First-ever Tommy Boy Fest gets rave reviews
Three days of fun and folly about a movie 'made' in Sandusky
SANDUSKY — Organizers say the first-ever Tommy Boy Festival has become one of the city’s most warmly received events in recent years — ranking alongside Sandusky’s 2018 Bicentennial Celebration and the 2024 “Total Eclipse of SUNdusky” in terms of community praise and positive feedback.
Jason Werling, the city’s recreation department supervisor, has been widely credited with bringing the Tommy Boy Festival to Sandusky.
He credited the festival’s success to strong partnerships with Shores & Islands Ohio, the Greater Sandusky Partnership and collaborations with local businesses and nonprofits. The planning process aimed to enhance existing programming — such as the Party at the Pier — while offering a three-day schedule packed with activities for both local residents and die-hard fans of the 1995 cult comedy.
The festival will return every five years as an anniversary celebration, but residents may see smaller nods to Tommy Boy pop up between festivals.
“Sandusky has always been the home of Tommy Boy, but now our city has solidified itself as not only the fictional home in the movie, but the real home of Tommy Boy Fest,” Werling said.
Werling said the positive response to the festival has been overwhelming.
“The best part of the festival for me was all of the businesses getting into the celebration and being able to have Ability Works and the Merry Go Round Museum raise funds with their respective roles with the Tommy Want Wingy Throwdown and beverage sales at Big Tom’s Market,” Werling said.