Metro Parks: Scioto Fest will offer food, beer, climbing, paddling and camping
The big event in the Metro Parks system this week is Scioto Fest, which will take place Sept. 18-19 at Scioto Audubon Metro Park.
Join friends and family for river floats and paddles, a “Yappy Hour,” late-night climbing on the climbing wall, a movie, overnight camping for those so inclined, and more.
The Scioto Fest will run from 5 p.m. to midnight Sept. 17 and noon to midnight Sept. 18 at the Scioto Audubon Metro Park, 400 W. Whittier St., with the option of camping overnight at the site on the night of Sept. 18.
There are many highlights at the festival, including on Friday, pets can enjoy a “Yappy Hour” while their owners indulge in fare offered by food trucks and beverages from Land-grant Brewing Co.
Later in the evening, do some latenight climbing on the park’s climbing wall or watch the movie “Soul.”
On Sept. 18, take part in some river floats or paddles, join or watch a climbing competition, enjoy family activities and listen to performances by the Mighty Troubadours and Hebdo.
Want to know more? Here’s the lineup of events:
Friday night
Hours: 5 p.m. to midnight Location: Area by the climbing wall h 5 to 8 p.m.: Yappy Hour for pets, and Land-grant Brewing Co. and ample food trucks for their owners
h 6 to 8 p.m.: Learn the ropes with Outdoor Adventure
h 6 and 7:30 p.m.: Southern Ohio Flying K9s will perform two shows
h About 8 p.m.: Movie night — “Soul” – will start at dark
h 10 p.m. to midnight: free climb (climb on your own)
Saturday
Hours: noon to midnight, with overnight camping available
Location: Central activities area (lot by the climbing wall)
h Outdoor Adventure programming: climbing competition (advance registration metroparks.net)
h Noon to 8 p.m.: Food trucks and vendors there all day, plus one food truck will be on-site until 11 p.m.
h Noon to 8 p.m.: Inflatables and family-friendly activities
h Noon to 11 p.m.: Land-grant and Zen Bee Meadery selling beer and mead
h 3 p.m.: OSU vs. Tulsa game will be shown on the big screen
h 3 and 5 p.m.: paddling and river floats, can sign up day-of but spots will be limited
h 8 to 11 p.m.: Concerts — Mighty Troubadours and Hebdo
For more information, and camping availability, visit www.metroparks.net/ blog/scioto-fest-2021-is-almost-here/.
Elsewhere in the Metro Parks, hikes range from a leisurely stroll to a fivemile self-guided hike and everything in between. Celebrate the end of summer and the official beginning of fall on trails throughout the park system. A harvest moon hike takes place at Blacklick
Woods, and a 50-and-over hike looks for signs of the season in Walnut Woods.
h The ambitious can take a selfguided 5-mile backcountry hike to Memory Rock at Clear Creek. Hikes will depart from the Park Office, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster between 9 and 10 a.m. Sept. 18, with the last departure at 10 a.m. The trail will be clearly marked, and park staff and volunteers will be on hand to lead the way.
h Those hoping for a less-strenuous experience can stroll the gardens from 6 to 7 p.m. Sept.19 at Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Road, Westerville. Park naturalists will lead the evening tour through the gardens.
h Soak up the light from the harvest moon on a two-mile hike from 8 to 9 p.m. Sept. 20 at Blacklick Woods, 6975 E. Livingston Ave., Reynoldsburg.
h Fall will arrive on Sept. 22, and from 6 to 7 p.m. those 50 and older can look for signs of its presence on an easy two-mile hike along the Buckeye Trail at Walnut Woods, 6716 Lithopolis Road, Groveport.
For more information and other activities at the parks, visit www.metroparks.net.