Photo byChase Clark

KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. -- Wizards, Vikings, and local haints. The season of spooks and spells has made it to the Kanawha Valley. Whether you’re looking for history lessons, cultural experiences, or a local production of “Steel Magnolias,” there’s something for you to do this weekend. Here are a few local happenings between Friday, Oct. 18, and Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. And never miss an event – subscribe to the free Kanawha Valley Update to get more local news and other happens delivered each weekday to your inbox.

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Friday, Oct. 18

Music

• JOSLYN & THE SWEET COMPRESSION: 6-8:30 p.m. Free. Part of FestivFALL. Artful activities, food trucks, and more. Haddad Riverfront Park, 800 Kanawha Blvd. in Charleston. More info online.
• SHELEM WITH THE HEAVY HITTERS: 7:30-9:30 p.m. $25 per person. Part of the Roger L. Nicholson Emerging Artist Series. Clay Center, 1 Clay Square in Charleston. More info and tickets online.

Dance

• DRACULA – THE SEDUCTION: 7:30 p.m. $35 adults, $30 students/seniors. Presented by the Charleston Ballet. Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Theater, 200 Civic Center Drive in Charleston. More info and tickets online.

Stage/Theater

• SLEEP: 7:30 p.m. $11 per person. South Korean horror mystery. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 230 Capitol St. in Charleston. More info and tickets online.
• STEEL MAGNOLIAS: 7 p.m. Adults $15, children 12 and under/seniors $10. Presented by the Alban Arts Center. The Capitol Theater, 123 Summers St. in Charleston. More info and tickets online.
• THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: 9:30 p.m. $11 per person. 1974 horror film (Rated R) from director Tobe Hooper. Part of the 2024 Beyond the Back Row Horrorthon. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 230 Capitol St. in Charleston. More info and tickets online.

Seasonal

• SCAREVIEW GRAVE SCHOUL: 7 p.m. $12 per person, or $10 per person with nonperishable food donation. Halloween-themed haunted house. Presented by the West Side Volunteer Fire Department. 109 High St. in St. Albans. More info on Facebook.
• HAUNTED TRAIL: 7-10 p.m. $5 per person. St. Albans City Park, 931 Observatory Drive in Saint Albans. More info on Facebook.

Etc.

• AN EVENING WITH POETS: 7 p.m. Free. Featuring Marc Harshman, Steve Scafidi, Willow Peyton, Caterina Occhione and Mariam Hamdan. Taylor Books Annex Gallery, 226 Capitol St. in Charleston. More info online.
• WIZARDING WEEKEND: 10 a.m-6 p.m.. Free entrance. Spellbinding activities, fantastical artisan vendors, and extraordinary adventures. Capitol Market, 800 Smith St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.

Saturday, Oct. 19

Dance

• DRACULA – THE SEDUCTION: 2 p.m. $35 adults, $30 students/seniors. Presented by the Charleston Ballet. Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Theater, 200 Civic Center Drive in Charleston. More info and tickets online.

Stage/Theater

• THE SUBSTANCE: 2 p.m. $11 per person. 2024 horror drama (rated R). Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 230 Capitol St. in Charleston. More info and tickets online.
• SLEEP: 5 p.m. $11 per person. South Korean horror mystery. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 230 Capitol St. in Charleston. More info and tickets online.
• STEEL MAGNOLIAS: 7 p.m. Adults $15, children 12 and under/seniors $10. Presented by the Alban Arts Center. The Capitol Theater, 123 Summers St. in Charleston. More info and tickets online.
• OMNI LOOP: 7:30 p.m. $11 per person. 2024 science fiction comedy. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 230 Capitol St. in Charleston. More info and tickets online.

