Homecoming is almost here and thousands of Bowling Green State University alumni are expected to return to campus to join students and faculty to celebrate Freddie Falcon’s 75th birthday and cheer on the Falcon football team as they take on the Liberty Flames. While there are many events planned for the weekend, if thousands of people coming to campus scares you more than excites you, here are four ways to spend your weekend around the Northwest Ohio area.
1) The Toledo Zoo and Aquarium
If watching people play football is not really your thing, the Toledo Zoo and Aquarium features over 16,000 animals. If you want to watch and learn about hippos, bears, elephants or hundreds of other species, the Toledo Zoo is about a half-hour drive away from campus. The zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with admission at $32 for adults and $30 for adults who live in Lucas County. On Saturday, while the homecoming game is being played in Bowling Green, the Toledo Zoo will be having its Enrichment Day featuring animal feeds, demonstrations, keeper talks and more from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., the zoo will be having a special mammal photo tour for an additional cost. More information can be found at toledozoo.org.
2) The Town Center at Levis Commons
Just about 15 minutes north of the Doyt L. Perry Stadium, the Town Center at Levis Commons in Perrysburg offers a variety of shops, restaurants and entertainment. Instead of watching to see if Mike and Jan Wilcox Football Head Coach Eddie George will lead the Falcons to a homecoming victory while enjoying some stadium snacks, you could enjoy a movie or spa time and eat a meal at one of their many restaurants. In addition, Levis Commons features miles of sidewalks to take a walk that will likely be quieter than The Doyt if the Falcons score a touchdown. More information can be found at shopleviscommons.com.
3) The National Museum of the Great Lakes
Northwest Ohio is home to several renowned museums, including the National Museum of the Great Lakes. The National Museum of the Great Lakes is located along the Maumee River in Toledo and explores the history of the Great Lakes. The museum features over 300 artifacts documenting the natural and man-made history of the Great Lakes, also featuring the SS Col. James M. Schoonmaker, a docked lake freighter and until October 31st, the Dark Waters exhibit. According to the museum, the temporary exhibit “dives deep into the region’s most gripping tales of wrongdoing, misfortune, and unsolved mystery.” Admission to the National Museum of the Great Lakes for adults is $14 for the museum only and $20 for the museum and freighter. More information can be found at nmgl.org.
4) Toledo Mud Hens
Finally, if you are a sports fan but the homecoming football game is not your interest, the Toledo Mud Hens will be playing their final home games of the 2025 regular season over homecoming weekend. The Mud Hens will be taking on the Louisville Bats with first pitch set at 5:05 p.m. on Saturday. In addition, the Mud Hens are set to play at 7:05 p.m. on Friday and 2:05 p.m. on Sunday. In addition to the games, Friday night is scheduled to feature a postgame drone show and Sunday has pregame player autographs. Tickets for the minor league team’s games at Fifth-Third Field in Toledo are around $20 per ticket and can be purchased at milb.com/toledo.
