check your PM

wetpleasure,
everyone has offered good advice, and yes, it can get snotty on Erie inside an hour - if you NEED to be back on mainland to trailer home, I'd leave from Marblehead. I've been out there and had to make it back to Toledo in 5-6's more than once. Makes for a long, rough ride in a 25'er.
If you have a party or craft store close by, pick up some Mardi Gras beads before you go - they'll come in handy at the Island, and probably get them cheaper - if you're girl will let you get away with that sort of thing

We always carry beads on the boat!!

i hope the OP made it to the bay, post is 12 years old.

Good thing he went 12 years ago cause it is not so go anymore that weekend.

LOL - yeah, I think Matt has been there a few times since his original post. :-)

I have heard christmas in july is not as good is used to be... Still true?

Oh yea, not nearly as good. I wonder who the hell came up with the idea for group-on-deals from Detroit for that weekend.

The docks have not been full the last two or three years and have heard quite a few people say they will never go that weekend again. We have been for the last 8 or so years and are not planning on going this year.

I told John on b dock that he should get them to stop all ferries that weekend and just make it a boaters weekend. He just looked at me. Lol

We went to Christmas in July last year and it was a mess. Fun to people watch, but will never ever go on that specific weekend again.