Check out Gateway at The University of Toledo this weekend during a grand opening event.

The celebration will be 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27 with free family activities as well as discounts at the shops and restaurants in the Gateway.

“Gateway is a community gathering place that is easily accessible for all while promoting a college town atmosphere,” said Matt Schroeder, vice president for real estate and business development at the UT Foundation. “Saturday’s event will showcase this design principle and facilitate ongoing interaction between the community and UT family.”

Gateway celebrated a ribbon-cutting event in September and is hosting this grand opening to invite the community to see the dining, shopping and entertainment this retail center has to offer. The development includes Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Great Clips and Wireless Zone shops, as well as Gradkowski’s, Jimmy John’s, Rice Blvd, Yogurt U and Starbucks restaurants.

At the grand opening, families can see UT mascots Rocky and Rocksy and there’ll be inflatable attractions, including an obstacle course, as well as face painting and caricature artists, and T-shirt giveaways.

Batman and Spiderman also will be on hand at Barnes & Noble for photos and story time with children. The bookstore will offer discounts, including 20 percent off UT clothing and gift items, and 15 percent off one general reading or reference book and 20 percent off two or more. The Café will have specials as well, including $1 coffee, $1 kids’ cookies, and buy one, get one deals on muffins and cupcakes.

Gradkowski’s will offer 25 percent off, and YogurtU will provide free samples as well as $1 off yogurt more than $3. And Great Clips will have $5.99 haircuts and 25 percent off all products.

The April 27 celebration will coincide with the Glass City Marathon’s expo when race participants come to campus to receive their running materials. Gateway businesses also are enticing marathoners to stop by following the Sunday, April 28 race for additional discounts offered by select retailers.

For more information about Gateway at The University of Toledo, visit gatewaytoledo.com or its Facebook page at facebook.com/gatewaytol.