Entertainment writer Ed Balint suggests fun things to do this month in the Canton area.
1. Armored MMA Championship Fest
Armored MMA Championship Fest on Oct. 18 at Hall of Fame Village will include caged brawls with swords and shields and heavy metal bands.
Rock band Lamb of God will headline the intermission entertainment at the event that starts at 1 p.m. at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Hard rock band Drowning Pool also will be a special guest, as well as Sleep Theory, which released the new album, “Afterglow” earlier this year.
Armored MMA fighters will battle in a cage on Oct. 18 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium at the Hall of Fame Village in Canton. The event also will feature heavy metal bands.
Ten cage fights will be on the card, which also includes a free-to-access side stage showcasing regional bands.
The Grammy-nominated Lamb of God plays aggressive rock, combining speed, death, thrash and heavy metal. Lamb of God broke through the metal scene in 2000 with the release of the album, “New American Gospel,” which features “Laid to Rest” and “Omerta.”
Armored MMA fighters will battle in a cage on Oct. 18 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium at the Hall of Fame Village in Canton. The event also will feature heavy metal bands.
Drowning Pool is best known for its platinum-selling song, “Bodies,” featured on the 2001 album, “Sinner,” which reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
For tickets and more details, go to armoredmmaxp.com. Tickets cost $85 for general admission.
2. Indoor Farmers Market in Canton
The indoor season for the Canton Farmers Market starts Oct. 18 at the Cultural Center for the Arts, 1101 Market Ave. N.
More than 30 vendors will be featured, including farmers, makers and bakers. The Canton Museum of Art will have a make-and-take station, while Tom Quinn will perform live music. There’s also free balloon art for kids and a community coloring wall.
Crave Worthy Creations food truck will be on site.
Indoor farmer markets run 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the third Saturday of the month from October through May.
The documentary, “Stark Men of Steel” will be shown at a benefit event Oct. 23 at Lions Lincoln Theatre in downtown Massillion. Tickets cost $7. The event benefits veterans organizations.
3. ‘Stark Men of Steel’ documentary
The documentary “Stark Men of Steel” will be shown at a benefit event Oct. 23 at Lions Lincoln Theatre, 156 Lincoln Way E in downtown Massillion.
Doors open at 5 p.m. for the event, which will benefit nonprofit veterans organizations, which will receive half of ticket sales. The film starts at 6 p.m.
“Stark Men of Steel” is an independently produced documentary that tells the story of the steel industry in Stark County and the role it played in the lives of its workers, as well as the community.
Stark County native Janis Salas created and produced the film, which was released in 2024. The film includes interviews with steelworkers, vintage photos, archived images and extensive research. It chronicles the history, prosperity and decline of the local steel industry.
Local history ‘Stark Men of Steel’ film honors workers and history of local mills with Canton premiere
Representatives from the veterans organizations will be in the theater lobby during the event to accept donations. Charitable donation receipts will be given.
Advance tickets cost $7 and may be purchased at starkmenofsteel.com. Tickets also will be sold at the door.
4. Chicago and horn rock tribute in Massillon
Brass Express: A Tribute to Chicago & Beyond will be at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at Lions Lincoln Theater, 156 Lincoln Way E in downtown Massillon.
Horn-driven rock with soulful vocals will be honored, including the music of Chicago, Blood Sweat & Tears and Tower of Power. Brass Express has nine members.
Tickets cost $37 and can be be purchased at https://www.lionslincolntheatre.org.
North Canton Playhouse will present “Beetlejuice Jr.” Shows will be Oct. 17-19 and Oct. 24-26 at North Canton Playhouse at Hoover High School, 525 Seventh St. NE.
5. ‘Beetlejuice Jr.’ in North Canton
North Canton Playhouse will present “Beetlejuice Jr.” from Oct. 17-19 and Oct. 24-26 at Hoover High School, 525 Seventh St. NE.
Based on Tim Burton’s movie “Beetlejuice,” the performance includes music and laughs, a news release said. The show is directed by Mindy Whitesmith and Tyler Jensen.
Tickets can be purchased for $20 at northcantonplayhouse.com/tickets.
Stardust Dinner Theater will present “The Addams Family” murder mystery show Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at Tozzi’s on 12th in Canton.
6. ‘Addams Family’ murder mystery show
Stardust Dinner Theater will perform the “Addams Family” murder mystery show Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at Tozzi’s on 12th in Canton.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $45.
Tickets include dinner and the show and can be purchased at eventbrite.com. For more information, call 330-327-2087. Tozzi’s is at 4210 12th St. NW.
7. ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ and ‘Nosferatu’ at Palace Theatre
The 1974 horror flick “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” will be shown Oct. 17 at Palace Theatre, 605 Market Ave. N.
The 1922 silent film “Nosferatu” will be shown Oct. 18. The movie will be accompanied by Jay Spencer playing the Kilgen organ.
Showtime for both movies is 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m.
General admission tickets cost $10 and can be purchased at cantonpalacetheatre.org. Tickets also will be sold at the door.
Players Guild Theater will stage “Winnie the Pooh Booooo!” Oct. 24-26 at Kent State University at Stark.
8. ‘Winnie the Pooh Booooo!’ at the Players Guild
Players Guild Theater will stage “Winnie the Pooh Booooo!” from Oct. 24-26 at Kent State University at Stark, 6000 Frank Ave. NW in Jackson Township.
The show is kid friendly and described as “full of friendship, giggles and silly surprises.” Halloween costumes are encouraged.
Following the performance in the Mary J. Timken Theatre, there will be a “Winnie the Pooh” costume parade and trick-or-treating in the lobby.
Showtimes are 7 p.m. Oct. 24 and 2 p.m. Oct. 25-26. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased at https://playersguildtheatre.com.
9. Sawyer Fredericks at The Auricle
Sawyer Fredericks will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Auricle Venue + Bar, 201 Cleveland Ave. NW in downtown Canton.
Fredericks is a singer-songwriter who won the 2015 season of “The Voice,” a televised singing competition. Gannon Ferrell also will be performing. Fredericks released the new album, “No Need to Wonder” earlier this year.
Frederick’s influences include Ray LaMontagne, Johnny Cash, Keith Urban and Creedence Clearwater Revival, according to Apple Music. His songs include “Take It All,” “4 Pockets,” “The Golden Tree” and “Hide Your Ghost.”
Tickets cost $25 in advance and can be purchased at ticketweb.com. Tickets cost $30 at the door.
Sawyer Fredericks will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Auricle Venue + Bar in downtown Canton. The singer-songwriter won season eight of “The Voice” in 2015.
10. Mall-O-Ween for kids at Belden Village Mall
Mall-O-Ween will be 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 23 at Belden Village Mall.
Kids ages 10 and younger are invited to dress in their favorite costumes and visit each participating store while candy supplies last. The mall asks that children do not wear full facial masks or bring toy weapons.
Children can pick up a trick-or-treat bag at the table located between Zales and Kay Jewelers.
Reach Ed at ebalint@gannett.com. Follow on Instagram at ed_balint and TikTok @edwardbalint
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Fun stuff in Canton. Lamb of God, Drowning Pool, MMA, farmers market