Seasonal

• BOO, GOBBLE & JINGLE TRIPLE HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free entrance. Family Life Center, Cross Lanes United Methodist Church, 5320 Frontier Drive in Cross Lanes.
• FAMILY FALL FESTIVAL: 1-3 p.m. Free. Sponsored by St. Albans Park and Recreation. Free family fun activities, including pumpkin decorating, a petting zoo, free hay rides, face painting and more. Concessions available for purchase. St. Albans City Park Softball Field, 931 Observatory Drive in St. Albans. More info on Facebook.
• CARRIAGE TRAIL LEAF WALK: 1-4 p.m. Free. Part of FestivFALL. Walk the .65-mile Carriage Trail while enjoying live music, art, dance, and more along the way. Dogs on leashes are welcome. Sunrise Carriage Trail, 746 Myrtle Road in Charleston. More info online.
• SPRING HILL CEMETERY HISTORY ALIVE: 1-4 pm. Free. Part of FestivFALL. Self-guided walk with interactive entertainment along the way. Spring Hill Cemetery, 1555 Farnsworth Drive in Charleston. More info online.
• LEGENDS FROM THE PAST: 5 p.m. $5 adults, $1 children. Storytelling on the grounds of the Samuel Shrewsbury Mansion (Old Stone House) in Belle. Fundraiser to help benefit the continued upkeep of the property. Old Stone House 179 West Dupont Ave. in Belle. More information on Facebook.
• SCAREVIEW GRAVE SCHOUL: 7 p.m. $12 per person, or $10 per person with nonperishable food donation. Halloween-themed haunted house. Presented by the West Side Volunteer Fire Department. 109 High St. in St. Albans. More info on Facebook.
• HAUNTED TRAIL: 7-10 p.m. $5 per person. St. Albans City Park, 931 Observatory Drive in Saint Albans. More info on Facebook.

Etc.

• WEST VIRGINIA BOOK FESTIVAL: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Featuring programs by local and international bestselling authors such as Joy Callaway, Gregg Hurwitz, Sadeqa Johnson, Gene Luen Yang, and Mia Manansala. Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center, 200 Civic Center Drive in Charleston. More info online.
• RIVERSIDE REVUE BAND FESTIVAL: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $10 adults, $5 students, age 5 and under free. A day of music, food, fun and community. Performances by local high school bands. Warrior Stadium, Riverside High School, 1 Warrior Way, Belle. More info on Facebook.
• ROCK AND GEM SHOW: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $5 adults, children free. Presented by the Kanawha Rock and Gem Club. Jewelry, gem, mineral and fossil show and sale. South Charleston Community Center, 601 Jefferson Road in South Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• WIZARDING WEEKEND: 10 a.m-6 p.m.. Free entrance. Spellbinding activities, fantastical artisan vendors, and extraordinary adventures. Capitol Market, 800 Smith St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• FILIPINO-AMERICAN FESTIVAL: 1-6 p.m. Free. Sponsored by the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs and the Filipino American Association of West Virginia. Dance, performances, food trucks, Filipino cuisine, more. Capitol Complex, 1900 Kanwaha Boulevard East in Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• PAINT YOUR ANIMAL SPIRIT: 2-4 p.m. $25 per person. Guided meditation followed by painting experience. All materials provided. Radiant Soul Guide Yoga, 808 B St. in St. Albans. More info on Facebook.
• VIKING INVASION: 4-9 p.m. Free admission. Costume event sponsored by Wandering Wind Meadery. Come in your finest Viking garb and bring your mug or horn for drink specials. Wandering Wind Meadery, 422 Washington St. West in Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• GLOW RUN 5K: 5-9 p.m. Registration $20-$30. A Run for Recovery 5K night run and dance party. Vendors, recovery speakers, resource booths and children’s activities, including a foam machine slip-n-slide, bounce house, glow face painting, splash pad and more. Magic Island off Kanawha Boulevard in Charleston. More info and registration online.

Sunday, Oct. 20

Dance

• WEST VIRGINIA DANCE COMPANY: 4 p.m. $15 adults, $5 students/children. Part of FestivFALL. The Culture Center, 1900 Kanawha Blvd. East in Charleston. More info and tickets online.

Stage/Theater

• OMNI LOOP: 2:30 p.m. $11 per person. 2024 science fiction comedy. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 230 Capitol St. in Charleston. More info and tickets online.

Etc.

• ROCK AND GEM SHOW: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $5 adults, children free. Presented by the Kanawha Rock and Gem Club. Jewelry, gem, mineral and fossil show and sale. South Charleston Community Center, 601 Jefferson Road in South Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• WIZARDING WEEKEND: 12-5 p.m.. Free entrance. Spellbinding activities, fantastical artisan vendors, and extraordinary adventures. Capitol Market, 800 Smith St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• SUNSET YOGA: 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Haddad Riverfront Park, Kanawha Boulevard in Charleston. More info online.

Events are subject to change. If you have questions, please reach out to event organizers. Know of a public event happening in Kanawha County that you’d like to share with NewsBreak readers? Email ramsburgreports@gmail.com to be featured in a future calendar.

Michael Ramsburg is a Kanawha County communities reporter. He can be reached at ramsburgreports@gmail.com or by calling 304-370-3067.