Cleveland Metroparks Announces Lineup of End-of-Summer Family Events
Posted: August 24 , 2026
Touch-a-Truck Returns to Brookside Reservation
The 15th annual Touch-a-Truck presented by CrossCountry Mortgage returns to Brookside Reservation on Sunday, September 20, giving children the opportunity to get behind the wheel and explore approximately 50 vehicles used to maintain and preserve Cleveland Metroparks.
Families can see and explore big machines and vehicles including bucket trucks, front-end loaders, bulldozers, excavators, backhoes, dump trucks, police cars and more. Kids can also enjoy a 40-ton sandbox and interact with costumed characters. For an additional fee, families can enjoy a unique ride around the event aboard Cleveland Metroparks trackless train. Cleveland Metroparks food truck and retail truck will be on-site.
Touch-a-Truck takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is free to attend with free parking. Guests attending Touch-a-Truck also receive a $5 off discount on admission to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo the same day.
Nature at Night at North Chagrin Nature Center
On Saturday, September 12, Cleveland Metroparks invites guests to experience the park after dark during Nature at Night at North Chagrin Nature Center. This free family-friendly event offers an opportunity to discover the nocturnal wildlife and natural phenomena that come alive after sunset. From 6 to 10 p.m., guests can meet live owls, flying squirrels and other animal ambassadors, create shadow puppets, enjoy s'mores and stories at a bonfire, attend a StarLab planetarium show, take a guided night hike and more.
Sturgeon Fest on the Cuyahoga River
On Saturday, September 19, Cleveland Metroparks and the Ohio Division of Wildlife will host the second annual Sturgeon Fest at Rivergate Park, celebrating efforts to restore lake sturgeon to the Cuyahoga River. The free event runs from 1 to 4 p.m. at Rivergate Park, alongside Merwin’s Wharf in Cleveland. Guests can participate in educational activities, learn about the historic stocking of juvenile lake sturgeon, and assist with the release of sturgeon into the Cuyahoga River.
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