Park concert
There will be a little folk-pop vibe going on Saturday night in the Cuyahoga Valley.
That’s when Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards will appear in concert at 8 p.m. in the Happy Days Lodge. That’s off state Route 303 west of state Route 8 in Boston Heights.
Cortese plays fiddle and handles vocals. She is joined by cellist-vox player Valerie Thompson, fiddler-vox player Jenna Moynihan and bass player Jeni Magana.
The Boston-based quartet traveled on a 2014 U.S. State Department tour to India, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
Tickets are $17 for adults and $5 for children 3 to 12.
Advance tickets are available by calling 330-657-2909, option 4, or at www.conservancyforcvnp.org. Click on Events.
The doors open at 7 p.m.
Animal songs, stories
Singer-songwriter Sam Sapp of East Akron will direct a program on children’s songs and stories about woodland animals on Sunday.
The program will run from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron.
In 2014, Sapp produced a CD with 12 original songs, Songs of the Woods, along with a 30-page song book.
He is retired from the pharmaceutical business and is a volunteer naturalist and mountain dulcimer player. He has worked for many years with youth groups at the Goodyear Heights Presbyterian Church.
The program is being presented by Summit Metro Parks. For more information, call 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Today
Power savers — Summit Metro Parks is presenting a program on how you can save power and be more energy efficient from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Friday
Snow songs — The Wilderness Center at 98877 Alabama Ave. SW, Sugar Creek Township, is holding a music program for youngsters 2 to 4 years old and accompanying adults at 10 a.m. 1-877-359-5235 or www.wildernesscenter.org.
Saturday
Wine train — The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is holding a wine-tasting run from 7 to 9 p.m. from the Rockside Station in Independence. For ages 21 and older only. Tickets are $59 to $90. Advance sign-up is required. 800-468-4070 or www,cvsr.com.
Snowshoe hike — The National Park Service is presenting a snowshoe hike from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley. Meet at the Kendall Lake Shelter off Truxell Road in Boston Township. Free. Rentals will be available. The program will become a hike if there’s not enough snow. 330-657-2752.
Ski instruction — The National Park Service is offering cross-country ski instruction from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Kendall Lake Shelter off Truxell Road in Boston Township. Participants are encouraged to bring your own equipment. Limited rentals will be available. Free instruction. The program will be canceled if there is less than 4 inches of snow. To register, call 330-657-2752.
Junior Ranger hike — The National Park Service is presenting a Junior Ranger snowshoe hike for youngsters 7 to 12 years old from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley. Advance sign-up is required. Call 330-657-2796, ext. 100, for reservations and more information. The location will be disclosed when you register.
Bees for kids — Summit Metro Parks is holding a program on bees for children of all ages from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Ledges hike — Summit Metro Parks is presenting a hike on the Ledges Trail at Twinburg’s Liberty Park at 1 p.m. Meet at the Twinsburg Ledges Area, 9999 Liberty Road. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Coffee with birds — You are invited to enjoy coffee and watch birds at the feeders from 10 a.m. to noon at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Presented by Summit Metro Parks. Bring your own mug. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Healthy hike — The Medina County Park District is holding a healthy hike with a brisk pace from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley. Meet at the Ira Trailhead off Riverview Road north of Ira Road in Cuyahoga Falls. Dress for the weather. Mildly strenuous. Wear appropriate footwear. For ages 10 to adult. 330-722-9364 or www.medinacountyparks.com.
Snowman Day — The Medina County Park District is celebrating Snowman Day from noon to 5 p.m. at the Susan Hambley Nature Center, 4173 Parschen Blvd., Brunswick. The program will continue from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. 330-722-9364 or www.medinacountyparks.com.
Sippo Valley hike — The Stark County Park District is holding a hike on the Sippo Valley Trail at 9 a.m. Meet at Massillon’s Lincoln Park off 17th St. SW. Moderate pace. 330-409-8096 or www.starkparks.com.
Animal tracks — The Wilderness Center near Wilmot is presenting a program on animal tracks from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The center is at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW, Sugar Creek Township. It will also host a programs on bird banding at 10 a.m. and a look at flowers of Big Bend National Park at 2 p.m. There is also a workshop to make a bronze necklace at 1 p.m. The workshop fee is $30. Advance sign-up is required. 1-877-359-5235 or www.wildernesscenter.org.
Sunday
House concert — Fiddler-violinist Ed Caner will host a Cuyahoga Valley house concert at 7 p.m. at the Hines Hill Conference Center, 1403 W. Hines Hill Road, Boston Township. Tickets are $10. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The facility is not wheelchair accessible. For advance tickets, call 330-657-2909, option 4, or go to www.conservancyforcvnp.org. Click on Events.
Marsh exploration — The National Park Service is directing an exploration of the Beaver Marsh in the Cuyahoga Valley in search of wildlife from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Meet at the Ira Trailhead off Riverview Road north of Ira Road in Cuyahoga Falls. 330-657-2752.
Winter hike — The National Park Service is staging a 7-mile winter hike on the Ledges, Boston Run and Haskell Run trails in the Cuyahoga Valley. It will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at the Ledges Shelter off Truxell Road in Boston Township. 330-657-2752.
Winter hibernation — Summit Metro Parks is holding a black bear winter hibernation hike from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Furnace Run Metro Park off Townsend Road in Richfield Township. Dress for the weather. 330-865-8065 or ww.summitmetroparks.org.
Wildlife rehab — The University of Mount Union’s John T. Huston-Dr. John D. Brumbaugh Nature Center will present a program on the Stark County Park District’s work with 1,700 injured or orphaned animals each year. It will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Free, but donations to help the animals are requested. An online list is available at www.starkparks.com/wildlife.asp?view=5. The center is off Dan Street in Washington Township. 330-823-7487.
Tuesday
Quarry hike — Summit Metro Parks is presenting a quarry hike from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Deep Lock Quarry Metro Park in Peninsula. The park is off Riverview Road south of state Route 303. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Bird walk — The Stark County Park District is staging a bird walk at 7:30 a.m. on the Nickel Plate Trail near Louisville. Meet at the Pinevale/McKimm Trailhead in Nimishillen Township. 330-409-8096 or www.starkparks.com.
Wednesday
Nature drawing — Summit Metro Parks is holding nature drawing classes for adults from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Bring a sketchbook and pencil. Beginners are welcome. Advance sign-up is required. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
For a complete list of activities, go to www.ohio.com.
Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning at the beaconjournal.com.