10 Years of Winterfest at Buckeye Lake

BUCKEYE LAKE, OH – Winterfest at Buckeye Lake is set to kick off its 10th anniversary this weekend with a variety of planned activities, despite the cold weather.

This year, an even larger turnout is expected since Buckeye Lake has become a designated outdoor refreshment area or DORA, allowing attendees to walk from venue to venue with their drink of choice.

Buckeye Lake Region Chamber of Commerce President Tim Ryan expressed his excitement for the annual event.

“This is our 10th anniversary, and we’ll bring Benny the Bass up here on a boat in an aquarium and he will predict whether or not we’re gonna have a prolonged winter or an early spring. So, at 7 o’clock Mike will feed Benny and Benny has 3 minutes to take the bait and whether he does or not, the party starts.”

Benny isn’t the only special guest at Winterfest this year; he will also be accompanied by the “Bennyetts,” who will perform a choreographed dance.

“There is actually a Winterfest song. I mean like an actually professionally written and performed Winterfest song and now we have choreographed dance steps to it,” Winterfest Committe member Mike Fornataro added. “I mean it’s so crazy, you need to be here between 6 and 7 a.m. You look out and there’s hundreds of people. It’s cold but there’s live music and people are dancing. It’s first thing in the morning plus the 4th of July level fireworks…what a way to start the day.”

Buses and other forms of transportation will be available during Winterfest. If you’re interested in joining the early morning celebration, please visit the Buckeye Lake Winterfest Facebook page or Escapetobuckeyelake.com.