Music, tours, dinners, Jet Express will bring tourists to Lorain this summer, officials say

It’s the music, the bands, the river tours, the Jet Express, the Lorain Lighthouse dinners and, last but not least, Lakeview Park.

These are the super magnets expected to draw tourists to the city of Lorain this summer, officials say.

Pat Morrisson is a member of the Tourism Committee of the Lorain Growth Corporation and a trustee of the Lorain Historical Society.

‘For the city of Lorain, it’s going to be Rockin’ on the River. It’s going to be a good draw,’ said Morrisson, owner of Footprint Travels Inc. in Lorain.

The first of these concerts, held May 22 at the Black River Landing, barely drew 200, she said.

‘But it was cold and the (Cleveland) Cavs’ game was on,’ Morrission said. ‘I’m sure we’ll do much much better as the summer rolls along.

‘Then there’s Roverfest (on July 18). I happen to be totally opposed to it, but it brought 15,000 people here last year. Here’s the problem, in my mind – they come for the concert. But do they take in any restaurant in Lorain before or after the concert? And do they come again to Lorain? I’m not so sure that’s the case.’

She said that Lakeview Park draws the tourists.

‘I am going to say, it’s one of the best beaches.’ Morrisson said. ‘It’s safe and a great place to experience. The Lorain Lighthouse can be a huge draw. Last year, they were having dinners at the lighthouse.’

Sunset Dinners at the Lorain Lighthouse run Tuesdays from June 9 through Sept. 8. Cost is $125 per person, according to Frank Sipkovsky, a trustee on the board of the Lorain Lighthouse Foundation.

Participants meet at 6 p.m. at Jackalope Lakeside, 301 Lakeside Ave., and the boat leaves for the lighthouse at 6:30 p.m. The Jackalope caters the 12-course dinner with wine pairing of four wines.

‘If it’s good weather outside, we eat on the deck,’ Sipkovsky said. Rainout date is that Thursday.

‘Rockin’ on the River will bring people into our community, especially with larger bands like Michael Stanley coming to town June 13,’ said Rick Novak, executive director of the Lorain Port Authority. ‘People can arrive earlier and get a bite to eat at a local restaurant.’

Other bands expected to generate a larger crowd will be Fireworks and Fins to the Left, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band July 4; and Wish You Were Here, a Pink Floyd tribute band on July 11.

The Jet Express is yet another big tourist draw, Novak said.

‘The Jet Express, with its wine tastings and beer tastings, we’ve tied those in to Friday nights,’ he said. ‘We’ve had people wanting overnight dockage.’

Derek Feuerstein, chief of staff for the city of Lorain, said Rockin’ on the River will be a huge draw because it occurs multiple times throughout the summer.

‘Roverfest is also a huge draw,’ Feuerstein said. ‘These are huge (tourist) draws for the city. As we build from these events, it will get bigger and bigger.’

Ralph Breuning, facilities manager for the Lorain Port Authority, said other summer events in Lorain include the volleyball tournament on Lakeview Beach, and a craft beer festival at Black River Landing in mid-August.

Breuning said last year’s Roverfest brought in thousands of tourists to downtown Lorain.

‘I don’t they believe they’ve told us the estimated ticket sales for this year, but they said they’ll be selling more tickets than last year,’ Breuning said.

Lorain establishments, Scorcher’s and Bootlegger’s Den, reported doing good business during last year’s Roverfest, he said.

‘People look for stuff, for things to do, before and after the event,’ Breuning said. ‘Last year, Roverfest ran out of food by 1 p.m.’

Also on the event horizon is a new restaurant in downtown Lorain, to open its doors by fall or winter of this year, Breuning said.

Tentative title for the new eatery, to be housed on the first floor of the old Eagles Building, 575 Broadway, is ‘Speak of the Devil.’