VERMILION — The Vermilion Festival of the Fish will celebrate its 60th year June 19–21 with three days of free entertainment, fireworks, music, contests, a parade, food and family activities in downtown Vermilion.
The annual festival, presented by the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce, will mark its 1966–2026 anniversary with the theme “The Codfather — Swims With the Fishes,” a Lake Erie twist on the classic Godfather films.
Festival hours are 3–11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
The 60th anniversary celebration will feature fireworks, the Crazy Craft Regatta, Lighted Boat Parade, Father’s Day Parade, live entertainment, family activities and waterfront traditions that have brought generations together in Vermilion for six decades.
The festival will include a midway, craft vendors, local merchants, food vendors, restaurants and waterfront views.
No admission is required.
Friday opening night
Opening day begins with Serenity Beach Yoga at 8:30 a.m. Friday at Main Street Beach.
The royalty pageant is scheduled from 3–5 p.m. on the main stage, and the midway will be open from 3–11 p.m.
A live radio broadcast with K96/95.3 is scheduled from 3–6 p.m. at Victory Park Gazebo.
Disco Inferno will perform its 70s and 80s Groove Party from 8–11 p.m. Friday on the main stage.
Vermilion High School alumna Isabella “Bella” Urday, now a student at Ohio University, will perform the National Anthem before Friday night’s fireworks display and again before Sunday’s Father’s Day Parade.
Fireworks over Lake Erie are scheduled for dusk, approximately 9:45 p.m.
The display will once again honor the memory of longtime festival co-chair Bill McCale, who died in 2023. Alongside festival chairman Doug Keith and the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce, McCale helped build the fireworks tradition that has become one of the festival’s signature events.
The festival closes at 11 p.m. Friday.
Saturday contests and river events
Saturday’s schedule includes contests, music, river events and evening entertainment.
The Sandcastle Contest is scheduled from 9–11 a.m. at Main Street Beach.
The midway will be open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The Barkfather Dog Costume Contest is scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon behind the main stage. Registration is scheduled from 10–11 a.m. Dogs are encouraged to dress in their best Codfather-inspired attire.
The dog costume contest will feature Angela, owner of Rocky & Lela’s Barkery, as emcee, along with DJ Shawn Kipp of Firelands Chevrolet and the Humane Society of Erie County Ohio.
The Crazy Craft Regatta begins at 1 p.m. Saturday. Spectators can watch from Quaker Steak & Lube, McGarvey’s Landing or the Liberty Avenue Bridge.
Participants will race homemade crafts on the Vermilion River, with cash prizes available. The event is free to enter, and registration is available at vermilionohio.com.
TK and the Brass Tacks Band will perform from 3–5 p.m. Saturday on the main stage. The band, led by Vermilion’s Terry Kitchen, performs blues, swing, rock and soul.
Crazy Craft awards are scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on the main stage.
Boaterhead, Cleveland’s premier yacht rock band, will perform from 8–11 p.m. on the main stage.
One of the festival’s most anticipated traditions, the Lighted Boat Parade will begin at dusk, approximately 9:30 p.m. Decorated vessels will travel the Vermilion River, creating a colorful display for spectators watching from Quaker Steak & Lube, McGarvey’s Landing and the Liberty Avenue Bridge.
The parade will be emceed by Vermilion business owners and U.S. Marine veterans Brian Szabo and Mike Lazusky.
The festival closes at 11 p.m. Saturday.
Sunday parade and closing events
Sunday’s schedule includes the Father’s Day Parade, firefighter water fights and closing entertainment.
The Royalty Breakfast is scheduled for 9 a.m. at German’s Villa, and the midway will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A special presentation honoring 2026 parade marshal Larry Bettcher is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. at the reviewing stand at Main and Liberty, followed by the Father’s Day Parade at noon.
Vermilion Police Chief Scott Holmes previously said roads along the parade route will close at 11:30 a.m. and encouraged festivalgoers to arrive early.
The parade will be emceed by Vermilion High School Class of 2025 graduates Joseph Webb and Terrence Anders, both returning home to help celebrate the festival’s 60th anniversary.
Firefighter water fights are scheduled from 12:30–4 p.m. on Ohio Street near Victory Park.
Fusion Live will perform from 1:30–3:30 p.m. on the main stage, bringing interactive family entertainment featuring music, games, contests, audience participation and prizes.
Visiting royalty introductions are scheduled from 1:45–2 p.m. on the main stage.
As part of the 60th anniversary celebration, the Chamber also is holding The Codfather’s Cuts 50/50 Raffle. Half of the raffle pot will go to one winner, while the other half will support the Festival of the Fish.
The raffle drawing is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, June 21, on the main stage. Participants do not need to be present to win. Entries are online only through the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce.
The festival closes at 4 p.m. Sunday.