Park concert
The modern-folk Americana band The Way Down Wanderers will perform Saturday in the Cuyahoga Valley.
The five-member band will appear at 8 p.m. in the Happy Days Lodge in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. That’s off state Route 303 west of state Route 8 in Boston Heights.
The band members are Austin Thompson on guitar and vocals; Collin Krause on mandolin, fiddle, electric guitar and vocals; John Merikoski on drums and percussion; and John Williams on upright bass and vocals.
The group was formed in Peoria, Ill., and now calls Chicago home.
Doors open at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $17 for adults and $5 for children 3 to 12 years old.
Advance tickets are available by calling 330-657-2909, option 4, or by going to www.conservancyforcvnp.org. Click on Events.
Film fest
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History will host the 14th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Saturday.
The 14 films range from 2 to 33 minutes.
The movies were created by top filmmakers, celebrities, activists, social innovators and well-known adventurers.
This year’s theme is “A Change of Course” or helping streams and watersheds.
The festival was created by the South Yuba River Citizens League in a fight to protect the California river from dams in the 1980s.
That effort has grown into a national group with 3,500 members that works to restore rivers and creeks.
The evening kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with an eco-fair where guests can meet local environmentalists and groups. There will be a cash wine-and-beer bar.
The films will be shown at 8 p.m. in the Murch Auditorium.
The museum is at 1 Wade Oval in Cleveland’s University Circle area.
Tickets are $25 a person. For reservations, call 216-231-1177 or go to www.cmnh.org/wsff.
Today
Nature stories — Summit Metro Parks is hosting nature stories for youngsters 18 months to 3 years old and accompanying adults at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Advance sign-up is required. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Stark hike — The Stark County Park District is holding a hike on the Towpath Trail at 6 p.m. Meet at the John Glenn Grove Trailhead off Warmington Road SW in Perry Township. 330-409-8096 or www.starkparks.com.
Friday
Bird walk — Summit Metro Parks is staging a bird walk from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Liberty Park. Meet at the Twinsburg Ledges Area, 9999 Liberty Road, Twinsburg. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Kick the cold — Summit Metro Parks is holding a winter hike from 6 to 8 p.m. at Liberty Park. A campfire will follow. Meet at the nature center at the Twinsburg Ledges Area, 9999 Liberty Road, Twinsburg. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Fit Friday — The Stark County Park District is conducting a hike on the West Branch Trail at 9 a.m. Meet at the Timken Gatehouse parking lot. 330-409-8096 or www.starkparks.com.
Star watch — The Wilderness Center at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW, Sugar Creek Township, is hosting a public star watch at 8 p.m. 1-877-359-5235 or www.wildernesscenter.org.
Saturday
Cardboard Classic — Summit Metro Parks is making sleds out of cardboard and tape and racing the sleds from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Meet at the sled hill at Goodyear Heights Metro Park off Newton Street in East Akron. If there’s no snow, the event will be rescheduled. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Bird walk — You are invited on a winter bird walk from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley. Meet volunteer Dwight Chasar at the Red Lock Trailhead off West Highland Road in Sagamore Hills Township to search for waterfowl on the Cuyahoga River. 330-657-2752.
Ravine hike — The National Park Service is staging a 3-mile on-trail and off-trail hike in the Cuyahoga Valley. It will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at the Blue Hen Falls Trailhead parking lot off Boston Mills Road in Boston Township. 330-657-2752.
Snowshoe hike — The National Park Service is sponsoring a snowshoe hike from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley park. Meet at the Kendall Lake Shelter off Truxell Road in Boston Township. Free. Rentals are available. If there’s no snow, the outing will become a hike. 330-657-2752.
Birdhouse workshop — Summit Metro Parks is holding a workshop to make a birdhouse for wrens from an old license plate. It will run from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Limit one kit per family. The fee is $10 per kit. Advance sign-up is required. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Coffee with birds — Summit Metro Parks is hosting a program of coffee and watching birds at feeders from inside. Meet from 10 a.m. to noon at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Bring your own mug. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Healthy hike — The Medina County Park District is holding a healthy hike from 9 to 11 a.m. on the Chippewa Inlet Trail. Meet at the trailhead on Lafayette Road (U.S. 42). Brisk pace. For ages 10 to adult. 330-722-9364 or www.medinacountyparks.com.
Monarch butterflies — The Wilderness Center at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW, Sugar Creek Township, is presenting a nature program on the monarch butterfly at 2 p.m. Admission is $10. 1-877-359-5235 or www.wildernesscenter.org.
Sunday
Explore wetlands — The National Park Service is staging a hike to search for winter wildlife in the Beaver Marsh in the Cuyahoga Valley from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Meet at the Ira Trailhead off Riverview Road north of Ira Road in Cuyahoga Falls. Wheelchair and stroller accessible. 330-657-2752.
Blackbird walk — Summit Metro Parks is presenting a rusty blackbird bird walk from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Firestone Metro Park. Meet at the Tuscarawas Meadows Area off Harrington Road in South Akron. The rusty blackbird is a declining species that winters at the park. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Nature drawing — Summit Metro Parks is presenting nature drawing for youngsters 6 to 12 years old from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Paper and pencils will be provided. Advance sign-up is required. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Canine hike — The Medina County Park District is holding a canine hike at 3 p.m. at the Schleman Nature Preserve off state Route 162 in Lafayette Township. All dogs must be leashed and under owners’ control. Bring a towel for muddy feet and a water bowl. 330-722-9364 or www.medinacountyparks.com.
Monday
Cardio hike — Summit Metro Parks is holding a cardio hike with a brisk pace and few breaks at 1 p.m. at Liberty Park. Meet at the Tinkers Creek Area, 10303 Aurora-Hudson Road, Streetsboro. Beginners are welcome. Bring drinking water. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Hike, campfire — The Stark County Park District is holding a lantern hike and campfire at 7 p.m. at the Wildlife Conservation Center off Perry Drive NW in Perry Township. 330-409-8096 or www.starkparks.com.
Tuesday
Nature stories — Summit Metro Parks is presenting stories for youngsters from 18 months to 3 years old and accompanying adults at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. at Liberty Park. Meet at the nature center at the Twinsburg Ledges Area, 9999 Liberty Road, Twinsburg. Advance sign-up is required. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Winter hike — The Stark County Park District is holding a winter hike at 9 a.m. on the Nickle Plate Trail. Meet at Metzger Park in Louisville. 330-409-8096 or www.starkparks.com.
Wednesday
Weekday walk — Summit Metro Parks is holding a weekday walk from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Liberty Park. Meet at the Tinkers Creek Area, 10303 Aurora-Hudson Road, Streetsboro. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Canal industries — You can learn about milling and other industries along the old Ohio & Erie Canal. The program by Summit Metro Parks will be held at 7 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Nature walk — The Medina County Park District is holding a nature walk at 10 a.m. at the Schleman Nature Preserve off state Route 162 in Lafayette Township. For ages 7 to adult. 330-722-9364 or www.medina countyparks.com.
For a complete list, go to www.ohio.com.
Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning at the beaconjournal.com.