Touch a Truck fest offers lots of activities for kids

Kids can make a scarecrow and slime, pick a pumpkin and, of course, touch big trucks at the fall Touch a Truck Festival at the National Road and Zane Grey Museum in Norwich on Saturday.

The festival, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will also feature live music, hot dogs and s'mores, and $1 tours of the museum.

For more information, call 1-800-752-2602 or visit johnglennhome.org. Preserve near Lebanon.

Instructor Keith Bengtson will teach hunting, fishing, trapping and tanning techniques. Admission is $7, $6 for students. Advance registration is recommended. For more information, call 1-800-283-8904 or visit fortancient.org.

Lecture on presidents to focus on Nixon tapes

Richard Nixon is the focus of this year's annual Lecture on the Presidency on Oct. 8 at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums in Fremont.

Luke Nichter, an Ohio native, Texas A&M professor and bestselling author, will discuss "A Decade With the Nixon Tapes: What We Have Learned and What We Have Yet to Learn."

Nichter's presentation begins at 1:30 p.m. in the museum auditorium. Wine and light hors d'oeuvres will be available before the presentation and a reception will follow at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets are $25. Registration is required. Call 1-800-998-7737 or visit rbhayes.org.

Sternwheeler cruise will explore locks

The Valley Gem Sternwheeler in Marietta will offer an all-day Muskingum River Cruise on Oct. 9.

The round-trip cruise will travel through three locks and two side-cut canals of the Muskingum River Lock System, the only hand-operated system remaining in the United States.

The history-centered cruise lasts from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. and includes on-board lunch and dinner. Tickets are $85. Reservations are required. Call 740-373-7862 or visit www.val leygemsternwheeler.com.

Tickets on sale to see Rick Steves