BY D’ARCY PATRICK EGAN, THE BEACON

“Port Clinton’s Calling Me!”

Yes it is, starting on the Fourth of July.

A major marketing movement is afoot to tell the happy news that the little City of Port Clinton on the beautiful Lake Erie shoreline is thriving, providing lots to see and do for local fans and visitors alike.

Driving the unique promotion are city officials and entertainment expert Ron Miller of Our Guest Inn hotel in downtown Port Clinton. Miller’s musical abilities prompted him a year ago to begin creating just the right song to market the unique offerings of the area, from the highly successful MORA open carry laws to the Music on Madison concert venue that has been a major hit.

“Our welcoming message is to come discover us, and after you find us, hang out with us here,” said Mayor Mike Snider of Port Clinton. “We’re going to debut Ron Miller’s song, ‘Port Clinton’s Calling Me’ on YouTube on the Fourth of July, and we’ll be providing the link so that everyone can listen and download it.”

Miller had the song professionally done at a music studio in Nashville, Tenn., and had an accompanying video filmed by Shay Rickard at Shot by Shay. It captures the essences of the Port Clinton area, focusing on many of the latest additions to the music, social and business scenes, including Bert and Rachel Fall and their children, a noted local family.

“The song title is our branding campaign, with ‘Port Clinton’s Calling Me!’ a double entendre telling people to come back to Lake Erie, to the new excitement here, to the Music on Madison stage, the new and different shops and restaurants, the many amenities,” said Miller.

Port Clinton Service Director Tracy Colston points out that the city has changed dramatically in the last couple of years — and for the better. People are flocking to downtown for the entertainment, food and shops, a pent-up demand after the pandemic shut everything down. More importantly, there are so many news things happening all around the area, from The Arts Garage to amazing new bands from all over coming here to play their music.”

Snider said he regularly gets calls from around Ohio to find out who’s playing that weekend in Port Clinton, especially from friends in Columbus who are ready to head north for the weekend entertainment.

“We’d made so many improvements in the last couple of years, from the Music on Madison Stage to The Arts Garage, the Portage River Walkway just finished downtown, and much-improved Lake Erie beaches,” said Snider. “We have new benches at Waterworks Park, a downtown wetlands that has improved the view of Lake Erie and the amazing walleye fishing that has sparkled all around Lake Erie, luring anglers from all over the region.”

The “Port Clinton’s Calling Me!” marketing campaign will be the stuff of T-shirts and baseball caps very soon, says the group. It will be aimed at the whole general area, from Catawba Island to Marblehead, and beyond.

‘PORT CLINTON’S CALLING ME!’ DEBUTS JULY 4

The new “Port Clinton’s Calling Me!” YouTube video and song designed to market the area will debut at the free Voices of Freedom Concert at 7 p.m. at Trinity Methodist Church, Adams and Second streets, Port Clinton on Monday, July 4. The YouTube video will be online at portclintonchamber.com after the July 4 concert, starting at approximately 8 p.m.