WARREN, Ohio – Country music artist Walker Hayes will bring his “Unplugged” tour to Packard Music Hall on Oct. 25.

The show is an intimate evening of stories and stripped-down versions of Hayes’ hits, including “Fancy Like” and “AA.”

Hayes last performed in the Mahoning Valley in 2022, when he came to Covelli Centre.

Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 22, at Ticketmaster.com and the Packard box office.

HalloWeekends to Return to Cedar Point

SANDUSKY, Ohio – Cedar Point’s signature fall HalloWeekends event, with not-so-scary family fun by day and blood-curdling scares by night, will return on select days and nights Sept. 11 to Nov. 2. 

New this year is The Conjuring: Beyond Fear, an interactive experience.

In addition to the park’s 67 rides and attractions, HalloWeekends features five haunted mazes, five scare zones, event-themed foods and live shows. The entire park will be transformed for the sights and sounds of the season.  

In The Conjuring: Beyond Fear, guests will navigate iconic scenes from “The Conjuring” films. Guests will encounter entities such as The Nun, The Crooked Man and The Ferryman as they race to restore order and lock Annabelle back in her secure box – or risk catastrophic consequences for the living realm.

New for this year, haunted mazes will be accessible to guests only with the purchase of a Haunted Attractions Pass. 

Those seeking the terror of the haunted mazes can enhance their visit with the purchase of a Haunted Attractions Pass, while those seeking night rides, scare zones and live entertainment require only park admission. The Conjuring: Beyond Fear is not included with the Haunted Attractions Pass and is an extra-charge experience.

More than 20 activities and attractions for families return during the daytime hours of HalloWeekends. Kids can enjoy trick-or-treating, hay bale mazes, mask-making, pumpkin decorating, interactive live shows and more. 

Guests can now purchase a 2026 Gold Pass for $99 (plus applicable taxes and fees) and enjoy unlimited visits to HalloWeekends. In addition, when guests purchase the 2026 Gold Pass through Sept. 1, they also receive unlimited visits in 2026 to Cedar Point, Cedar Point Shores Waterpark and unlimited visits to more than 40 Six Flags theme parks across North America. This offer is available online only at CedarPoint.com.

Top Hat Sets Auditions for ‘Amazing Grace’

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Top Hat Productions will hold auditions for “Amazing Grace” from 6:30-8 p.m. Aug. 25 and 27 at Fairview Arts & Outreach Center, 4220 Youngstown-Poland Road.  

The production is scheduled for November.

Adults of all ages are needed, and those auditioning should have a vocal selection prepared. For information, call 330 881 0980.

Lecture on New Millennium in Mahoning Valley 

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The new millennium brought many changes to downtown Youngstown, from the construction of the Nathaniel R. Jones Federal Building and the U.S. Courthouse to Covelli Centre.

Bill Lawson, executive director of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, will discuss “The Mahoning Valley in the New Millennium” at noon Thursday, Aug. 21, in the Tyler History Center, 325 W. Federal St. 

His lecture is part of the Bites and Bits of History series. Admission is free. Guests can bring their lunch for the educational event.

Tazewell, Chu to Visit Kent State University

KENT, Ohio – This year’s lineup for the Thomas Schroth Visiting Artist Series at Kent State University includes Jane Chu, Paul Tazewell, Bobby Sanabria, Krzysztof Wodiczko and Adam Furman.

Admission to all presentations is free and open to the public. For full event details and ticket information, click HERE.

The series is named in honor of regional architect Thomas Schroth.

Here is a look at each lecture:

  • Jane Chu, Sept. 9-10: Former chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, Chu is an accomplished artist, administrator and philanthropist. During her campus visit, Chu will lead two public events: “Artists as Leaders” at 6 p.m. Sept. 9, in Room 165 at the Center for Visual Arts, 325 Terrace Drive, Kent; and “Artists as Entrepreneurs” at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 10, in Room 222 at Crawford Hall, 100 Midway Drive, Kent.
  • Paul Tazewell, Sept. 18-19: Tazewell, an Oscar, Tony and Emmy Award-winning costume designer, will return to campus for a public dialogue and student engagement opportunities. An Akron native, Tazewell is known for his historically rich and visually striking designs in productions such as “Hamilton,” “In the Heights,” “The Color Purple,” “West Side Story” and “Wicked.” At 6 p.m. Sept. 18, Tazewell will take part in a public conversation moderated by Kent State School of Fashion alumna Aleah Wright, who recently profiled Tazewell for Essence magazine, at the E. Turner Stump Theatre in the Center for the Performing Arts, 1325 Theatre Drive in Kent. Admission is free, but tickets are required. Tickets can be reserved online HERE. Select costumes worn by Glinda and Elphaba from the film “Wicked,” designed by Tazewell, will be on display Sept. 11-Nov. 9 at the Kent State University Museum, 515 Hilltop Drive in Kent.
  • Bobby Sanabria, Oct. 6-9: Seven-time Grammy nominee Sanabria, a drummer, composer and cultural ambassador of Latin jazz, will bring his dynamic energy and expertise to Kent State this October. Sanabria has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente and Celia Cruz, and is known for his leadership of the Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra. Throughout his visit, Sanabria will lead master classes, rehearsals and lectures focused on music, business and social change. Highlights will include: a presentation during “Art Without Limits” arts entrepreneurship event, 10 a.m. Oct. 8 in the University Auditorium in Cartwright Hall, 650 Hilltop Drive, Kent; and Big Band Concert at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 in Ludwig Recital Hall, Center for the Performing Arts, 1325 Theatre Drive, Kent. A reception will follow the performance.
  • Krzysztof Wodiczko, Nov. 10: Internationally acclaimed artist Wodiczko, known for his large-scale public projections and socially engaged art, will present an immersive workshop with architecture and art students, culminating in a public exhibition, opening Nov. 10 in the Armstrong Gallery. The opening reception will include a gallery conversation with distinguished faculty and guest speakers in the Cene Lecture Hall at the John Elliot Center for Architecture and Environmental Design, 132 S. Lincoln St., Kent. 
  • Adam Furman: This London-based designer and artist celebrated for his vibrant approach to space, color and identity will visit Kent State in spring 2026. Furman will lead a design workshop with architecture and art students that will conclude with the creation of a large-scale gateway installation in the Armstrong Gallery at the John Elliot Center for Architecture and Environmental Design, 132 S. Lincoln St., Kent, and will be used by the School of Fashion for its annual Fashion Week events.

Next Episode of Nature Series to Air 

KENT, Ohio – The second episode of PBS Western Reserve’s original nature series “By Nature’s Design: Exploring Our Native Wildlife” will arrive at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22.

The episode, “Native & Invasive Species of the Wetlands,” offers insights into the role of native species, the destructive force of invasive species and the importance of protecting biodiversity in the region’s wetlands.

The series is created by Sophia Gillespie and executive produced by Ryan Donchess.

“Knowing what species are present in the environment can help protect our wetlands, especially when it comes to invasive species,” Gillespie said. “I hope people watching will be able to recognize some of the invasive and native species on their next visit to a wetland and be able to use their new resources to take action.”

Pictured at top: Walker Hayes. (Photo by Robert Chavers)