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10/9/2003

All around Toledo, leaves are changing colors and pumpkins are taking their places on porches, marking the beginning of fall. Toledo's prime location along the Maumee River in the heart of an agricultural area makes it a perfect place to watch the season pass.

Several large, seasonal events, including corn mazes, the Grand Rapids Applebutter Festival and Toledo Metroparks activities, draw visitors to Toledo and the surrounding areas annually. There's no better place to be in the fall than outside! The Fallen Timbers Gigantic 46 Acre Maze, which is in the running for the world's largest corn maze, is one destination for fall, family fun.

Fallen Timbers Community Church in Waterville creates the annual corn maze, which this year is in the shape of Ohio's Bicentennial logo and requires about three hours to complete. Enjoy a one-mile hayride, scavenger hunt, carnival games, moonwalks, hot dogs, pizza, chips, caramel apples and more. The Fallen Timbers corn maze is open every Saturday and Sunday through November 1.

Organizers of the Grand Rapids Applebutter Festival expect to draw about 50,000 visitors Sunday, October 12. The event features applebutter making, farm exhibits, military and colonial life reenactments, pioneer demonstrations, juried crafts and collectibles and fall foods such as bratwurst, bean soup and apple creations.

The Toledo Metroparks also offer several fall activities for the whole family. Reservations are required for the Autumn Tree I.D. at the Wildwood Preserve Metz Visitor Center Sunday, October 12. After this lesson, participants will be able to identify many Toledo-area trees as their leaves change colors this fall. A Fall Color Walk will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, October 17 at Secor Metropark in Berkey. Learn how early settlers relied on the bounty of the land and how tulip trees, red oaks and shagbark hickories fit into the equation.

Another autumn adventure will be held Saturday, October 18 at Providence Metropark, Kimble's Landing, in Grand Rapids. Visitors will start the walk along the scenic Miami & Erie Canal at 10:30 a.m. Watch as native wildlife prepares for the seasons ahead. Fall fun does not end there. Several routes along the Maumee River, Lake Erie and other area waterways make colorful and peaceful day trips. Round out your day with a picnic at a Toledo Metropark, fantastic places to view fall foliage at your own pace.

Fall Color and Halloween Boo Cruises -Cruise the Mighty Maumee aboard the Sandpiper, a 100-passenger canal boat replica. Fall Color Cruises take boaters for a scenic ride filled with red, orange, and yellow leaves, while Halloween Boo Cruises give riders a thrill on the water. Fall favorites hot cider and donut holes will be served. Reservations are required.

Fall on the Farm - At one time, Toledo and the areas around it were mainly farms. In fact, Northwest Ohio still has a large, active farming community. Fall was an extremely busy time for farmers with harvest underway and winter ahead. Step back in time at Sauder Village in Archbold on Saturday, October 11 and see how farms used to prepare this time of year.

Pumpkin Path - For many, fall means Halloween is just around the corner. To celebrate, The Toledo Zoo is offering a weekend of trick-or-treating, magic, pumpkin bowling, storytelling and more on Saturday, October 25 and Sunday October 26.

For more information about these and other fantastic fall activities, contact the Greater Toledo Convention and Visitors Bureau at 419.321.6404 or log onto www.doToledo.org. Each Season Brings Something New to Toledo.