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Winterfest heats up lake area businesses





The real Benny the Bass, right, stayed in a fish tank on a pontoon boat just off the North Shore Boat Ramp. His human mascot greeted visitors to Saturday morning’s early festivities. Courtesy photos.

The real Benny the Bass, right, stayed in a fish tank on a pontoon boat just off the North Shore Boat Ramp. His human mascot greeted visitors to Saturday morning’s early festivities. Courtesy photos.

BUCKEYE LAKE- So, who wants bagels and beer at 7:30 a.m.? Lots of people, said Buckeye Lake Brewery owner Rick Hennosy. “It was pretty great,” he said.

Hennosy opened the brewery at the crack of dawn Saturday to accommodate visitors to Buckeye Lake’s first annual Winterfest. He said immediately after Benny the Bass’ prognostication concluded at North Shore Boat Ramp, visitors flooded to his brewery, right down Ohio 79 from the ramp. The brewery had to adjust to the onslaught of early morning business. “I’m the guy who had to make the bagels,” he said. “Everybody had a great time.”

Hennosy said by noon, he’d had as many sales as the brewery does on a typical Saturday, and business remained strong the rest of the day. “It was a great Saturday for us,” he said. Hennosy said he and his staff are already planning for next year’s Winterfest, which may include some Friday night “pre-party” events at the brewery.

“Everybody I talked to said their business was way up,” said Michael Fornataro, chamber of commerce trustee. He said Winterfest’s goal was to bring business to the Buckeye Lake Region in the depths of the slowest time of the year, and that’s exactly what happened. “Man, it went so well,” Fornataro said.

 

 

Winterfest took place at dawn Saturday at the North Shore Boat Ramp with music, a proclamation, fireworks and Benny the Bass (an actual live bass in an aquarium) who, in the tradition of Punxsutawney Phil, made his prediction of spring. Then, throughout the weekend, businesses around the Lake offered special activities, special pricing, an art exhibit at the Island House on Lieb’s Island, as well as other activities.

Fornataro said the ODNR officals estimated 250 people were at the North Shore Boat Ramp Saturday morning, and Winterfest cups sold out. “All the member businesses took it to heart,” he said.

The event organizers were Buckeye Lake Region Chamber of Commerce, Licking County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Fairfield County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“I thought that the Winterfest event was a success,” said Buckeye Lake Mayor Clay Carroll. “I didn’t know what kind of turn out to expect and was happy to see so many people take part. From the local business people that I spoke with this helped their sales for the day and hopefully reminded some people that the Buckeye Lake region has something to offer year round. I hope this can become an annual event and I would like to thank all those who put this together.”

Fornataro said the chamber is already planning for next year’s event, which should take place Jan. 30 and 31, 2016. “We’ll definitely be adding more features,” he said.

Benny was released into the lake Saturday after he did not take the bait within two minutes, which means another six weeks of winter. Unfortunately, this currently corresponds with the meteorological forecast. “Benny’s a smart little fish,” Fornataro said.


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