos, you’ve come to the right place.
You can make your friends and family happy campers with a menu like this. You won’t want to miss out on Founder’s Day weekend. Check out our lodging page to view rates and availability, and book your trip today! Also, get around the island in style with a Put-In-Bay Golf Cart!