The Downtown Weekender: Things to Do in Downtown Marion, Ohio | October 9–11, 2026

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MARION, Ohio — Halloween season is starting to take over Downtown Marion this weekend, with classic monster movies, a flashlight ghost tour, Scooby-Doo trick-or-treating, spooky art projects and plenty happening after dark. There’s also live jazz, 1980s karaoke, local culinary history, yacht rock and several hands-on art events from Friday, Oct. 9, through Sunday, Oct. 11.

Friday, October 9

5:00 PM – DIY Dragon’s Nest Building – Mimi’s Art Hollow – 287 W. Center St., Marion – Build a custom dragon’s nest during this drop-in workshop from 5–7 p.m. For $10, participants can choose a nest, dragon and filling, with an optional egg and gems available for an additional $5.

6:00 PM – Fall Giving Plate – Blend of Seven Winery – 146 W. Center St., Marion – Mimi’s Art Hollow brings ceramic painting to Blend of Seven for a fall-themed workshop. Participants can create a serving plate designed to be passed along as a “giving plate” or kept for the family. Cost is $28 for the craft, $35 with one glass of wine or $42 with two glasses.

7:00 PM – Live Jazz with The Ivan Murray Quartet – Shovel City Drinkery – 181 N. Main St., Marion – The Ivan Murray Quartet takes over Shovel City for an evening of live jazz beginning at 7 p.m. The Cameroon Kitchen will serve African cuisine outside from 5–9 p.m.

7:00 PM – DIY Karaoke and Paint – Mimi’s Art Hollow – 287 W. Center St., Marion – Painting and karaoke come together for a two-hour creative night from 7–9 p.m.

7:00 PM – 1980s Karaoke – Kin & Kilt – 130 S. Prospect St., Marion – DJ KOV takes the room back to the ’80s with karaoke from 7–10 p.m. Power ballads, big songs and heavily teased hair are all welcome.

7:30 PM – Creature from the Black Lagoon – Marion Palace Theatre – 276 W. Center St., Marion – The 1954 classic monster movie returns to the Palace big screen. Tickets go on sale 45 minutes before showtime.

9:00 PM – Flashlight Ghost Tour – Marion Palace Theatre – 276 W. Center St., Marion – Following Creature from the Black Lagoon, guests can explore the historic Palace during a self-guided flashlight ghost tour. Palace “ghosts” stationed throughout the building will share stories from the theatre’s history. The tour is $10, has no age restriction and is not intended to be scary. Tour-only doors open at 8:45 p.m.

Saturday, October 10

9:30 AM – Saturday Storytime & Little Art Explorers Club – Mimi’s Art Hollow – 287 W. Center St., Marion – Miss Amanda and the Little Art Explorers Club welcome young participants for storytime and creative exploration from 9:30–11 a.m.

10:00 AM – BRUNCH, PLEASE! – Bucci’s Italian Scratch Kitchen – 320 W. Center St., Marion – The mimosa-fueled throwback sing-along returns with brunch, music and a room full of guests singing along to songs spanning generations.

10:00 AM – Baby Hand/Foot/Bum-Kin Prints – Mimi’s Art Hollow – 287 W. Center St., Marion – Families can create fall keepsakes using baby handprints, footprints and “bum-kin” prints during this 10 a.m.–2 p.m. crafting event.

10:00 AM – Downtown Marion’s Taste of Time: An America 250 Event – Founders Park – northeast corner of Main and Church streets, Marion – Downtown Marion takes visitors through the city’s culinary history with old family favorites, menu items from Marion restaurants across the decades and cooking demonstrations. The event runs from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children and free for children 3 and younger.

3:00 PM – Ghostie or Pumpkin Resin Tray – Mimi’s Art Hollow – 287 W. Center St., Marion – Create a Halloween-themed resin tray during this hands-on workshop from 3–5 p.m. Cost is $25.

7:30 PM – Shaun of the Dead – Marion Palace Theatre – 276 W. Center St., Marion – The cult horror-comedy Shaun of the Dead hits the Palace big screen for a Saturday-night showing.

8:00 PM – Potty Mouth Pottery – Mimi’s Art Hollow – 287 W. Center St., Marion – Mimi’s 21-and-older pottery night runs from 8–10 p.m. The event is BYOB and gives adults an evening to paint pottery and get creative.

Sunday, October 11

1:00 PM – Yacht Rock with Kismet Notes – Shovel City Drinkery – 181 N. Main St., Marion – Kismet Notes brings yacht rock to the patio from 1–4 p.m., with songs associated with Kenny Loggins, Steely Dan, Toto, Ambrosia, Michael McDonald, the Doobie Brothers and more. Master of the Griddle serves outside from 12:30–4:30 p.m., and $5 craft drafts are available all day.

1:15 PM – Scooby-Doo Trick-or-Treat – Marion Palace Theatre – 276 W. Center St., Marion – Trick-or-treat stations will be set up throughout the Palace before the 2 p.m. screening of Scooby-Doo. Bags are provided, and guests who arrive in costume receive a free popcorn pass with their movie ticket. Trick-or-treating runs from 1:15–1:55 p.m. Movie admission is $3 for Palace members and $5 for non-members.

2:00 PM – Mommy & Mini: Boo Buckets – Props & Pots – 132 S. State St., Marion – Create matching Halloween-themed Boo Buckets during this Mommy & Mini craft event. Kids can decorate buckets for trick-or-treating while moms create a plant-filled bucket of their own. Cost is $30 per Mommy & Me pair.

2:00 PM – Scooby-Doo – Marion Palace Theatre – 276 W. Center St., Marion – Scooby, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne and Velma return to the Palace big screen for a Sunday afternoon mystery at 2 p.m.

From monster movies and ghost stories to jazz, karaoke, food history, family activities and hands-on art, Downtown Marion has a full schedule this weekend. Check individual event listings before heading out for registration requirements, ticket availability or last-minute updates.

The Downtown Weekender is Downtown Marion’s weekly guide to events, entertainment and things to do in the heart of Marion, Ohio.