October Events & Experiences

Fall traditions, spooky adventures and seasonal experiences take over Mansfield and Richland County this October.

October brings a little bit of everything to Mansfield and Richland County. Fall festivals fill the countryside, sprint cars return to the track, gardens glow with jack-o’-lanterns and some of the area’s most recognizable attractions embrace the spooky season. Whether you’re planning a fall weekend getaway, searching for family-friendly Halloween fun or ready for a few serious scares, October is packed with experiences worth the trip.

Fall Traditions Worth the Trip

Prairie Peddler Festival | October 3–4 | Butler

There’s one final weekend to experience the Prairie Peddler Festival before this annual fall favorite packs up for another year. Tucked into the woods outside Butler, the outdoor marketplace features more than 200 artisan booths filled with handmade home décor, clothing, accessories, bath and body products and plenty of seasonal finds.

Come hungry, too. Nearly 30 food vendors, live music and family activities like pony rides, magic shows and horse-drawn wagon rides make it easy to spend several hours exploring. If your ideal fall day includes crisp air, shopping and festival food like turkey legs and Brussel sprouts surrounded by changing leaves, this is a weekend worth adding to your itinerary.

CrowFest | Through October 18 | Mansfield Art Center

Mansfield’s annual crow migration gets a creative interpretation during CrowFest at the Mansfield Art Center. The seasonal exhibition celebrates one of the area’s most unusual natural traditions through artwork inspired by the thousands of crows that gather in Mansfield each year. The exhibition runs through October 18.

Wander through the galleries and see how different artists interpret the familiar black bird through their own styles and mediums. It’s an easy indoor addition to a fall weekend and a chance to experience Mansfield’s creative side before the exhibition closes for the season.

Autumn Fiber Festival | October 17–18 | Richland County Fairgrounds

Creativity takes another form during the 13th Annual Autumn Fiber Festival at the Richland County Fairgrounds. This regional marketplace brings together fiber producers, artisans and crafters for a weekend dedicated to yarn, textiles and handmade goods.

Browse handspun, mill-spun and hand-dyed yarn, natural fibers, knitting and crochet supplies, felting materials, equipment and one-of-a-kind creations. Visitors can also watch live demonstrations, meet fiber animals and grab something to eat from food trucks. Admission and parking are free, making it an easy stop for experienced makers, curious beginners or anyone ready to get a head start on holiday shopping.

Carlisle Gifts Fall Gathering & Fashion Show | October 27 | Bellville

Make fall shopping part of the experience during the Carlisle Gifts Fall Gathering & Fashion Show in Bellville. The October 27 event brings together fashion, home décor, food and an afternoon out at Carlisle Gifts.

Expect a runway fashion show featuring seasonal looks, home decorating inspiration and a catered meal from neighboring Der Dutchman Restaurant. It’s an especially fitting stop for visitors who enjoy shopping and want to bring a little fall inspiration home with them. You can purchase tickets for this event in store or by calling.

October After Dark

Blood Prison | Select Nights Throughout October | Historic Ohio State Reformatory

October in Mansfield wouldn’t be complete without a trip inside Blood Prison at the Historic Ohio State Reformatory. The seasonal haunted attraction transforms the massive former prison into an entirely different experience after dark with actors, elaborate scenes and plenty of scares waiting around every corner.

Visitors make their way through the Reformatory’s real stone corridors and beneath its enormous free-standing steel cell block before descending into some of the attraction’s darkest spaces. The historic setting adds an atmosphere that would be difficult to recreate anywhere else. Blood Prison operates on multiple nights throughout October, including Halloween weekend.

This one is built for serious haunt fans, so leave the younger kids at home and bring your bravest friends.

Dracula: A Horror Story | October 2–18 | Theatre 166

For scares from the stage, head to downtown Mansfield for Dracula: A Horror Story at Theatre 166. This original adaptation based on Bram Stoker’s classic story reimagines one of literature’s most recognizable villains with suspense, psychological tension and haunting visual design.

