Fish Days to bring the party to the lakefront

Fish Days will take over the Port Washington lakefront Thursday through Saturday, July 17 to 19, offering a plethora of family friendly entertainment and food for residents and visitors alike.

This is the third year for the festival, an expanded version of what had been a one-day event for more than 50 years.

Fish Days kicks off on Thursday, locally known as Fish-giving, with an event tailored to veterans and senior citizens.

To allow them to park closer to Veterans Park, where all the events that day are being held, Lake Street will be open — the only day of Fish Days when that will occur.

Veterans and members of the Port Washington Senior Center will receive a free fish fry.

There will be music by Elvis impersonator Gary Crosley from 4 to 7 p.m. followed by Shad Lads from 7 to 10 p.m.

Friday is Fishmas Eve, when alumni from area schools gather for class reunions.

Two cover bands — Advance Band and Jessie Marie and the Rippers — will perform. Advance Band will take the stage from 4 to 6 p.m. and Jessie Marie and the Rippers from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

Saturday will be the more traditional Fish Day, beginning with the 40th annual Portal Run Walk and Roll. The event starts at Coal Dock Park and follows a 5-kilometer course along the harbor and Interurban Trail before returning to the park.

Advance registrations will be taken online at https://runsignup.com/Race/WI/PortWashington/FishDayRunWalkorRoll.

The traditional Fish Days parade will start at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Wisconsin and Dodge streets, head down St. Mary’s Hill and through downtown to just past the corner of Wisconsin and Milwaukee streets.

Immediately after the parade, the festival kicks into high gear in Veterans Park and Upper Lake Park.

Upper Lake Park will be home to the Kids and Family Zone, which will include a car show, bounce houses, face painting, hair braiding and other activities from 1 to 7 p.m.

There will be a custard-eating contest at 4 p.m.

A Maker’s Market will be held from noon to 7 p.m.

Food and beverages will be available in the park, and music will be played throughout the afternoon by the University of Wisconsin-Madison marching band from 1 to 1:30 p.m. and Our House from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Brew City Wrestlers will also put on a show from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

In Veterans Park, music will be provided by Downtown Harrison from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and Midlife Oasis from 3 to 5 p.m.  before headliner The Glam Band, an ’80s rock and cover band, takes the stage from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Musician Gus Garay will also stroll the festival grounds.

The park will also host fish and chips stands — the festival’s namesake offerings — a beer garden, a display and information about the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary, which runs from Port to Two Rivers, and other activities.

The Van Ells-Schanen American Legion Post, which is across Lake Street from the Park, will host its own event in conjunction with Fish Days.

Fish Days will conclude with a spectacular fireworks show shot from Coal Dock Park at dusk.

While the festival had previously been known as The World’s Largest Outdoor One Day Fish Fry, organizers now think of it as Port’s Largest Fundraiser.

That’s because civic groups that staff the festival — the Greater Port Washington Kiwanis Club, St. John XXIII Men’s Club, Port Lions Club, Port Rotary Club, Be3, The Port Yacht Club, Port Washington Baseball and Softball and Masons — make a significant amount of money throughout the event that they pump back into the city through community projects and scholarships.

For more information, visit portfishdays.com.