Fall fun guide: Here are some local seasonal activities to enjoy
Fall is a busy time for activities with hayrides and trips to apple orchards, haunted trails, Halloween parades and of course trick or treat. Families can have fun experiencing corn mazes, pumpkin patches and plenty of other seasonal activities.
Here's a rundown of some of the special attractions and events to enjoy as the leaves change and fall appears in all its colorful glory.
Fall events you won't want to miss:
Ohio Heritage Days Fall Festival, Malabar Farm State Park, Sept. 23, 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 4050 Bromfield Road, Lucas. Enjoy crafts, primitives, antiques, horse drawn wagons, antique tractors, food, live music, Civil War and living history camps. Free event and free parking. Held the last Saturday and Sunday in September.
Mid-Ohio Area CLC will host the Mansfield Halloween Parade and Celebration on the Square in downtown Mansfield Oct. 28. Lineup is at 9 a.m. Parade kicks off at 10 a.m. at the 5-way light at Marion Avenue and Park Avenue West followed by passing candy out on the square. Also, downtown merchants trick or treat is noon to 1 p.m.
Richland Early American Center for History, Oct. 7 & 8, South Park, 100 Brinkerhoff Ave. Both days there will be 18th century cooking over an open hearth in the cabin, along with blacksmithing and rope making in the blacksmith shop.
Ohio State Reformatory's Return to Blood Prison, 100 Reformatory Road, Sept. 29 to Oct. 29, Fridays, 7 p.m. to midnight; Saturdays, 7 p.m. to midnight; and Sundays 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are sold online only at Bloodprison.com General admission, $35; Ultra Lightning Pass, $75.
Kingwood Center Garden, Community Pumpkin Carving, Oct. 18, 19, noon to 8 p.m.; The Great Pumpkin Glow, Oct. 20, 21 and 22, 4 to 9 p.m. 50 N. Trimble Road.
J&J Rietschlin's "Field of Screams," 5482 Ohio 61 South, Shelby. 419-566-3955, online at jjfieldofscreams.com/home
Gorman Nature Center, 2295 Lexington Ave., Oct. 14, The Big Sit, all-day event, by the pond, watch for bird species.
Charles Mill Lake Park, The Big Sit, Oct. 15, all-day event, watch for bird species.
Gorman Nature Center, 2295 Lexington Ave., Oct. 31, 3:30 to 5 p.m. Feeding Day, visitors help feed animals, wear costumes. Free. Also, Baby Snake Birthday Party, free, date to be announced, cake and games.
Wayne's Country Market, address, school age and up to third grade. Come take part in enjoying our Octoberfest from zip lining to navigating your way through our straw fun, to two large slides and a rope swing, and more! We even have a corn bin for the little ones to enjoy in the fun. Open daily during store hours.Barn Activities Include: straw fun, Zip Line, Rope Swing, Slides, Corn Bin. Barn activities are free.
Apple Hill Orchards, apple picking, 1175 Lexington-Ontario Road. Open Mondays through Saturdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mansfield location offers cider press, fruit-themed bakery, observation beehive, apples, vegetables, boutique gifts and decorative items. Known for apple cider donuts and most recently coffee sales.
Springhill Fruit Farm, apple picking, 5646 Ganges-Five Point Road, Shiloh. Now through Nov. 23. Closed Sundays; Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
2023 Trick or Treat Schedule
This list features local trick-or-treat, trunk-or-treat or other Halloween event dates for little ghouls and goblins in Richland County.
Bellville: 5 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26 (Halloween parade at 7 p.m.)
Butler: 5 to 7 p.m., Oct. 28 (Costume contest at 7 p.m., Worthington Twp. Fire Department)
Lexington: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 26
Lucas: 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Oct. 28 (Parade will step off at 4 p.m. from St. Paul's Lutheran Church to Lucas Community Center.) Rain date is Oct. 29
Mansfield: 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 28
Mansfield: 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 28
Ontario: 4 to 6 p.m., Oct. 28
Plymouth: 4 to 6 p.m., Oct. 28 (Glow Parade at 7 p.m.; Costume contest at 7:15 p.m. @ American Legion)
Shelby: 4 to 6 p.m., Oct. 28
Shiloh: 5 to 7:30 p.m., Oct. 28
Trunk or Treat & More:
Mansfield’s 1st EPC Family Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat: 2-4 p.m. Oct. 8, 399 S. Trimble Road, Mansfield
7th Annual Trunk or Treat, 2-4 p.m. Oct. 14, Richland Outreach Center, 415 Wayne St., Mansfield
Trunk or Treat CARnival/Spitzer Motors, 2-5 p.m. Oct. 21, 1777 W. Fourth St., Mansfield
Trunk or Treat, 4 p.m. Oct. 29, Avenue Church, 1756 Park Avenue West, Ontario
Trunk or Treat, 5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 27, Shelby Branch YMCA of North Central Ohio, 111 W. Smiley Ave., Shelby
Trunk or Treat, noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 28, Mansfield Branch YMCA of North Central Ohio, 750 Scholl Road, Mansfield
Tractor-Treat, 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 21, 4000 County Road 57, Galion. A spin on traditional trick-or-treating. Enjoy a walk through the pumpkin patch to see different tractors for treats and photos. Hayrides are available after the trick-or-treating. Costumes are encouraged and there will be alternatives to candy for any children with dietary restrictions. Free to the public.
Shelby Halloween Parade, 2 p.m. Oct. 28
Mansfield Halloween Parade,10 a.m. Oct. 28 (Downtown merchants’ trick or treat from noon to 1 p.m.)
Haunted Hollow Trail, Family Friendly Trail (all ages), 5-6:30 p.m.; Scary Trail (older kids and adults), 7:30-9:30 p.m. Oct. 30, Marshall Park (Next to the dog park), 3375 Milligan Road, Ontario. Cost. $10 for adults and $5 for ages up to 17 years old.
Trunk or Treat, 5-6:30 p.m. Oct. 21, First Congregational Church, 640 Millsboro Road, Mansfield
The Trail of Nightmares, 6:30-11:59 p.m. Sept. 29 to Oct. 28, 4135 Ohio 309, Ontario.
Ghost Hike at Malabar Farm State Park, Sundays in October, 4:30-6:30 p.m., 4050 Bromfield Road, Lucas. Pre-registration required, 419-892-2784. Free.
lwhitmir@gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Corn mazes, haunted trails, outdoor fall festivals and more locally
