Cuyahoga Falls to Host First NEO Adventure Festival Celebrating Outdoor Life and Inclusivity

CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH — More than 45 vendors, live music, expert-led workshops, and a host of family-friendly activities are set to fill the Downtown Cuyahoga Falls Amphitheater and Pavilion on Saturday, May 17, for the inaugural NEO Adventure Festival. Running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the free event promises a dynamic celebration of Northeast Ohio’s growing outdoor community.

“We’re thrilled to bring together Northeast Ohio’s outdoor community like never before,” said Kara Lapso, founder of the Akron-based nonprofit Open Trail Collective, which is organizing the event. “This festival is a call to adventure for everyone—from beginners to seasoned explorers—to come together, learn, and celebrate our incredible outdoor spaces.”

The festival will include over 11 skill-building workshops ranging from wilderness first aid to foraging, knot-tying, and backpack packing. Attendees can also enjoy a reggae performance by Umojah Nation and presentations from speakers like Heather Ullinger, who will offer updates on the Gorge Dam removal, and Ian Koenig, known for setting the Fastest Known Time on the Buckeye Trail in 2024.

A dedicated Kid Zone will be hosted by Tiny Green Learning, Oaks Nature Club, and Nature’s Rhythm Learning Center. The event also features food from Everett Trail Kitchen, coffee by Odd Dog Coffee, and craft beer from HiHo Brewing.

Open Trail Collective is also using the festival to support inclusivity in outdoor recreation through a fundraiser for a Grit Freedom all-terrain wheelchair, which will be made available to community members.

Exhibitors include the Buckeye Trail Association, Cleveland Metroparks, Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio, and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, among others. Outdoor brands and local organizations like Appalachian Outfitters, Paddle The River, LLC, Radical Adventure Riders, and Women On Water of Ohio will also be present.

Skill sessions will be led by experts and groups such as DiscovHer Wellbeing, Crooked River Outfitters, Ohio Wild Food Fest, and Trout Unlimited, offering hands-on education about everything from forest bathing to gear repair and Leave No Trace principles.

Sponsors making the event possible include Wayside Furniture, Al Spitzer Ford, Summit FM, SALOMON, and several local outdoor companies.

The NEO Adventure Festival will take place at 2085 Front Street in Cuyahoga Falls. It is free and open to the public.

“This festival is about creating a more inclusive, empowered outdoor culture in Northeast Ohio,” said Lapso. “We invite everyone to join the movement and experience the outdoors in a way that’s fun, educational, and welcoming.”

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