KUDOS: Port’s new nautical festival made a splash with the community

Rub a dub dub, four kids in a cardboard boat, an entry in the Venetian Fest’s cardboard boat regatta, was a crowd pleaser. Brian Kedzor’s sailboat Karma was a prize winner in the Venetian Night parade with a theme featuring a giant jellyfish and lots of balloons. Photos by Sam Arendt
To Ozaukee Press:
Port Washington’s Venetian Fest on Sunday, the result of a strong effort by volunteers and community organizations, was welcomed with enthusiastic attendance by residents and visitors on a hot-end-of-summer day.
The event was inspired by the popularity of the annual Venetian Night boat parade staged by the Port Washington Yacht Club. The Greater Port Washington Kiwanis Club developed the idea of expanding Venetian Night into a day-long family festival.
Planning started March 2023 when about 15 people representing Port clubs, businesses and service groups met to explore the possibility this new community festival. Organizing an inaugural event proved to be challenging, but the efforts by many to make Venetian Fest successful showed why small communities are special.
I want to thank all who helped make Venetian Night such an enjoyable innaugation of a new community celebration, including: the Port Washington Yacht Club, Tourism Council, Main Street, Ozaukee Press, marina staff, Historical Society, Community Learning Center, Embedded Reporter music group and Port Musical Theater.
Special thanks to the sponsors that made the day possible: J & H Heating, MJs Bar and Grill, The Steerage, Moonlight Tavern and Harborview Hotel.
The support of the community for this inaugural event was encouraging to the organizers and should lead to an even better festival next year, with the goal of it being run by a communitywide committee of clubs and individuals.
John Sigwart
Chairman
Greater Port Washington Kiwanis Club
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