KOUTS | Celebrate the history of the Grand Kankakee River during the Aukiki River Festival.

The festival is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at 1097 Baums Bridge Road.

John Hodson, president of Kankakee Valley Historical Society, which is hosting the festival, said they are having this fest the same day as the annual Pork Fest and the annual hog roast at Baums Bridge Inn in Kouts.

"We want people to come out to south Porter County to check us out and see what we have out here," said Hodson. "We've been attending other festivals for a few years and we reached a point that we have enough interest to go ahead and try to have our own fest next to our site. It's a way to get public awareness."

The fest will consist of entertainment including the Oxcart Ramblers, a vintage baseball game with the Portage Iron Diamonds, French Voyageur encampment and fur trader encampment. The baseball game begins at noon at 1056 Baums Bridge Road.

There will also be food for sale. Amy's hot dogs will be out there.

"We are also selling T-shirts to promote the Grand Kankakee," said Hodson. "We just want the public aware of what we do and that we are trying to restore the once Grand Collier Lodge."

The mission of the historical society is to encourage a dialogue with people having an interest in the past and future of the Kankakee Valley area. The society promotes an interest in the history and culture of the area through educational programs, speakers, activities, artifacts and ongoing research.

For more information about the group or the fest, call Hodson at (219) 766-2302 or visit www.kankakeevalleyhistoricalsociety.org.