Spring is on the way and we are ready to celebrate the end of a long snowy winter with events that get us out of the house and refresh our spirits. Our March calendar of events is full of the arts, family-friendly workshops, and date night ideas that break out from the norm.
Fantastic Friday Night! It’s time to rethink Friday nights of takeout and Netflix. Stop by the First Friday Shop Hop (Mar 5) in Downtown Mansfield and explore our local shopping and dining offerings. Do something bold and a little bit hair-raising to start the weekend. Join in on the Public Ghost Walks (Mar 12, 19, 26) at the Ohio State Reformatory where guides will take you on a two-hour tour of the prison’s most haunted spots…in the dark.
Saturday Special! Skip the weekend chores and put together an unforgettable Saturday. Experience the thrill of manipulating 2000-degree molten glass into Perfect Glass Blown Paper Weights (Mar 6, 13, 20, 27) at Mansfield Art Center. The animal lovers in your family will enjoy meeting feathered ambassadors during Avian Encounters (Mar 6, 13, 20, 27) at the Ohio Bird Sanctuary and Breakfast with the Birds (Mar 13) at Gorman Nature Center. Make it a girl’s night or date night and knit a chunky blanket while you enjoy your favorite wine and food during the Chunky Blanket Class (Mar 20) at The Vault Wine Bar. Spend a night at the orchestra with the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra: West Side Story (Mar 20) at The Renaissance Theatre or spend your evening under the stars with The Night Sky (Mar 13), a monthly astronomy program at Gorman Nature Center.
Art and About! Explore our local art scene, starting with the future generation of artists in the Youth Art Show and Ohio Regional High School Exhibition (Mar 21 – April 18). View the photography of up-and-coming local artist Braxton Daniels @ The Reach Gallery (Mar 1-20) on display at the Mansfield Art Center. The intricate cross-stitch work of longtime Kingwood volunteer, Carol Snider will be on display in The Carriage House’s Colonial America in Cross-Stitch Exhibit (Mar 1-14) at Kingwood Center Gardens. Get hands-on with the arts and take a class like Watercolor Painting (Mar 20), Oil Pastel (Mar 6), STEAM Series: Picasso Face (Mar 6), Beginner Batik (Mar 11), or more at the Mansfield Art Center.
For the Whole Family. Kingwood Center Gardens has March events for all ages and interests. Make a Fused Glass Shamrock Pendant (Mar 4), learn cross-stitching at Cross-stitch 101 for Kids (Mar 23), paint fairy houses at Children’s Painted Fairy Houses (Mar 9), and make Easter Egg String Art (Mar 30). Don’t miss the kids’ Storytime Series: Worms (Mar 16) and a special Kingwood Hall Tour (Mar 25) and your chance to see areas of the mansion that aren’t normally open to guests. Maple Syrup Days will not be happening this year, but it’s still maple syrup season at Malabar Farm State Park. Make sure to stop by the gift shop and purchase fresh maple products, March 5-7 and 12-15 from 11 AM – 4 PM.
Hit Refresh on Home. The Mid-Ohio Home Show (Mar 12-14) returns to the Richland County Fairgrounds. The home show will help connect you with inspiration and the businesses you need for a new construction, remodeling, landscaping project, and more.
Still want to stick closer to home? Remember, there are always new things being added to our list of virtual tours at DestinationMansfield.com under Trip Ideas. Coming up, stream Heartaches: The Music of Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn a theatrical film from The Renaissance Theatre, starting April 1.
What will you do to welcome spring? For a full list of local events, visit our Calendar of Events. Have a local event that’s visitor-focused, entertainment-driven, and open to the public? Submit your event for consideration and the opportunity to be featured on our calendar and in our monthly happenings blog.