The Mustill Store Museum joins Akron Waterways Renewed! as Akron celebrates the Blue Heron Homecoming - The Ripple Effect & Flight of the Heron 5K, 10K & 1 Mile Fun Run.

Races. Activities. Entertainment. Vendors. Giveaways. Food. Fun.

The Flight of the Heron run celebrates the continuing renewal of the Little Cuyahoga and Cuyahoga Rivers in Akron and kicks off the festival. This Akron Promise City Series race awards male and female age group winners and the top three male and female runners overall. Pre-register here.

The Ripple Effect Blue Heron Homecoming is an environmental festival that provides family-friendly tours, educational opportunities, giveaways, demonstrations, activities, waterway safety, recreation, and community around the city’s largest capital investment in public infrastructure and waterway renewal.

There’s entertainment for the whole family! Grab a free lunch and purchase a sweet treat. Laugh and dance with Mr. Jeff and DJ Vince Giles. Collect trading cards from the amazing Tails of Togetherness therapy and service dogs. Visit with mascots and vendors, make art, play games, pop into the beer garden, take a walk or run & more!

@The Ohio Canal Interceptor Tunnel | 168 Otto Street

• Complementary lunch

• Cold treats from The Ice Bucket

• Missing Falls Brewery beer garden

• Hands-on exhibits for kids & adults

• Fun giveaways & entertainment

• Educational & environmental tours

• Live music by The Wallhavens

@TheMustill Store Museum | 57 West North Street

• Fun activities with the Akron Children’s Museum

• Free rain barrel giveaway (while supplies last)

• Yard games & crafts with Cascade Locks Park Association

• Pop-up shop with Bite Me Bakery

• Scavenger hunt with Tails of Togetherness

• Greenleaf Family Center

9 - 9:45 AM: Race day-of registration

10 AM: Flight of the Heron 10K, 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run

10:30 - 11:30 AM: Mr. Jeff

11:30 AM - 12 PM: Dulcimer Circle with Mary G

12 - 2 PM: DJ Vince Giles

1 PM: Canal & Waterways History Tour

VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers help make the world go round and events like these successful! Sign up to volunteer for this year’s Blue Heron Festival & Flight of the Heron Run.

PARKING

Click here to learn more about parking at Cascade Locks Park & Mustill Store Museum. Free transportation to and from the CVSR parking lot will be provided to both the Mustill Store Museum and Ohio Canal Interceptor event locations.

CANCELLED FOR JULY 17

Unfortunately, this event is cancelled do to the hazardous air conditions caused by wild fires. Stay indoors as much as you can until the advisory is lifted. Thank you for supporting CLPA and be sure to check out Wendy Darling at another one of her events.

___________________________________________________________________________

Join us for lunch! Bring friends, family, or work buddies. It’s free!

Live music - dogs - veg burgers - chips - water

This Friday, Wendy Darling of Midnight Phoenix brins Akron’s next generation of talent to Cascade Locks.

Free Lunch Friday takes place every Friday in June, July, and August.

Join us for lunch! Bring friends, family, or work buddies. It’s free!

Live music - dogs - veg burgers - chips - water

This Friday, Bethany Joy travels to Akron to share her vocal talents.

Free Lunch Friday takes place every Friday in June, July, and August.

Join us for a Star-Spangled, pre-4th Free Lunch Friday!

Something extra special will be served to celebrate the nation’s independence while The Patrick Munford Project fills the air with joyful sound you won’t want to miss!

Join us for lunch! Bring friends, family, or work buddies. It’s free!

Live music - dogs - veg burgers - chips - water

Free Lunch Friday takes place every Friday in June, July, and August.

Join us in the backyard this summer for Jazz on the Trail in partnership with Rubber City Jazz & Blues Festival, Open Tone Music, and the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park!

This month, you will not want to miss Dillon Shidemantle’s elegant musical artistry and the Conservancy presentation of Complex Chords, a pop-up exhibit that tells the history of Black-owned country clubs, park spaces, and their connection to the jazz scene on Howard Street in the mid-20th century.

Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and get ready for the sounds of a lifetime.

Jazz on the Trail takes place on the fourth Sunday of the month in June, July & August.

Join us for lunch! Bring friends, family, or work buddies. It’s free!

Live music - dogs - veg burgers - chips - water

This Friday, Jen Maurer will spark joy as we head into the weekend.

Free Lunch Friday takes place every Friday in June, July, and August.

Join us for lunch! Bring friends, family, or work buddies. It’s free!

Live music - dogs - veg burgers - chips - water

This Friday, Ray Flanagan joins us from Cleveland along with volunteers from the Akron Garden Club and Koroseal in support of the United Way of Summit & Medina’s Day of Action.

Free Lunch Friday takes place every Friday in June, July, and August.

Join us for a day of action with the United Way of Summit & Medina County.

Gardening will be our area of focus at Cascade Locks Park. From 9 - 11:30A, we will work on the gardens around the Mustill Store Museum with the Akron Garden Club. From 11:30A - 1P, enjoy our summer program, Free Lunch Friday, with acoustic live music and a complementary lunch among friends. From 1 - 3P, we will head over to the pollinator gardens at the Schumacher Mill site, to ensure we are doing our part to conserve our urban environment.

Thank you so much for supporting this public space in Cascade Valley. The Day of Action is free to participate. Questions may be directed to engagement@uwsummitmedina.org.

Learn more here.

Join us for free family fun on the Ohio & Erie Canal at the Cascade Locks Duck Derby Community Day!

games • crafts • music • food • prizes •inflatable •duck races

• Eats by Cheezylicious & AC Ice Cream

• Music by DJ Kenny Kidd

Featuring Special Guests

• "Ducky" the dog from Greenleaf Family Center

• Summit Metro Parks

Family attendance is free | Self-pay food & beverage | Duck entries optional

DUCK RACES

Sponsor a rubber duck and cheer it on down the canal!

First, second & third place prizes | Values up to $500!

4 FIRST BASE LOWER LEVEL GUARDIANS TICKETS•4 RUBBER DUCKS TICKETS•BREAK or PAINT ROOM FOR 6•BOWLING FOR 8•KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR 12•GIFT CARDS•STEM ITEMS & MORE!

• Lil’ Quackers Cup | $5 per duck

• Community Quack Classic Cup | $20 per duck • $75 for five

Click on the links to get your ducks today! Online duck entries are available for sale until 11:59P of June 5. Day of duck entries may be purchased via cash or card during the event.

THANK YOU TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS!

GOLDEN DUCK

• Summit County Land Bank

• GearStar Performance Transmissions

• Oriana House

• The Joyce Family

LUCKY DUCK

• Akron Municipal Court

• The City of Akron

• AMF Riviera Lanes

• Bricks & Minifigs

• Akron Break Room

FLYING DUCK

• Ernest & Laura Preston

• Douglas Krapf

• Barley House Akron

• Downtown Akron Partnership

• Big Eye Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar

• Wrap City Sandwich Company

• Akron Rubber Ducks

• Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse

EVENT SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Become an honored duck launcher and support Cascade Locks Park Association’s work in recreation, education, and the arts.

Golden Duck – $500

• 25 duck entries• Grand Duck Launcher (Classic Cup)•Mustill Store swag •Event & digital recognition

Lucky Duck - $250

• 10 duck entries• Grand Duck Launcher (Lil’ Quackers Cup)•Mustill Store swag •Event & digital recognition

Flying Duck – $100

• 5 duck entries• Mustill Store swag •Event & digital recognition

Contact Megan at mmoreland@cascadelocks.org to become a sponsor.

VOLUNTEERS

Interested in volunteering to make this event full of fun? Volunteer you time and receive one free entry in the Classic Cup and a $5 coupon to the food truck of your choice. Email Cathy at csullivan@cascadelocks.org for more information.

Proceeds support the Cascade Locks Park Association, serving greater Akron by connecting people through recreation, education, and the arts in Cascade Locks Park and at the Mustill Store Museum. Thank you!

