- Canton First Friday on Oct. 4 features hundreds of show cars and 30 food trucks.
- Local theatre includes “The Masque of Night,” “A Raisin in the Sun,” “Mary Poppins” and “Hadestown: Teen Edition.”
- Local music features a ZZ Top tribute show in Massillon and singer-songwriter Marc Lee Shannon at Gervasi Vineyard.
Here are 10 things to do this weekend in the Canton area.
1. Canton First Friday with cool cars and food truck fest
Cool cars and food trucks will be the theme of Canton First Friday on Oct. 4.
“Superfly Car Show and Food Truck Fest” will be 5-9 p.m. More than 400 show cars will be on display throughout downtown Canton. Thirty food trucks also will be at the event.
There also will be vendors, a Fourth Street Dance Party with Q92 DJ Nikolina, and children’s activities both inside and outside of the Eric Snow YMCA, including basketball games, inflatables and a dance party. DJ Shakoi will be hosting a light show at Centennial Plaza.
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Canton Comedy Boom will be hosting a free comedy night 8-10 p.m. in the downstairs event center of Patina Arts Centre, 324 Cleveland Ave. NW. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and DORA drinks from nearby bars are permitted.
The Canton Museum of Art will be offering free admission Friday during extended hours of 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Art shows include the “BZ and Iszy – Artz Adventurez” exhibit at BZTAT Studios at Canton Creator Space, 730 Market Ave. S. The Hub Art Factory, 336 Sixth St. NW, will present “Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows,” curated by Craig Joseph. Silo Arts Studio will showcase the “Bonanza” exhibition by Ronald Lee Babb, featuring comic book-style illustrations. Strauss Studios, 336 Walnut Ave. NE, will hold a closing reception 6-9 p.m. in the upstairs gallery Stark County artist Therese Cook.
2. ‘Horror on the Big Screen’ film series at the Palace
Scary movie fun for October begins this weekend at the Canton Palace Theatre as part of the “Horror on the Big Screen” film series.
Movies are “It” on Thursday; “Gremlins” Friday; and the silent film “Nosferatu” Saturday. Doors open 30 minutes before the 7:30 p.m. showtime. Tickets cost $7 Thursday and Friday and $10 for Saturday.
Eric Dowdle artCanton-themed jigsaw puzzle to be unveiled Friday downtown
“Nosferatu” is a silent film and special movie event, with accompaniment by organist Jay Spencer playing the historic Kilgen Organ.
To purchase tickets, go to https://cantonpalacetheatre.org/. Tickets also will be available at the door.
Other horror movies this month include “Night of the Living Dead” Oct. 10; “The Shining” Oct. 11; and “A Nightmare on Elm Street” Oct. 12.
3. ‘Hadestown: Teen Edition’ in North Canton
‘Hadestown: Teen Edition’ will be performed this month at North Canton Playhouse.
Shows will be at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11, 12, 18 and 19 and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 13 and 20.
Performances will be at 525 7th St. NE on the main stage of North Canton Playhouse at Hoover High School.
The Tony Award-winning musical tells the story of the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Themes include love, fate and defiance backed by a haunting, folk-inspired score.
Tickets, $20, can be purchased at https://www.northcantonplayhouse.com/.
4. Wellness Expo at the Hall of Fame Village
A Wellness Expo will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Hall of Fame Village in Canton.
The event features group workout sessions, healthy food and snacks, wellness resources and vendors at Play-Action Plaza at the village near the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Hall of Fame Village is at 2014 Champions Gateway. The event is free. For more information, go to https://www.hofvillage.com/p/play/village-carnival.
5. EN-RICH-MENT presents ‘A Raisin in the Sun’
EN-RICH-MENT Theater will present “A Raisin in the Sun” Thursday through Saturday.
The theater program is part of the Canton-based EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy for youth. “A Raisin in the Sun” is directed by Carol McAfee, with Corey Lipkins Jr. serving as assistant director.
Performances will take place at Frye Theater at the Cultural Center for the Arts, 1001 Market Ave. N in downtown Canton. Shows are at 7 p.m.
EN-RICH-MENT describes “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry as a “timeless and poignant drama that explores the struggles of a Black family in 1950s Chicago as they grapple with dreams, racial tension and economic challenges.”
Presale tickets cost $15 and can be purchased at https://www.en-rich-ment.org/. Tickets cost $20 at the door.
6. ‘The Masque of Night’ at Gervasi
“The Masque of Night,” a new take on the classic story of “Romeo and Juliet,” will be staged Thursday night at Gervasi Vineyard.
The event starts at 6 p.m. with a reception, including desserts and wine. The one-hour performance begins at 7 p.m. and will be in the covered Pavilion at Gervasi. Tickets, $50, can be purchased at https://gervasivineyard.com/product/the-masque-of-night. Gervasi is at 1700 55th St. NE n Canton.
Classic theatre at GervasiUA professor, Canton native producing ‘Masque of Night,’ new take on ‘Romeo and Juliet’
The cabaret-style production blends Shakespeare’s iconic text with chamber music and songs by David Bowie, Depeche Mode and Rufus Wainwright, as well as original compositions by veteran classical musician Flavio Gaete.
“The Masque of Night” is executive produced by Stark County native and resident Leah Michalos of Michalos Management and produced by New Place Players of New York City.
7. ‘Mary Poppins’ at the Players Guild
Players Guild Theatre will present “Mary Poppins” beginning this weekend at Kent State University at Stark.
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Shows also will be Oct. 11-13.
Tickets, $25 to $45, can be purchased at https://playersguildtheatre.com/. Players Guild Theatre is on the campus of KSU Stark in the Mary J. Timken Theatre, 6000 Frank Ave. NW.
8. ZZ Top tribute in Massillon
A ZZ Top tribute band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Lions Lincoln Theatre in downtown Massillon.
THUNDERBIRD − the Ultimate ZZ Top tribute will be playing the Texas rock band’s hit songs, including “La Grange,” “Tush,” “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Gimme All Your Lovin.'”
Tickets, $27 to $42, can be purchased at https://www.lionslincolntheatre.org/. The venue is at 156 Lincoln Way E.
9. First Ladies and ‘East Wing Songs’ concert
The National First Ladies Library & Museum will host the world premiere Sunday of new musical compositions inspired by the First Ladies of the United States.
The performance is 3 p.m. at the Johnson Center for Worship and the Fine Arts at Malone University, 2600 Cleveland Ave. NW in Canton.
“East Wing Songs Volume III” features a lecture-recital format and will be performed by soprano, Sarah Howes, professor at Southwest Baptist University. Musical compositions are the work of composer Jenni Brandon.
The first installment of East Wing Songs debuted in Canton in fall 2022 and toured across the country. Tickets are free and available at https://firstladies.org/home/visit/events.
10. Marc Lee Shannon at Gervasi with new music
Northeast Ohio-based singer-songwriter Marc Lee Shannon will be performing at 7 p.m. Sunday at The Still House at Gervasi Vinyeard in Canton.
Shannon, whose musical credits include performing and touring with the late Michael Stanley, recently released a new single, “Riser” from the new album, “My Other Brothers,” which features Dean Anshutz of Red Wanting Blue.
Shannon performs at The Still House on the first Sunday of the month as part of a residency. Shannon’s record release concert is 7:30 p.m. Friday at Rialto Theatre in Akron with musical accompaniment by My Other Brothers. For more information and to buy $25 tickets, go to https://www.therialtotheatre.com/.
Reach Ed at [email protected] and on X (formerly Twitter) @ebalintREP and Instagram at ed_balint.
