Organizers are expecting nearly 2,500 bicyclists for Sunday's 15th annual Sweet Corn Ride in Richfield.

The event, among the largest one-day cycling events in Ohio, is officially known as the Eddy's Bike Shop Sweet Corn Challenge.

Riders have four options:

• A reasonably flat 10-mile ride.

• A 25-miler over rolling terrain.

• Loops of 50 and 100 miles with difficult hills.

The rides all begin at state routes 303 and 176 in the heart of Richfield.

Parking will be available at Richfield Woods Park, Richfield Elementary School and Richfield Town Hall.

Registration for the 100-mile ride starts at 7 a.m.; the 50- and 25-milers, from 8 to 9 a.m.; and the 10-miler, from 9 to 9:45 a.m.

The fees vary, depending on the length of the ride.

Helmets are required. All riders under 18 must be accompanied by adults.

The ride is sponsored by the Richfield Chamber of Commerce.

The 100-mile riders will get a boxed lunch along the route.

Riders on the three shortest rides will get a picnic lunch with grilled chicken and corn on the cob at the end of the ride. Non-riders may purchase lunch for $11.

The 100-milers will also get a a buffet dinner at the Taverne of Richfield.

Entertainment will be provided by Cats on Holiday.

Bicyclists will also get sweet corn to take home.

Call 330-659-3300 or check http://www.sweetcornride.com.

Today

Contra dance — Everyone is invited to join in a contra dance with music by Strings and Things and caller Carol Kopp. The dance will be from 8 to 10:30 p.m. at the Boston Township School House at state Route 303 and Riverview Road in Peninsula. Instruction will be provided at 7 p.m. Admission is $6. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing.

Get up and go — A lantern hike is on tap in the Get Up, Get Out & Go! program from 7 to 9 p.m. at Akron's Mustill Store. For Akron youngsters 11 to 14 years old and their families. Sponsored by the National Park Service and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association. To register, call 330-657-2753, Ext. 224, or go to http://www.cvnpa.org.

Junior Rangers — The National Park Service is presenting a Junior Rangers program about farms for youngsters from 7 to 12 years old. It will run in the Cuyahoga Valley park from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The fee is $8 per child. Call 800-642-3297, Ext. 100, for reservations, the location and information.

Silver Creek hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 7 p.m. for a five-mile hike at Silver Creek Metro Park, off Hametown Road in Norton. Call 330-733-3995 for information.

Art show — The Stark County Park District is presenting a show of artwork from the Arts in Stark Camp at 6 p.m. at the Exploration Gateway, 5712 12th St. N.W., Perry Township. Call 330-477-3552 for reservations and information.

Cuyahoga hike — Cleveland Metroparks is staging a hike through Forest Hill Park in Cleveland Heights and East Cleveland from 7 to 8:30 p.m. For information and directions, call 440-247-7075.

Friday

The Little Engine — The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is sponsoring the Little Engine That Could I Think I Can Rail Tour. The train will depart on 30-minute train rides from Stadium Park at 12th Street Northwest in Canton. The full-sized replica of the Little Engine That Could by author Watty Piper will be in Canton today, Saturday and Sunday. There will be live music, storytelling, clowns and magicians. Tickets are $15 for ages 1 and up. Call 800-468-4070 for reservations and information. You can also check http://www.cvsr.com.

Evening hike — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is sponsoring a hike at 7 p.m. at Firestone Metro Park. Meet in the Tuscarawas Meadows parking lot off Harrington Road in South Akron. It will be a 1.1-mile hike on the Redwing Trail with naturalist Nicki Schneider. Call 330-865-8065 for information.

Family campfire — Donna McDonald and Tim Keager will perform on the hammer dulcimer and guitar at a family campfire at 7 p.m. at Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Free. Call 330-865-8065 for information.

Junior Rangers — The National Park Service is presenting a Junior Rangers nature program about seeds for youngsters from 4 to 6 years old. It will run in the Cuyahoga Valley park from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The fee is $8 per child. Call 800-642-3297, Ext. 100, for reservations, the location and information.

Ohio mammals — The Stark County Park District is presenting nature programs about Ohio mammals at 10 a.m. and noon at the Exploration Gateway, 5712 12th St. N.W., Perry Township. The programs are part of the park district's Nature Rangers program for youngsters 4 to 7 years old. Call 330-477-3552 for reservations and information.

Learn about dams — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources are presenting a program that looks at the Kirwan Dam, its control tower and visitor center. Meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Michael J. Kirwan Dam and Reservoir's Visitor Center off Wayland Road, east of Ravenna in Paris Township. Call 330-358-2370 for information.

Park concert — Cleveland Metroparks will present a swing-bluegrass concert by Rio Neon at 8 p.m. at the CanalWay Center in the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation. That's off East 49th Street south of Grant Avenue in Cuyahoga Heights. Free. Call 216-206-1000 for information.

Saturday

Evening hike — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is sponsoring a hike at 7 p.m. at Silver Creek Metro Park in Norton. Meet naturalist Mike Greene in the Pheasant Run Area. The hike will be 1.2 miles on the Pheasant Run Trail. The park is off Hametown Road. Call 330-865-8065 for information.