The intimate Theatre 166 setting puts audiences close to the action as Dracula’s influence spreads and a group of unlikely heroes confronts an ancient evil. With flashing lights, loud noises and disturbing imagery included in the production, this isn’t your average night at the theater — and it may not be suitable for younger audiences. Performances run on select dates October 2–18.

Haunted Hike | Select Dates in October | Malabar Farm State Park

Trade haunted cell blocks for shadowy trails during the Haunted Hike at Malabar Farm State Park. After the sun begins to disappear over Pleasant Valley, visitors head into the landscape surrounding the historic farm for an evening of eerie storytelling.

Hear tales written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louis Bromfield, legends connected to early settlers and stories inspired by the history and folklore of the surrounding hills. The experience begins at the Visitor Center before guests take a wagon ride and continue on foot, so hiking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended. Space is limited and advance sign-up is encouraged.

Fall Nights That Glow

The Great Pumpkin Glow | October 17–18 | Kingwood Center Gardens

Not every October night needs to be scary. The Great Pumpkin Glow at Kingwood Center Gardens transforms the historic garden estate into a glowing fall experience filled with more than 1,000 community-carved jack-o’-lanterns.

Follow illuminated garden paths to discover Scarecrow Row, the Greenhouse Glow, Fluorescent Forest and other seasonal displays throughout the grounds. A Kids Carnival, live DJ, family activities and food trucks add even more to the evening. The combination of glowing pumpkins, fall décor and Kingwood’s gardens makes this one of the month’s most picture-worthy family experiences.

A Different Kind of October Thrill

Buckeye Brawl | October 9 | Mansfield Speedway

Spooky season isn’t the only thing bringing thrills to Mansfield. The Buckeye Brawl at Mansfield Speedway brings the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars back to the dirt track on October 9.

Expect high speeds, roaring engines and the unmistakable energy of sprint car racing under the lights. Whether you’ve followed the racing season all year or want one final excuse to head to the grandstands, the Buckeye Brawl offers a completely different kind of October adrenaline.

A Mystery With Dinner

50’s Murder Mystery | October 10 | Wishmaker House Winery & Wine Bar

Pull out the poodle skirts and leather jackets for a night — or, in this case, afternoon, of mystery at Wishmaker House Winery & Wine Bar in Bellville. The 50’s Murder Mystery on October 10 combines a four-course meal with an interactive murder mystery show inspired by the style and music of the 1950s.

Guests are encouraged to dress for the decade, get into character and see whether they can solve the crime before the final reveal. With food, mystery and a playful theme all rolled into one experience, it’s a fun option for a date, friends’ outing or an unexpected addition to a fall weekend in Richland County. Reservations are required.

Trick or Treat Across Richland County

Pack the costumes if you’re visiting with kids near the end of October. Trick-or-treat and trunk-or-treat events are happening throughout Mansfield and Richland County, giving families plenty of opportunities to join the Halloween fun.

Events begin before Halloween weekend, including Mansfield Parks & Recreation and YMCA trunk-or-treat events on October 24. Bellville hosts Trick or Treat on October 29, while Halloween itself includes Downtown Mansfield Trick or Treat and Shelby’s Halloween Parade and community Trick or Treat.

With dates and times varying by community, check the Destination Mansfield Calendar of Events before heading out to find the celebration that works best for your family.

Plan Your October in Mansfield

October makes it easy to build a fall getaway around whatever you love most. Spend an afternoon browsing handmade goods, catch sprint cars under the lights, wander through glowing gardens or see whether you’re brave enough to enter Blood Prison after dark.

Bring the family for pumpkins and trick-or-treating, plan a spooky weekend with friends or simply take a drive through Richland County as the landscape changes for the season. However you choose to experience fall, there’s plenty happening throughout Mansfield and Richland County this October.

Snap a photo and tag @DestinationMansfield, and explore our full Calendar of Events for even more things to do throughout the month.