Toledo hosts Maumee Bay River Festival

Singer Pat Lewandowski performing at Mickey Finn's in Toledo, Ohio on St. Patrick's Day.

In retrospect, it's strange that no one thought of this before: A fall festival to celebrate the Maumee River.

And what do you call it? The Maumee Bay River Festival, of course.

The first ever will take place 1 to 10 p.m. Sunday at the Maumee Bay Brewing Company along the river downtown. The event will provide information about the big river that connects with Lake Erie, and there will be bands, beer, and lots of food.

Music will be provided by Russ Franzen, Rachel Richardson, Pat Lewandowski, the Estar Cohen Quintet, the Antivillains, Ramona Collins, and others.

Various businesses and nonprofit organizations will be set up at the festival to promote the river and protecting it from pollution and over-use. The U.S. Coast Guard will have a boat docked along the river for tours. The Metroparks of Toledo will provide tours of the future Middlegrounds Metropark along the river.

The event will be at 27 Broadway St. and it is outside, rain or shine. Tickets are $5 at the gate and proceeds benefit Lake Erie Waterkeeper, a nonprofit organization that promotes the river. Information: maumeebayriverfestival.org.