St. Marys, OH (WLIO) - What a way to take advantage of some great fall weather on Sunday than go for a hike and that is what hundreds of people did for the annual Walk with Nature Fall Festival. The event showcases Miami Erie Canal Towpath in St. Marys and encourages people to take a walk to visit the many different activities along the way. There was pumpkin painting, a car show, medieval battle re-enactments, and many vendors selling craft items. Plus returning favorite the Girty’s Town Rendezvous, which recreates small settlement that was along the St. Marys River back in the 1700’s. Thanks to organizations like the St. Marys Kiwanis Club the event has been a community staple for 53 years.
“It is very important to us,” says Angela Karen, the President of the St Marys Kiwanis Club. “We are all about service and helping our community and getting people out and doing things. I really hope that they enjoy it and all of the festivities and have fun before winter starts. It gets cold and people want to hibernate.”
The event also gets people outside and enjoying nature, which is something the Heritage Trails Park District likes to see.
“You do not have to leave Auglaize County to see some really wonderful examples of nature,” says Terry McDonald, Administrator of the Heritage Trials Park District. “You can be right here on the Miami Erie Canal Towpath Trial and see wonderful autumn colors and do a little bit of birding and do a little bit of family photos. Just unplug from your electronics for an afternoon and spend some quality family time outdoors.”
The Walk with Nature Fall Festival is the 3rd Sunday of October and takes about six months to put together.
