What's Happening in Medina This Week, October 5-11, 2026

Welcome to the first full week of October, and what a week it is. This is the stretch when the Medina and Summit County calendars hit full fall: the Medina Square Farmers Market goes out for the season with its big Salute to Farming celebration, the Medina County Fall Foliage Tour sends drivers over back roads across four townships, Boo at the Zoo starts at the Akron Zoo, Foster the People headlines Blossom, and Thirsty Dog Blues & Brews closes the weekend at Lock 3. Whether you want a market morning, a country drive, a family day at the zoo, or a concert under the stars, there is something here for you.

Monday, October 5

First Peoples Day panel at the Akron library

The Akron-Summit County Public Library hosts its North American First Peoples Day panel discussion Monday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in downtown Akron, an evening of conversation and storytelling that honors Indigenous histories and cultures in the region. It is free and open to the public, and a thoughtful, indoors way to ease into a busy week.

Tuesday, October 6

WQMX Bosom Buddies Benefit at the Goodyear Theater

Country radio's WQMX hosts its Bosom Buddies Benefit at the Goodyear Theater Tuesday at 7:30 PM, with McCoy Moore and Taylor Austin Dye on the bill. It is a live country show for a good cause, and an easy evening trip down State Route 18 from Medina.

Akron Zips soccer vs. Syracuse

The Akron Zips men's soccer team hosts Syracuse Tuesday at 7:00 PM at FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field for Fan Appreciation Night. College soccer is fast, loud, and family-friendly, and it is a great way to catch a live match on a fall evening.

Wednesday, October 7

Dan and Phil: Hard Launch World Tour

British duo Dan and Phil bring their Hard Launch World Tour to the Akron Civic Theatre Wednesday at 8:00 PM. Expect a playful, multimedia stage show from the longtime internet favorites, full of humor and audience interaction.

Thursday, October 8

Foster the People at Blossom

Foster the People brings its Good Mourning Sunshine Tour to Blossom Music Center Thursday at 8:00 PM, the amphitheater's one big show of the week. It is a great excuse to bundle up and catch some live indie-pop under the fall stars.

Hocus Pocus The Taste-A-Long Experience at the Civic

The Akron Civic Theatre hosts Hocus Pocus: The Taste-A-Long Experience Thursday at 7:30 PM, a screening of the Halloween classic paired with themed snacks and drinks served throughout the show. Equal parts movie night and tasting menu, it is a cozy, seasonal pick.

The Rocky Horror Show opens at Greystone Hall

Ohio Shakespeare Festival opens The Rocky Horror Show at Greystone Hall Thursday, running through November 1 on the Henry C. Bishop Stage. The cult classic gets the full live-theater treatment, and it is a fun, interactive night out that runs all month.

Friday, October 9

Feeling 22: A Tribute to Taylor Swift

Swifties, take note. The tribute act Feeling 22 plays the Goodyear Theater Friday at 7:30 PM, a high-energy celebration of Taylor Swift's catalog. It is a lively, sing-along-friendly night out.

Craft beer and pizza festival at the Akron Civic

The Akron Civic Theatre hosts a craft beer and pizza festival Friday at 7:00 PM, presented by Wayside Furniture, pairing local brews with pizza in the historic theater. A relaxed, tasty way to kick off the weekend.

Evil Dead The Musical opens at the Knight Stage

The Millennial Theatre Project opens Evil Dead The Musical Friday at the Knight Stage, running through November 1, with the Akron Independent Horror Short Film Festival also screening Friday. For fans of campy horror and live theater, it is the weekend's most offbeat pick.

Saturday, October 10

Salute to Farming: the final Medina Square Farmers Market

The Medina Square Farmers Market on Public Square holds its season finale Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and it goes out big. The special Salute to Farming market adds a petting zoo, beekeeping demonstrations, cooking demonstrations, and vintage Antique Power Association equipment to the usual cast of 70-plus vendors selling apples, cider, mums, squash, and baked goods. It is the last Saturday market of 2026, so stock up.