More information at cascadelocks.org.

Questions: info@cascadelocks.org•(330) 374‑5625

Join us for lunch! Bring friends, family, or work buddies. It’s free!

Live music - dogs - veg burgers - chips - water

This Friday, Elijah Blower of Hand + Noise will lead us into our celebration of summer.

Free Lunch Friday takes place every Friday in June, July, and August.

Join us at the Mustill Store Museum for a free opportunity to find a moment of zen mid-week. Deneen Wittlinger, yoga expert of Akron General Lifestyles, will guide us through our movements. Families welcome. BYO mat or towel. Event will take place rain or shine. We look forward to relaxing with you.

Follow Deneen on Instagram @dwittyyoga. Questions may be directed to info@cascadelocks.org.

Join the Akron Garden Club for Cascade Locks Park Spring Gardening at the Mustill Store Museum. Help maintain the Frietag & memorial Gardens, learn from master gardeners, build friendships, and beautify community.

Rain Date: May 8 | 9 AM

Email info@cascadelocks.org with questions.

Join us as we celebrate The Mustill Store Museum season opening! It will be a party to kick off the 2026 season.

Backyard Party: 11:30A - 2:30P

Kids Craft - Yard Games - Music - Giveaways - Free Raffle Prize Basket

First-come, first-serve while supplies last.

Join us at the Mustill Store along with EnviroScience for our Spring Canal Cleanup. Great event for Scouts and Students to earn service hours!

This is a rain or shine opportunity - unless weather is severe.

Join us at the Mustill Store for Sakura inspired fun!

Join one of our ‘History Hikes’ and learn about Akron’s Industrial Valley!

PRIVATE EVENT FOR VOLUNTEERS ONLY. If you would like to become a volunteer visit https://www.cascadelocks.org/volunteer and complete the application before March 1st

There will be 2 sessions - morning 10:00 - 11:30 and afternoon 12:30 - 2:00 Watch for the invite!

Experience The Concert Truck - a traveling music venue complete with its own lights, sound system and piano — as it rolls into Greater Akron neighborhoods for a series of free outdoor concerts. You can see it in our own backyard August 29th 12:00 - 1:00 during Free Lunch Friday!!

Presented by Tuesday Musical

Jazz on the Trail!

We are closing our Jazz on the Trail series August 10th with a bang! Saxophonist Sarah Hanahan will be giving a special performance at our Jazz on the Trail. Don’t miss this chance to catch one of jazz’s brightest rising stars in an unforgetable outdoor setting along the canal. Bring a chair, bring a friend, and enjoy an unforgettble talent! Join us Sunday August 10th for the last of our concert series with concert series!.

Free & family-friendly.

Jazz on the Trail!

We’re excited to present another Jazz on the Trail concert Sunday, July 20th at the historic Mustill Store Museum (57 W. North St, Akron, OH)!

Come experience live jazz from some of Northeast Ohio’s finest musicians, all in a scenic outdoor setting by the canal. Bring a lawn chair, bring a friend, and enjoy a new performance every month! This month we feature The Stix Trio - a dynamic jazz ensemble based in Cleveland. Led by drummer Nehemiah ‘Stix’ Baker, the trio brings a unique blend of jazz, funk, and R&B to the stage, delivering high-energy performances that leave audiences mesmerized.

Free & family-friendly.

Jazz on the Trail is Back!

We’re excited to kick off our Jazz on the Trail concert series this Sunday, June 22nd at the historic Mustill Store Museum (57 W. North St, Akron, OH)!

Every Third Sunday of the Month June, July, and August from 4:00pm - 6:00pm

We’re starting strong with a performance by Resolve – a smooth jazz/R&B group lead by Akron Saxophonist Donovan Shaeffer. Resolve will be bringing soulful grooves and laid-back vibes to the trail.

Come experience live jazz from some of Northeast Ohio’s finest musicians, all in a scenic outdoor setting by the canal. Bring a lawn chair, bring a friend, and enjoy a new performance every month!

Free & family-friendly.

Don’t miss the start of a great summer tradition!