Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
The American Theatre Guild will present the Tony Award-winning Best Musical that took the world by storm, “The Wiz,” for eight performances May 26–31, at The Stranahan.
Tickets are available for purchase at BroadwayInToledo.com and StranahanTheater.com. Group ticket savings for 10+ are available by contacting Groups@ATGuild.org.
This groundbreaking twist on “The Wizard of Oz” changed the face of Broadway—from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and `70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world.
Please note: BroadwayInToledo.com, Etix.com and The Stranahan Box Office are the only official sources for tickets to all shows in the 25–26 Broadway in Toledo Series.
Become a fan of Broadway in Toledo following on social media on Facebook @BroadwayInToledo and on Instagram @BwayToledo.
Artist to join OJHS annual spaghetti dinner
The Oregon-Jerusalem Historical Society will present its 3rd Annual Spaghetti Dinner Wednesday, May 27, at the Jerusalem Township Fire Hall, 9501 Jerusalem Rd.
Dinner will be served from 5-6:30 p.m. The menu includes salad, bread and butter, spaghetti with meat sauce, a beverage and homemade dessert baked by volunteers and OJHS members. The cost for dinner is $15 per person, dine in or carry out.
Fine artist and author Robert Kroeger will return with 15 of his locally sourced barn painting to auction off. All proceeds will benefit OJHS. He will also share stories from his painting adventures around the country and sign books from his collection.
The evening also includes a presentation from local spinner and fiber arts historian, Nancy Kovacs.
Call 419-902-5149 or visit ojhs.org for details. Tickets will also be available at the door.
‘Pathways to Nature’ Paint & Learn
The Lucas Soil and Water Conservation District (Lucas SWCD) is offering an opportunity to be creative and learn about welcoming wildlife to your space through a new class titled “Pathways to Nature: Paint & Learn Class,” happening Thursday, May 7, at 5:30 p.m. at the Lucas SWCD office in Toledo.
The family-friendly class will help attendees learn ways to welcome wildlife to their outdoor spaces by providing food, water, shelter and a place to raise young.
For the art portion of the class, registered participants will get to paint a concrete stepping stone for their home gardens. Painting materials will be provided. To paint a stone, the cost is $30. Others are welcome to listen in and opt out of the painting. To register to paint a stone, visit https://www.lucasswcd.org/pathwaystonature.
The class is being held during the Oak Openings Region Green Ribbon Initiative's Blue Week a celebration of the globally-rare Oak Openings Region. Learn more about the events taking place at https://oakopeningsregion.org/blueweek/.
Museum ships open for 2026 season
The National Museum of the Great Lakes reopened the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and Museum Tug Ohio to the public on May 1.
The museum ships close annually over the winter months and re-open for public tours between May 1 and Oct. 31.
Visitors may come onboard the 617-foot cargo ship and historic tug to experience what life was like on the lakes in the early 1900s.
Summer hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday noon-5 p.m. The last time to board the boats is 4 p.m.
Visit nmgl.org for more details.
Gathering Volumes to host Meredith Doench
Gathering Volumes bookstore, 196 E. South Boundary St., Perrysburg, will welcome readers for an afternoon of suspense, storytelling, and connection as author Meredith Doench comes to celebrate the release of her latest novel, “Never Say Die,” May 9 at 2:30 p.m.
At the heart of “Never Say Die” is the perspective of a grieving mother and a determined detective—making this an especially profound experience for Mother’s Day weekend.
Described as “a heart-pounding murder-abduction thriller that feels as clinically precise as it is deeply human,” Doench’s novel combines gripping suspense with emotional depth, offering readers not only a page-turning mystery but a story that lingers long after the final chapter.
The event will feature a conversation between Doench and fellow author Kate Michaelson, offering attendees a deeper look into the craft of suspense writing, character development, and the emotional themes at the core of the novel. Michaelson, an Ohio-based author known for her engaging storytelling and sharp insight into character and voice, will guide the discussion. The program will also include an opportunity for audience questions and a book signing.
Doench, who teaches creative writing and literature at the University of Dayton, is known for her immersive storytelling and complex, vulnerable characters. Her work is informed by her passion for mystery as a self-described armchair detective and amateur web sleuth.
“We love stories that keep you on the edge of your seat, but the ones that stay with you are the ones grounded in emotional truth and Never Say Die delivers on both,” said Denise Phillips, owner of Gathering Volumes.
Guests are encouraged to attend with a mother, daughter, friend, or fellow book lover, or to come solo and connect with the wider reading community.
For more information, visit https://gatheringvolumes.com/events/50397.
African Safari hosting open interviews in May
African Safari Wildlife Park will host open interviews on Sundays, May 3, May 17 and May 31, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., offering on-the-spot interviews for a variety of positions.
The park is hiring for more than 50 full-time, part-time, seasonal, and internship opportunities across several departments, and attendees at the Job Fair will have the opportunity to apply and interview on-site.
Opportunities are available in maintenance and grounds (maintenance staff, seasonal grounds crew), marketing (marketing and communications coordinator), operations (seasonal park staff, hospitality and tourism internship), and wildlife (farm hand, seasonal animal experiences staff or internships). Many positions require no previous experience.
