Sunday, May 29, 2016
Staff report
YOUNGSTOWN
The Friends of the Mahoning River will present the 5th annual Riverfest from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the B&O Station, 530 Mahoning Ave.
This free, family-oriented event celebrates the river.
Participants can walk the river’s nature trail or enjoy a canoe or kayak ride under the direction of the Trumbull Canoe Trails.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency will show participants what lives in the river; the Mahoning County Green Team and the Trumbull and Mahoning Soil and Water Conservation Districts will explain recycling, reuse and composting; the Mahoning Valley Historical Society will discuss the history of the area; the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will discuss water safety; and the Friends and Youngstown State University will have a river table and an Enviroscape to demonstrate various processes and their impact on the river.
Special guests include Birds in Flight Sanctuary and Searching Out Scents rescue dogs.
The Artists of the Rust Belt will host an art show, and music will be provided by the Tullsen Brothers and Susan Wojnar.
A 50/50 raffle will benefit future Friends of the Mahoning River projects.
Children can enjoy an inflated slide, a bounce-a-round, clowns, a face painter, Friends of the Mahoning River-Passport to Adventure/Treasure Hunt, and several craft tables.
Weather permitting, the Trumbull Canoe Trails will conduct a canoe/kayak trip down the Mahoning River on Sunday. If interested in joining the group, contact Don Rex at Drx44420@gmail.com or 330-219-2459.
For information about Riverfest, contact Patricia Dunbar at pmnatali@gmail.com or 330-719-2337.