Festival to celebrate Ohio rivers, heritage

River history will be afloat at the Inland Waterways Festival at the Ohio River Museum in Marietta next weekend.

The free event will feature storytellers, musicians and steam-launch rides on Saturday and next Sunday.

Visitors also can explore displays including a 2,200-gallon aquarium, visit the museum and tour the 1918 sternwheeler W. P. Snyder Jr.

For more information, call 1-800-860-0145 or visit campusmartiusmuseum.org/ iwf.html.

Cedar Bog event to highlight bluebirds

Don't be blue: Learn about bluebirds at a special program at Cedar Bog Nature Preserve near Urbana on Aug. 12 at 10 a.m.

The 450-acre preserve is a haven for many rare plants and animals — and for bluebirds, the star of the day's nature outing.

Preserve admission is $10. For more information, call 1-800-860-0147 or visit cedar bognp.org.

Centennial party set for Fort Laurens

Fort Laurens, near Bolivar, will celebrate 100 years as a park with a special event on Aug. 12 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ohio's only Revolutionary War site will host a Centennial Celebration and Dressed For Battle, with re-enactors from the Revolution through World War II talking about how a soldier's life has changed over the years.

Visitors can also enjoy tours of the museum and grounds, crafts and kids' games, speakers and nature and history walks along the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath.

Register by next Sunday to ride in a canal boat race or to participate in the Jog for Logs 5K Fun Run & Walk. (Revolutionary War soldiers will cheer you on.)

For information or to register for the races, call 1-800-2838914 or visit fortlaurens.org.