This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Fried Fish, Anyone? Fish Day Kicks Off Today

With both a fun and competitive run as well as walk, parade, live music and all the fish you can eat, Port Washington's Fish Day offers plenty of ways to enjoy this Saturday.

Looking beyond the fried fish, the festival food, the fireworks, the parade and more — area residents agree that gives back big to it's city.

“It’s all for the community,” organizer Mary Monday said.

"Fish Day is a great day for Port Washington," Ozaukee County Sheriff Maury Straub said. "It brings a lot of friends and neighbors to town."

Find out what's happening in Port Washington-Saukvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Coming up on the 47th annual event on Saturday, Monday looks forward to another year of food, fun and fish for the people of Port Washington.

Monday promises something for everyone at this Saturday’s Fish Day: “We have total variety,” she said.

Find out what's happening in Port Washington-Saukvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This year, the world’s largest one-day fish fry boasts a slew of activities including a fun run, parade, classic car show, carnival and five stages of music in addition to all the fish one can eat.

Becky Steck, entertainment coordinator for the event, ensured that attendees would be pleased by lining up a variety of musical acts for Fish Day’s multiple stages. Steck booked classic rock, reggae, blues, and country bands to play throughout the day, as well as the event’s main act: 80s pop star .

“Our headliners are really strong,” Steck said.

Beyond music, Monday is excited for Fish Day’s other events, including a carnival that kicked off Friday evening. Although Fish Day doesn't officially begin until Saturday, Monday said that the attractions are a fun way to spend "Fish-mas Eve" as many event-goers have dubbed the day before Fish Day.

The festival starts bright and early Saturday for the 8K Competitive Run, 2-Mile Fun Run and 2-Mile Walk to benefit Portal Industries, a Grafton-based organization that helps the developmentally disabled. Those interested may register the day of the race, prior to the 8 a.m. shotgun.

Fish Day also boasts a gigantic that will begin at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Wisconsin St. and Walters St. and continue to .  Additionally, a classic car show will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at .

The day will conclude with at at 9:30 p.m., and Monday explained that it is not to be missed.

“We have enormous fireworks," Monday said. "Just huge, huge, huge."

However, even with spectacular fireworks and stages of live entertainment, the fish remains the centerpiece of Fish Day.  After 47 years, the menu hasn’t changed one bit, Monday said. Stands still serve a traditional Wisconsin fish fry, and all proceeds go to the local service organizations, such as the Rotary and Lions Club that run them — a fact which Monday is proud of.

“We turn around and put money back into the community,” she said, adding that Fish Day is an invaluable fundraiser for local service groups, and having a large event like it allows these organizations to “improve the quality of life in Port Washington.”

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Port Washington-Saukville