Applicants must be at least 14 years old, with select roles requiring candidates to be 18 or older and possession of a valid driver’s license. Attendees are encouraged to bring a resume and be prepared to interview during the event.
For more information visit www.africansafariwildlifepark.com/employment.
TMA celebrates 125th anniversary
The Toledo Museum of Art is marking a landmark milestone – 125 years of connecting art and people.
Since opening its doors in 1901, TMA has been shaped by moments of vision, community commitment, and a belief that art belongs to everyone. To celebrate its quasquicentennial, TMA will host a series of events that honor its legacy in this city while looking boldly toward the future.
In 1901, Edward Libbey, a glass industrialist, and a small group of charter members established the museum to promote art appreciation and enhance the skills of local craftsmen, initially starting with a modest collection. Today, the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) is a world-renowned institution, recognized for its extensive 30,000-piece collection, premier glass art, and free general admission and parking. The museum is anchored by a 1912 Beaux-Arts main building and the 2006 Glass Pavilion on a 37-acre campus.
TMA has been voted the best Art Museum in the United States in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for two years running. Furthermore, in 2028, the headquarters of the American Numismatic Association will move to TMA’s campus.
As with everything at TMA, the 125th celebration is a community celebration. Visitors are invited to take part in special programs — including legacy tours, lectures, collaborative events with the Libbey House, and monthly glass demonstrations — that honor the people, ideas, and shared experiences that have defined TMA for over a century.
Toledo Museum of Art is located at 2445 Monroe St. Learn more about exhibitions and special events at toledomuseum.org.
National Bike Month
Lake Erie West Regional Council invites residents across Northwest Ohio to celebrate National Bike Month this May with a range of events promoting safe and healthy bicycling.
Bike Month is set to kick off on Saturday, May 2, at Glass City Metropark, 983 Front St., Toledo, bringing together riders of all ages and abilities for a day of activities and resources highlighting the region’s growing network of bike-friendly infrastructure. Festivities begin at 10 a.m. on the river’s west side at the new Glass City Riverwalk behind the Fifth Third Bank building. The celebration will last from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Throughout May, Lake Erie West and its partners will host events across the region that encourage biking for transportation, recreation, and overall well-being.
“Bike Month is about more than just getting outside. It’s about connecting people to their communities and creating safer, more accessible transportation options across our region,” said Sandy Spang, executive director of Lake Erie West. “We’re proud to work with our partners to showcase how biking can improve quality of life, support economic vitality, and enhance the health of our communities.”
Bike Month highlights include:
Find a full schedule of events and participation details at: https://tmacog.org/transportation/active-transportation/bikemonth.
‘Currents of Change’
The National Museum of the Great Lakes, 1701 Front St., Toledo, recently debuted its newest temporary exhibit, “Currents of Change: The Living History of the Great Lakes.”
Presented by the John and Virginia Hankison Foundation, “Currents of Change” takes visitors on a compelling journey through the forces that define the Great Lakes. From beavers that transformed early economies to invasive species and harmful algal blooms, the exhibit reveals how human activity and natural ecosystems have continuously collided—and collaborated—across time.
Through immersive storytelling and engaging interpretation, visitors will encounter moments of struggle, resilience, and renewal while gaining a deeper understanding of the science, conservation efforts and community action that continue to shape the future of the Great Lakes.
On view through Oct. 18, the exhibit is housed in the museum’s Temporary Exhibit Gallery and is included with museum admission.
Throughout the exhibit’s run, the museum will offer a variety of educational programs and events designed to deepen engagement with the topics explored in “Currents of Change.” For more information, visit nmgl.org.
Sauder Village opens celebrating 50th season
Sauder Village opened April 29, launching its 50th season with the annual Quilt Show and continuing the year with plans for new activities and events.
The 2026 season will include a birthday celebration in June, an America-250 picnic in July, plus new educational partnerships with regional organizations throughout the season.
“As we prepare to open the Historic Village for our 50th birthday celebration, this is the perfect time to reflect on our traditions of promoting history education, delivering timeless hospitality and inspiring wonder in all ages while we look ahead to what we can accomplish for our local neighbors, our regional guests and the greater community over the next 50 years and beyond,” said Todd D. Norris, Sauder Village president and CEO. “I invite everyone to join us at the Village to be part of the celebration, whether it’s walking through the history of the Great Black Swamp or taking advantage of our season-long birthday events. We look forward to welcoming you!”
Themed weeks this year include Transportation Week, Communication Week, Farm Week, Weather Week, STEAM Week, Art of the Picture Book, and Apple Weeks.
For more information, visit saudervillage.org or call 1-800-590-9755.
Falcon Cam 2026
Bowling Green’s pair of peregrine falcons once again set up shop in the clock tower of the Wood County Courthouse to expand their family.
Enjoy a moment or two of Zen and check out their activity on the live Falcon Cam, a partnership between the Wood County Commissioners and BGSU.
To view the 2026 Falcon Cam livestream, visit BGSU.edu/falconcam.