Bird walk — The National Park Service is presenting a summer bird walk from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley park. Meet at the Oak Hill Trailhead off Oak Hill Road in Boston Township.

Ledges hike — You can join a ranger on a 11/2-mile hike on the Ledges Trail in the Cuyahoga Valley park. Meet at the Ledges Shelter parking lot at 7 p.m. That's off Truxell Road in Boston Township.

Road art — The Cuyahoga Valley park's M.D. Garage will host an exhibit of paintings of on the road in the United States by the Crooked River Gang, a group of local painters, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The show will continue from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The garage is off Boston Mills Road east of the Cuyahoga River in the hamlet of Boston.

Drop-in crafts — The Boston Store in the Cuyahoga Valley park will host a drop-in crafts programs with quilting, knitting and embroidery from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The store is off Boston Mills Road east of the Cuyahoga River in the hamlet of Boston.

Junior Rangers I — The National Park Service is presenting a Junior Rangers nature program about ponds for youngsters from 7 to 12 years old. It will run in the Cuyahoga Valley park from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The fee is $8 per child. Call 800-642-3297, Ext. 100, for reservations, the location and information.

Junior Rangers II — The National Park Service is presenting a Junior Rangers program about the Ledges area in the Cuyahoga Valley park for youngsters from 4 to 6 years old. It will run from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The fee is $8 per child. Call 800-642-3297, Ext. 100, for reservations, the location and information.

Stark bike ride The Stark County Park District is staging a Towpath Trail bike ride from 1 to 3 p.m. The ride will start at the Craig Pittman Trailhead at the edge of Navarre. Call 330-477-3552 for information.

Summer Celebration — The Medina County Park District will present its Summer Celebration with music, stories, animals, kites, games and food for families from 4 to 8 p.m. at Buckeye Woods Park off state Route 162 in Lafayette Township. Call 330-722-9364 for information.

Portage hike — The Portage Park District is staging a hike of the Portage Trail, a 1.4-mile round trip. Meet at 10 a.m. at Towner's Woods Park off Ravenna Road, northeast of Kent in Franklin Township. Call 330-297-7728 for information.

Night bike ride — Century Cycle in Peninsula is organizing a night bike ride along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in the Cuyahoga Valley. Bicyclists will pedal 15 to 20 miles. The ride will start at 8 p.m. Helmets and bike lights are required. Meet at the bike shop on state Route 303 next to the Cuyahoga River. Call 800-201-7433 for information.

Learn about nebulae — The Astronomy Club of Akron will hold a program about nebulae at 9 p.m. at the club's observatory at Portage Lakes State Park. That's at 5031 Manchester Road (state Route 93), New Franklin. Call 330-837-5848 for information.

Wilmot hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 10 a.m. for hikes of six and 10 miles at the Wilderness Center, off U.S. 250 near Wilmot in Sugar Creek Township. Call 330-733-3995 for information.

Darwin's birds — Paul Barding will present a program In the Steps of Darwin: Birds and Other Wildlife of the Galapagos Islands at 10:30 a.m. Admission is $3. The center is near Wilmot, off U.S. 250 in Sugar Creek Township. Call 330-359-5235 for information.

Bird walk — The Wilderness Center off U.S. 250 near Wilmot will hold a bird walk at 8 a.m. Call 330-359-5235 for information.

Butterfly walk — The Wilderness Center is sponsoring a butterfly walk through its prairie with naturalist Lynda Price at 11 a.m. The walk will be canceled if it is raining. The center is off Alabama Avenue Southwest in Sugar Creek Township. Call 330-359-5235 for information.

Geauga hike — The Portage Trail Walkers hiking club will meet at 9 a.m. at Swine Creek Park in Geauga County for hikes on 10 loop trails. The park is off Hayes Road in Middlefield Township. Call 330-673-6896 for information.

Sunday

Portage race — The Portage Park District, Aurora Rotary and the Citizens for Portage Park District are sponsoring a duathlon at 8 a.m. It will be running and bicycling — with participants running four miles and pedaling 10 miles. Meet at Buchert Park in Mantua. The route will be along the Headwaters Trail to Garrettsville and back to Mantua and also on country roads. Prizes. There will also be a two-mile fitness walk at 8 a.m., starting at Buchert Park You can register on line at http://www.hmapromotions.net. Registration opens at 7:15 a.m. at the park. Call 216-752-5151 for information.

Park concert — The Metro Parks Ensemble will present a free outdoor concert at 5:30 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. The show will be moved indoors if it rains. Call 330-865-8065 for information.

Counting legs — Naturalist Pat Rydquist of Metro Parks, Serving Summit County will direct a nature walk looking at the number of legs on critters. The hike will be held at 1 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Call 330-865-8065 for information.

Morning hike — The National Park Service is staging a beat-the-heat hike from 8 to 10 a.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley park. It will be 41/2 miles on the moderately tough Salt Run and Lake trails. Meet at the Pine Hollow Trailhead off Quick Road in Boston Township.

