Partying with some Christmas in July “friends” I met about two seconds before this picture was snapped.

Affectionately known as the  “Key West of the North,” a trip to the Lake Erie island oasis of Put-in-Bay is always a party. No party, however, holds a candle (especially those plug-in window candles) to the island village’s annual “Christmas in July” which this year takes place July 24-26. Think of it as your wildest office Christmas party . . . on an island . .. in the summer . . . with about 5,000 extra guests. Awesome.

Serving as Santa’s summer home, the entire downtown area is decked in red and green (with boughs of holly, fa-la-la-la-la). Snowmen give way to “sandmen” on the Put-in-Bay beaches and most restaurants serve up hearty holiday fare. The town’s legendary bars offer Christmas specials–try a bucket of beer at the Roundhouse Bar, it’s not what you think it is—and live bands rock the stages from open to close.

To get to the party, I recommend the Miller Ferry (a passenger and vehicle ferry that departs from Catawba Island with the cheapest fares to Put-in-Bay) or the Jet Express (a speedy passenger-only catamaran that sets sail from both Port Clinton and downtown Sandusky). Both offer beautiful views of Lake Erie and a comfortable ride to the island. Accommodations are at a premium during the island’s busiest weekend, so if you don’t have a place to stay already, chances are you won’t find one cheap. Not to worry though, as a stay on the mainland in nearby Sandusky or Port Clinton will keep you right in the action.

Once you’re there… here are the attractions that shouldn’t be missed:
• Downtown Put-in-Bay Christmas Parade, July 24, 25 and 26 at 9pm
• Best Decorated Boat Contest, July 24 at 10pm
• Mike “Mad Dog” Adams at Roundhouse Bar, July 25 at 2pm
• Ray Fogg at Put-in-Bay Brewing Company, July 25 at 8:30pm
• The Webters at Roundhouse Bar, July 26 at 9pm
• A beer at Beer Barrel Saloon (featuring the world’s longest bar)
• A dip in the pool at Splash! (billed as the world’s largest swim-up bar)
• Lunch at the Chicken Patio (home to some of the best eats on the island)

So, dig that Santa hat out of storage and experience Christmas in a way that’s the polar opposite of what you’re used to. I’ll see you there. Ho! Ho! Ho! –Submitted by FC

Editor’s Note: Per reader Michael Hughes, “A word of advice: If you’re planning to return to the mainland at the end of your night, make sure to get a ticket for the boat early in the day. Folks often just expect to walk up for the last trip and get on the boat and they find the boat is full.”