November & Holiday Happenings and Events

While November in Ohio can sometimes feel too much like winter, Mansfield, Ohio has chilling haunts, friendly performances, and plenty of events to put you in the holiday spirit. Musicals, concerts, candlelight holiday tours, and even the Polar Xpress are on their way!

Haunted Happenings

Didn’t get enough scares this October? This month is your last chance to escape from the terrifying inmates of Blood Prison (Nov 1-3) at the Ohio State Reformatory and don’t miss the last bus for Camp Deadwood (Nov 1-2). After this month, school is out at Mohican Haunted Schoolhouse (Nov 1-2) until the next Halloween season!

Perfect Performances

The Renaissance Theatre’s November line-up includes an up-close encounter with symphonic performance for children at a Teddy Bear Concert: The Spooky Old House (Nov 3). Experience movie-going the way it was before “the talkies” with a presentation of Silent Film & Theatre Organ: Phantom of the Opera (Nov 1) – a silent film scored live by the Renaissance’s Mighty Wurlitzer organ. Catch the hit musical A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Nov 16-17, 23-24) and laugh along with this murderous romp as one actor plays all eight of the doomed heirs to the earldom of Highhurst.

In honor of Black Catholic History Month, The St. Dominic’s Gospel Choir (Nov 17) from Columbus, Ohio will perform an inspiring program of spirituals and gospel music in the African American tradition at St Peter’s Catholic Church as part of the St. Peter’s Music Series.

Holiday Happenings

Learn open-hearth cooking skills and prepare an entire Thanksgiving meal using fresh ingredients and cast iron cookware at the Hearthside Cooking Workshop (Nov 2 & 3) and Hearth & History (Nov 9) at Malabar Farm State Park. The Heath & History workshop also includes a guided tour of The Big House.

Watch the arrival of the Ashland Railway’s Polar Xpress 2019 (Nov 24) in Downtown Shelby, Ohio. This FREE holiday event is brought to you by the Shelby Area Business Group’s Moments of Christmas Magic and includes ice sculpting, live reindeer, free kids activities, and more. Make sure to bring a camera for pictures with Santa, Scooby-Doo, The Grinch, and more familiar characters. In December, you can also have Breakfast with the Snow Sisters (Dec 21) at Lexington Event Center.

Holiday performances at The Renaissance Theatre include The Lettermen (Nov 30), the Mansfield Symphony Youth Orchestra: Holiday Prelude (Dec 8), and the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra & Chorus: Holiday Pops (Dec 14). Bring the whole clan to watch the Family Film: Home Alone (Dec 15).

A holiday season favorite, don’t miss the Candlelight Holiday Tours (Dec 6-8, 13-15) at Malabar Farm State Park. Tour Louis Bromfield’s Big House while its halls are decked for the holiday season. Your tour will include freshly baked cookies, hot cider, and you may even enjoy an appearance by Santa Claus himself.

Celebrate Advent and the Christmas season with St. Peter’s Music Series: Advent Lessons & Carols (Dec 15) at St Peter’s Catholic Church.

Visit the Destination Mansfield – Richland County calendar of events for a wider list of area happenings including classes, recurring events, and live music at local restaurants, breweries, wineries, and bars. New events are being added to the calendar all the time so check back often to see what’s new! More Christmas and holiday events will be added to the calendar as details become available.