Mustill walk — The Cascade Locks Park Association is holding a guided history walk at 11 a.m. Meet at the historic Mustill Store off West North Street near downtown Akron. Call 330-374-5625 for information.

Valley hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 2:30 p.m. for a five-mile hike on the Old Carriage Trail in the Cuyahoga Valley park. Meet at the Red Lock Trailhead off West Highland Road in Sagamore Hills Township. Call 330-733-3995 for information.

Photo program — The Medina County Park District will host a meeting of its nature photo club at 3 p.m. at the Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road (state Route 94), Sharon Township. Call 330-722-9364 for information.

Field sketching — Quail Hollow State Park near Hartville is presenting a class on field sketching as part its nature journaling series. The program will be at 2 p.m. Meet in the Carriage House Nature Center, 13480 Congress Lake Road N.E., Lake Township. Materials will be provided. All ages welcome. Call 330-877-6652 for information.

Learn about time — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources are presenting a program on how plants and animals tell time. It's at 6:30 p.m. at the Michael J. Kirwan Dam and Reservoir's Visitor Center off Wayland Road east of Ravenna in Paris Township. Call 330-358-2370 for information.

Nature walk — Mount Union College's John T. Huston-Dr. John B. Brumbaugh Nature Center will host a nature walk at 2 p.m. The center is on Daniel Street off state Route 183, six miles south of Alliance in Washington Township. Call 330-823-7487 for information.

Preserve it — Learn about preserving fruits and vegetables in a program from 2 to 4 p.m. at Mount Union College's John T. Huston-Dr. John B. Brumbaugh Nature Center. It is on Daniel Street off state Route 183, six miles south of Alliance in Washington Township. Registration is required. Call 330-823-7487 for information.

Monday

Junior Rangers — The National Park Service is presenting a Junior Rangers program about farming for youngsters from 10 to 12 years old. It will run in the Cuyahoga Valley park from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The fee is $8 per child. Call 800-642-3297, Ext. 100, for reservations, the location and information.

Park wildlife — Quail Hollow State Park near Hartville is offering a wildlife program for youngsters 6 and under at 10 a.m. Meet at the park's Carriage House Nature Center at 13480 Congress Lake Road N.E., Lake Township. Registration is required. Call 330-877-6652 for reservations and information.

Junior Gardeners — The Stark County Park District is presenting a Junior Gardeners program about plants and people at 10 a.m. at the Exploration Gateway, 5712 12th St. N.W., Perry Township. For youngsters 8 to 12. Call 330-477-3552 for reservations and information.

Tuesday

Get up and go — A fishing trip by rail is scheduled for the Get Up, Get Out & Go! program. The event will be staged from 7 to 9 p.m. Meet at Akron's Northside Station. Participants will ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad to Indigo Lake to fish. For Akron youngsters 11 to 14 years old and their families. Sponsored by the National Park Service and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Association. To register, call 330-657-2753, Ext. 224, or go to http://www.cvnpa.org.

Junior Rangers — The National Park Service is presenting a Junior Rangers night hike for youngsters from 7 to 12 years old. It will run in the Cuyahoga Valley park from 8 to 10 p.m. The fee is $8 per child. Call 800-642-3297, Ext. 100, for reservations, the location and information.

Birds of prey — The Stark County Park District is presenting a program about birds of prey at 6 p.m. at the Exploration Gateway, 5712 12th St. N.W., Perry Township. Call 330-477-3552 for reservations and information.

Wednesday

Park concert — Mo' Mojo Mama will present a free outdoor concert at 6:30 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley park. The show will be staged at Howe Meadow off Riverview Road, north of Ira Road in Cuyahoga Falls. Pre-concert activities including lawn games begin at 5:30 p.m. The rain location is the Happy Days Lodge off state Route 303 in Boston Heights. Sponsored by the park and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association with support from Kent radio station WKSU (89.7-FM). Alcohol is prohibited.

Fun run — You can join in a non-competitive trail run starting at 7 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley park. The format is flexible, depending on weather conditions. Meet at the Pine Hollow Trailhead off Quick Road in Boston Township Free.

Bath hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. for a five-mile hike at the Bath Nature Preserve off Ira Road in Bath Township. Call 330-733-3995 for information.

Junior Rangers — The National Park Service is presenting a Junior Rangers program about nature journaling for youngsters from 7 to 12 years old. It will run in the Cuyahoga Valley park from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The fee is $8 per child. Call 800-642-3297, Ext. 100, for reservations, the location and information.

Bubbles— The Medina County Park District will present a program about bubbles at 7 p.m. at the Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road (state Route 94), Sharon Township. For all ages. Free. Registration is required. Call 330-722-9364 for reservations and information.

Little Explorers — The Stark County Park District is staging a program about water in its Little Explorers program for pre-schoolers at 11 a.m. at the Exploration Gateway, 5712 12th St. N.W., Perry Township. Call 330-477-3552 for reservations and information.