October in Richland County is bursting with color, fun festivals, and just the right mix of spooky fun. Whether you’re in the mood for a night at the theatre, family-friendly fall festivities, toe-tapping live music, or haunted thrills, you’ll find it here. Dive into the magic of the season and discover the must-attend events happening right in your backyard!
Don’t miss our annual highlights like the Prairie Peddler (here one last weekend), the Great Pumpkin Glow at Kingwood Center Gardens, the Annual Dogs, Donuts and Drinks at the Phoenix Brewing Company, and the highly anticipated Escape from Blood Prison and Haunted Speedway Nights for those who prefer a little autumn fright. Plus, Crowfest at the Mansfield Art Center runs through October 29th.
The Prairie Peddler Festival wraps up on Oct. 5th. Over 220 artisans from around the region peddle their wares during this happening event in Butler. You’ll find live music, delicious food, horse-drawn wagon rides and craft demonstrations in a great family-friendly atmosphere.
The Dogs, Donuts and Drinks (October 12) at the Phoenix Brewing Company promises to be a fan favorite for all, whether you walk on two legs or four. Start with a .5k walk and then celebrate your accomplishment with beer (or root beer for non-drinkers), doughnuts and fun raffles to support The Humane Society of Richland County.
Over 1,000 pumpkins are transformed into glowing Jack O’ Lanterns during the annual Great Pumpkin Glow at Kingwood Center Gardens (Oct. 17-19). You’ll find plenty of photo ops located throughout the beautifully decorated estate, like the 18-foot Mum Tree and Scarecrow Row. There will also be a children’s carnival, food trucks and live music. Timed tickets are required and do sell out so purchase tickets so you don’t miss out.
A free Community Pumpkin Carving will be held on Oct. 15 & 16 for those able to lend a hand. No creativity required, all tools and templates will be provided.
Thrill-seekers and fear mongers flock to Blood Prison, where you’ll find real steel, real stone and real suffering inside one of Ohio’s most terrifying haunted attractions at the Ohio State Reformatory. Face the terrifying spirits of deranged inmates and disfigured guards within the world’s largest free-standing steel cell block.
Harvest & Halloween Crafting
The Mansfield Art Center offers Halloween and fall-themed workshops that include Beginner Stained Glass: Ghostly Creation (Oct. 2) and Stained Glass: Pumpkin Royal (Oct. 4) for those with a bit more skill.
Join other crafters at Alpaca Meadows for a Witch Needle Felting Class (October 4). You’ll learn skills that will allow you to create other needle felting projects, too.
Hickory Vines Winery and Venue offers a Fall Soap Making Class (Oct. 2), Doormat Sip & Paint (Oct. 9) and other creative events throughout the month.
Enjoy the stunning fall foliage and take a Nature Doodling class at Malabar Farm State Park (Oct. 11).
Kingwood Center offers workshops throughout the month including a Beaded Spider (Oct. 11) craft.
Fall Festivals
From Halloween treasure hunts and spooky parties to family-friendly festivals, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this fall!.
- Celebrate our local bike trail during the B & O Trail 30th Anniversary (Oct. 4) at each community that the bike trail runs through from Mansfield to Lexington to Bellville and Butler.
- Immerse yourself in the 18th and 19th centuries through hands-on crafts, demonstrations, military reenactments and other activities at the 9th Annual American Heritage Days (Oct. 4,5) at South Park.
- The Annual Food Truck Festival will be back at South Park on Oct. 3rd to delight the community with tasty culinary offerings.
- Enjoy keeper talks, games, fall crafts, food trucks and more family-friendly fun during the Ohio Bird Sanctuary Fall Festival (Oct. 11).
- Autumn Fiber Festival (Oct. 18,19) at the Richland County Fairgrounds is a two-day event where local fiber producers, artisans, and craftspeople showcase and sell their handmade items. Watch live demonstrations, explore fiber-related products, and stock up on supplies for your own projects.
- The 4th Annual Crowfest at the Mansfield Art Center runs through October. Celebrate the migration of the crows with food trucks, craft beer, fall festivities and a wide variety of crow-inspired artwork in every medium followed by an Art Awards Presentation.
Spooky Thrills
Learn what it takes to set up a haunted house- from costumes to lights to theatricals in the Beyond the Scare Tour at the historic Ohio State Reformatory. Grab tickets for this limited event before they sell out.
Haunted Speedway Nights at the Mansfield Speedway takes you from an abandoned racetrack to a zombie wasteland. You’ll find multiple haunted houses, scare zones and games at this attraction for those ages 10 and up.
J & J “Field of Screams” Haunted Corn Maze features a spine-chilling 35-35 minute haunted hayride where you’ll encounter unexpected frights that await in the darkness.
On Stage
Experience Are You Ready For It? A Taylor Experience at the Renaissance Theatre in a high-energy tribute capturing the magic of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour with live music, dazzling visuals, and unforgettable performances (Oct. 4).
A chilling new adaptation of Dracula delivers suspense, gothic atmosphere, and hauntingly unforgettable thrills at the Renaissance Theatre (Oct.3,4,5, 10, 11, 12).
Enjoy The Three Little Wolves, a playful Teddy Bear Concert with music, laughs, and sensory-friendly fun at the Renaissance Theatre for children ages 2 to 10, featuring interactive storytelling and audience participation (Oct.11).
Fans of the Eagles won’t want to miss To The Limit: The Ultimate Eagles Experience which delivers spot-on vocals, rich harmonies, and electrifying performances of timeless Eagles hits (Oct. 11).
The Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, led by Octavio Más-Arocas, presents The Magical Music of Harry Potter, a spellbinding concert of symphonic works inspired by magic, fantasy, and adventure (Oct. 19).
The Renaissance Theatre presents Nosferatu, the silent horror classic, with live Mighty Wurlitzer organ accompaniment by acclaimed organist Jay Spencer for a haunting, one-of-a-kind cinematic experience (Oct. 24).
Other Notable Events
A rare opportunity emerges to step inside the Warren Rupp Observatory during the International Observe the Moon Night (Oct. 4). Enjoy a free Moon Night with a presentation, kids’ activities, telescope viewing, and participation certificates.
Enjoy a fascinating Gaslight Tours at Oak Hill Cottage (Oct.17, 24), a fantastic example of one of the country’s finest examples of Gothic architecture.
Prohibition at the Caverns presents Dinner and Movie Night in the Caverns each Thursday with a spooky movie and meal.
Live Music
Live music can be found at The Phoenix, 1285 Winery and Newsroom at the Source for Nightmare at the Source featuring local performers. Check out our Live Entertainment page for a complete listing.
Whether you love the outdoors, art, or a good scare, we’ve got something for you. Let’s make this October unforgettable! Don’t forget to tag Destination Mansfield on social media so we can share the fun!