The Dunkirk Walleye Festival management team recently posed at the visitor’s chair at the Dunkirk Pier. Pictured left to right is Scott Mekus, Dunkirk Festivals event specialist; Ryan Hall, Dunkirk Festivals coordinator; City of Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz; Josh Larsen, Primitive Patriot Outdoors co-owner/WNY Walleye Classic tournament director and Joe Chapman, Primitive Patriot Outdoors, co-owner/WNY Walleye Classic assistant director.

The City of Dunkirk and Primitive Patriot Outdoors are proud to announce the first Dunkirk Walleye Festival taking place on May 31 to June 2 on the city pier.

Professional walleye anglers will compete in the fourth Annual WNY Walleye Classic directed by Josh Larsen, tournament director, while the festival portion will be directed by Ryan Hall, Dunkirk Festivals Coordinator.

The Primitive Patriot Outdoors WNY Walleye Classic will be the highlight of the festival consisting of two to five anglers weighing in their biggest six fish caught with top ten pay outs and top three biggest fish prizes on Friday and Saturday.

Sponsored by DFT Communications, Century 21 Turner Brokers – Dan Terhune, HuntChef and Okuma, the tournament consists of a Big Fish Friday event (May 31), the main event (June 1) and a kids’ day (June 2).

Last year, 49 teams were registered with over 250 anglers and over $35,000 was given in prize money.

The mission statement is to bring the outdoor community together through hosted events and various media sources in hopes to give our area an amazing weekend focusing on Lake Erie’s most sought-after species, walleye.

For Big Fish Friday, teams leave from whatever harbor they wish, but must return to Dunkirk by boat with cooler drop off by 3:30pm and the weigh in show at 5 p.m. 1980 Something will provide eighties musical entertainment from 7 to 10 p.m.

The main event starts Saturday with boat checks at 5:30 a.m. followed by the shotgun start at 7 a.m. where teams will all race off to their fishing location. The community is encouraged to come watch as the roar of 40 plus boats race off along the shores of Lake Erie.

Cooler drop off is by 3:30 p.m. proceeded by the weigh in show at 5 p.m. The biggest fish are weighed last to enhance the buildup of excitement to announce the winners and overall champion that day.

The West of the Mark – The Prime Project will take the stage from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. to perform live 90’s country music.

Food, craft and fishing gear vendors will be on site both Friday and Saturday.