October Happenings and Events

Fall is here and more and more events are being added to our calendar. This October, you have a chance to see your choice of live performance indoors and on stage, create art in a new stained glass studio, get your heart racing with blood-chilling scares, and shop till you drop while supporting local artisans, artists, crafters, small businesses, and more!

Live arts are finally back on stage! At the Renaissance Theatre, watch the stage musical Cabaret (Oct 2-4, 9-11), or the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra Mash-Up (Oct 17). The films Hocus Pocus (Oct 24), and The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Oct 31) will also be shown on the main stage. If you’re not ready to head indoors for entertainment yet, all events will also be screened simultaneously outside in the Ren Backlot. Now you can choose between watching inside or from the comfort of your vehicle or camp chairs in the parking lot. At the Mansfield Playhouse, catch a performance of the stage play, The Savannah Sipping Society (Oct 23, 24, 30, 31 & Nov 1, 2).

The new expansion of the Mansfield Art Center is now open! Learn the basics of stained glass at Introduction to Stained Glass: “Through the glass” (Oct 10) in the brand new stained glass and glass fusion studio. In the gallery, the surrealist artwork of Daniel Ferlan is on display in a show called Daniel Ferlan: 20 Years (Oct 4-Nov 1).

Don’t miss Free First Monday (Oct 5) at Kingwood Center Gardens before the eagerly-awaited Garden Gateway Grand Opening (Oct 19-25) public grand opening week. The Garden Gateway is going to completely transform the visitor experience at Kingwood Center Gardens. During the public grand opening week, there will be a new activity each day of the week. Monday, October 19 is Making Memories Monday: create lasting memories with fun photo ops throughout the gardens. Tuesday, October 20 is Tours on Tuesday: enjoy complimentary guided tours. Wednesday, October 21 is Wellness Wednesday with OhioHealth: enjoy healthy activities for the whole family. Thursday, October 22 is Tours on Thursday: enjoy complimentary guided tours. Friday, October 23 is Fine Arts Friday: local artists will display their art and create beautiful pieces around Kingwood. Saturday and Sunday, October 24-25 is the Fall Artisan Market. Shop local artisan goods, treats, and more! Ferris, the Food Truck by Buehler’s, will be on-site serving up fall favorites.

Since The Great Pumpkin Glow at Kingwood Center Gardens has been postponed until 2021, on October 6, they are opening the Bale of Fun Straw Maze – a new fall feature that is appropriate for kids, but still fun for grown-ups. On that same day, Kingwood Center Gardens is debuting a new book on The Storybook Trail. You’ll also see beautiful fall decor and the return of Scarecrow Row.

It’s not October without a few scares! Test your nerve against the terrifying undead inmates of Blood Prison at Escape from Blood Prison (Oct 9-) at The Ohio State Reformatory. The haunt is open October 9th through Nov. 1st on Fridays and Saturdays from 7 pm to Midnight and Sundays from 7 to 10 pm. Tickets are available online and at the door. For a more family-friendly Halloween experience, bring the kids to the Monsterfield Masquerade (Oct 31) in Downtown Mansfield for downtown trick-or-treating and a Halloween parade.

Do a little fall shopping! Don’t miss the final weekend of the Prairie Peddler Marketplace (Oct 3-4) where you can shop from over 200 handmade artisans in a picturesque wooded, outdoor market. The Picker’s Market from The Vintage Peddler is still scheduled for October 10 at the Prairie Peddler Festival Grounds. The Picker’s Market is an upscale flea market full of vintage junk, architectural salvage, barn treasures, and more. Admission is only $5 per car (cash only & correct change please!) You can also hunt for must-have treasures at the Flea Market and Antique Show (Oct 24-25) at the Richland County Fairgrounds. Support local shops and restaurants at First Friday Shop Hop (Oct 2) in Downtown Mansfield. There will also be a First Friday & Saturday Pop-Up Shop (Oct 2-3), at Social and Main to support local entrepreneurs, artists, crafters, and more in a dedicated storefront on N. Main Street.

What will you add to your calendar? Did we miss an exciting event? Make sure to submit your local events to our Calendar of Events to be featured! For more fall fun, please check out our blog: Why We Love Fall Traditions (still needs approval and to get posted!)!

Please note, it’s still 2020, and event details and safety guidelines are subject to change. We make every effort to ensure this info is correct at the time of posting, but please check with the official event organizers for changes before traveling.