(Maumee, OH) The Maumee Summer Fair serves as a final hurrah before school starts next week.
The annual Maumee Summer Fair kicks off this evening with a Taste of Maumee, where a dozen local restaurants will offer their best recipes for the public to sample at tents and food trucks. There's a parking lot party until midnight with live music and dancing. 150 vendors will line the streets of Uptown Maumee on Saturday, along with a classic car show, a craft beer tasting, and a kid zone complete with bounce houses, carnival games, and crafts. There will be BMX bike demonstrations throughout the afternoon. Live music runs all day and evening Saturday until midnight.
The River Raisin Jazz Festival takes place this weekend just across the border in Michigan. The free music festival features a number of nationally-known jazz acts along the banks of the river at St. Mary's Park Saturday and Sunday, along with a second stage for up-and-coming artists. This is the 17th year Monroe has hosted the jazz festival, which has drawn the likes of Kenny G and David Sanborn in past years.
Toledo is hosting another in a series of refuse and recycling drop-off events tomorrow. This one will be held at DeVeaux School on Sylvania Avenue. Residents can drop off electronic waste, old tires, paper, housewares, and bulky items. But TV's, refrigerators, and large appliances won't be accepted. The event runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
An unusual back-to-school tradition occurs tomorrow at the Helping Hands of St. Louis. Volunteers will spend Saturday morning washing children's feet and fitting them with new shoes and socks for the start of classes later this month. Churches, service groups, and businesses collected the shoes and school supplies over the past few weeks. The fifth annual event will help hundreds of needy kids.
The Erie County Fair wraps up this weekend at the fairgrounds in Sandusky. Friday night's featured grandstand entertainment will be the NTPA Tractor Pulls. Saturday's events include a horse drill team, livestock sale, and a rodeo. Sunday features a 4-H awards ceremony and a demolition derby as the fair wraps up.
The Henry County Fair kicks off this weekend at the fairgrounds in Napoleon. The grandstand events tonight features horse and truck pulls, and Saturday brings NTPA National Tractor and truck pulls. Country music duo High Valley will play the fair Monday evening.
40 hot-air balloons will be the feature attraction this weekend at Flag City Balloonfest in Findlay. Emery Adams Park will place host to night glows, balloon rides, and daytime "races." There also will be food vendors on site. More information can be found at flagcityballoonfest.com.
The Lake Erie Center is hosting a farmer's market this afternoon. Vendors will include both growers and small-time farmers from across Northwest Ohio. Fresh vegetables, homemade honey, jewelry and crafts will be available at the University of Toledo facility in Oregon from 3 to 7 p.m.
Sustainable farming will be the lessons the public can learn about during a public farm tour in Napoleon this weekend. The 40-acre Honey Blossom Orchard features acres of plum, peach, and apple trees, a giant organic vegetable garden, and dozens of bee hives. A local couple started using sustainable farming methods in 2011 after a family member died of cancer.The public tour is being offered at 2 p.m. Saturday.