Mission is to make Port a year-round destination

Port Washington Tourism Council is known for its efforts to promote the city during the summer, but this year it’s turning its attention to the holiday season as well.

Bolstered by a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, the council this year has created a campaign titled “Happy Holidays in the Harbor” that kicked off this week.

The ultimate goal is to transform Port from a summer destination into a year-round destination by focusing on the many things the city and its businesses have to offer throughout the year.

“It’s a good first step,” Touism Executive Director Wayne Chrusciel said.

“Happy Holidays in the Harbor” isn’t an event hosted by the council but instead a comprehensive listing of events hosted by businesses and agencies through the holiday season and a marketing effort to draw both local residents and tourists to them.

“The idea is to take what we have already, promnote it and make each event one of many that will draw people here,” Chrusciel said.

“My hope is that by creating this excitment during the last months of the year, the retailers in downtown can create things to bring people back during the first quarter of 2025.

“I’ve challenged them to do that. I told our local retailers that if you come up with creative things to bring people back in the first quarter, we’ll promote the heck out of them.”

The Tourism Council has been making a concerted effort for the last couple years to promote businesses and events as well as the city as a whole, Chrusciel said.

“Happy Holidays in the Harbor” is being touted on Port Tourism’s website, visitportwashington.com, which features a list of events, from Christmas and holiday markets to visits with Santa to craft parties at downtown businesses, under the events tab.

It also highlights events such as Small Business Saturday on Nov. 30 and Port Main Street’s Christmas on the Corner on Dec. 7.

It touts the beauty of downtown, mentioning the twinkle lights the city strings on trees throughout downtown and the fact that there are holiday discounts at many merchants and restaurants.

“We often hear from people that tell us how beautiful Port is, how the people are like family, how kind and helpful they are,” Chrusciel said.

“Port is beautiful, and the downtown is incredible this time of year. I think our holiday celebrations are some of the best around.

“I can’t think of a better time to promote that, to shine a light on it, than the holidays.”

The promotional effort isn’t just aimed at tourists, he said, noting that the support of the local community is vital to the city’s businesses.

In addition to the website listing, the Tourism Council has commissioned a commercial that will run on YouTube, preceding videos that viewers want to watch.

The advertisements were created through Middle Coast Productions in Port Washington, Chrusciel said.

“Happy Holidays in the Harbor” is based on a successful campaign in Bayfield called Bayfield in Bloom, Chrusciel said.

The campaign is being funded in large part through a $15,600 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, which is aimed at boosting sales in communities during off-peak times.

It’s a three-year grant, Chrusciel said, covering 75% of the program costs this year, 50% next year and 25% the following year.