Medina County Fall Foliage Tour

The county's beloved drive-it-yourself autumn tradition since 1968, the Medina County Fall Foliage Tour, runs Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5:00 PM. The free, self-guided route winds through Guilford, Montville, Sharon, and Wadsworth townships with six host sites showcasing farms, history, and local points of interest. A fun note for this site: the route passes through Sharon Township, which shares its name with the very road 4553 Sharon Copley Rd sits on. No RSVP and no cost, just a full tank and a camera.

Boo at the Zoo opens at the Akron Zoo

The Akron Zoo kicks off Boo at the Zoo Saturday, running through October 25 on select days, with trick-or-treating, festive decor, and family-friendly Halloween activities alongside the animals. It is one of the most popular family outings of the season, and tickets go fast.

Walk to End Alzheimer's in Akron

The Walk to End Alzheimer's steps off in Akron Saturday from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM, raising funds and awareness in the fight against the disease. Registration is free and open to all, and it is a meaningful way to spend a fall morning.

Herbal Fire Starters at the park district

The Medina County Park District leads a hands-on Herbal Fire Starters class Saturday from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, teaching you to make natural fire starters from herbs and everyday materials. It is a fee-based program for teens and adults, and registration is through the district's reservation system.

More Saturday markets across the counties

If you want to spread the market love beyond the square, three more Saturday markets are in full swing: the Farmers Market of Medina County at Cornerstone Chapel on Granger Road (9:00 AM to noon), the Cuyahoga Valley Farmers Market at Howe Meadow in Peninsula (9:00 AM to noon), and the Hudson Farmers Market on the Village Greens, which holds its final Saturday market of the season (9:00 AM to 12:30 PM).

Generation Radio in Wadsworth

Generation Radio brings live music to the Celestia Theater at Wadsworth Square Saturday at 7:00 PM, a classic-rock night out just up the road in Medina County. Check the theater's calendar for tickets.

Sunday, October 11

Thirsty Dog Blues and Brews at Lock 3

Lock 3 in downtown Akron hosts Thirsty Dog Blues and Brews Sunday from noon to 6:00 PM, with Ohio breweries, blues music, and food vendors, all benefiting the Humane Society of Summit County. Good beer, good tunes, and a good cause.

Medina County Fall Foliage Tour, day two

The Fall Foliage Tour continues its second day Sunday from noon to 5:00 PM. If you did not make it Saturday, this is your last chance to catch the county at its color-changing best.

Akron Zips soccer vs. Creighton

The Zips wrap their weekend with a home match against Creighton Sunday at 6:00 PM at FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field. A strong way to close out the weekend for soccer fans.

Mr. Franklin Goes to Paris! at the Children's Museum

The Akron Children's Museum hosts Mr. Franklin Goes to Paris! Sunday at 3:00 PM, a playful, family-friendly program for little ones. Check the museum's calendar for details.

Medina Restaurant Week, last call

Medina Restaurant Week wraps up Sunday, October 11. If you have been meaning to try one of the participating restaurants around the square and across the county, this is the final weekend to catch the seasonal menus and specials before the promotion ends.

Around Town This Week

The park district wants you outside. The Medina County Park District's 20th annual Trekking Through Autumn self-guided hiking challenge runs through November 30. Complete at least eight of the district's designated hikes to earn awards, and catch the county's trees at peak color along the way. Full trail lists are on the district's site.

Ride the fall colors by rail. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad runs its fall foliage excursions through the valley's autumn landscape, with boarding options at Peninsula, Rockside, and Akron Northside. It is a relaxed, family-friendly way to see the season without a car.

Trout stocking begins. The annual Cuyahoga River trout stocking starts Wednesday and runs through October 17, with Western Reserve Trout Unlimited working the river in Cuyahoga Falls and Munroe Falls. Good news for anglers and a nice excuse for a riverside walk.

Pumpkin season continues. The big farm fall destinations are still in full swing: Mapleside Farms' Pumpkin Village in Brunswick (weekends through November 1), Heritage Farms' Pumpkin Pandemonium in Peninsula (through October 25), and Szalay's Farm's decorated corn maze in Peninsula (daily through October 31). All three are an easy drive from Medina.

Mark your calendar. The Medina Ghost Fest returns to the square on Thursday, October 15, and the Downtown Akron Fall Fest takes over Lock 3 on Saturday, October 17. Plenty to look forward to, and I will have the full details in next week's note.