PUT-IN-BAY (Toledo News Now) - It finally feels like summer outside, but one community is pretending it's December.
It's "Christmas in July" at Put-in-Bay.
What started as one local businesses employee celebration has slowly spread throughout the South Bass Island village, and has become an unofficial holiday.
The owner of the Roundhouse bar held the first island "Christmas in July" to give back to employees after a busy week.
Then, the tradition took on a life of its own, said Maggie Beckford, Director of the Put-in-Bay Chamber of Commerce.
"Everybody at the other restaurants and gift shops wanted to do it too," said Beckford. "So, it just kind of spread. We would decorate, we'd hang stockings and lights and everything. And everybody would get into the spirit, and suddenly the people who were visiting picked up on it too."
The "Christmas in July" weekend is the last weekend of July, and is usually the busiest 3 days for the Island.
Businesses string up Christmas lights and play holiday music, while visitors wear Christmas garb and decorate their boats.
The "Christmas" fun ends with a parade through downtown.
