LOGAN – What started as a way for families and individual arts fans to get out of the house and experience beauty is back again by popular demand in 2022. Launching Friday, Sept. 23 and running through Sunday, Sept. 25, the Third Annual Glass Pumpkin Festival is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Parking is limited and festival-goers are encouraged car pool and reserve their spot for $5 at GlassPumpkinFestival.com, with each reservation receiving a $5 coupon towards their Jack Pine pumpkin purchase.

A highlight is the unveiling of Jack Pine’s annual Pumpkin of the Year, with the festival marking the first opportunity for fans of the legendary glass blower to snag the highly collectible, limited-edition glass pumpkin. The Glass Pumpkin Festival was launched by Jack Pine in 2020 during COVID to offer families a safe and beautiful escape centered around a stunning outdoor arts experience set in the magnificence of Ohio’s most visited location for fall foliage.

An outdoor artist’s market will feature fine artists from around the region, showing and selling their work. Pumpkin ice cream, donuts and rolls will complete the sensory experience, along with food trucks serving an array of offerings. The festival is an unmatched opportunity to find gorgeous fall décor and the perfect handcrafted holiday gifts for even the most difficult-to-buy-for recipient.

Jack Pine’s talented team of glassblowing artists will be at work throughout the festival, allowing attendees to watch firsthand as they blow, turn and stretch pure molten glass into exquisite works of art. World-famous pumpkin carver Gus Smithister will be live-carving a monstrous 600-pound pumpkin into an eyepopping real pumpkin sculpture, with plenty of more manageably sized pumpkins available for purchase. Kids activities will keep budding junior artists entertained while inspiring their creative side.

Jack Pine Studio is a hand-blown glass studio and gallery located in the heart of Hocking Hills that’s open to the public daily throughout the year. Studio history and details are found at www.jackpinestudio.com.

LANCASTER —Hundreds of locally led volunteer teams are scheduled to host more than 500 events across the nation during the second weekend in September for Operation Christmas Child, a global project of Samaritan’s Purse that shares the true meaning of Christmas with children in need around the world.

Volunteers in the Lancaster area will gather during Project Leader Workshop Weekend to support and connect with those who are leading their families, community groups, and churches to pack gift-filled shoebox gifts. The community is invited to attend the workshop Sept. 10 at Faith Memorial Church, 2610 W. Fair Avenue in Lancaster from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. This event is unique, but all will aim to encourage and inspire attendees as well as equip them with resources to plan, prepare, and promote the project. Community efforts to pack shoeboxes with school supplies, hygiene items, and fun toys will contribute to the project’s global goal of reaching more than 11 million children in Jesus’ Name.

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. Participants can donate $10 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination. Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement. Boxes built online go to hard-to-reach countries.

The village of Carroll service committee members will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13 at the municipal building. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss electronic payment options and any other business brought before the committee. The council meeting will follow at 7 p.m.

LOGAN – Fascinating Hocking Hills canal history will come to life in film, theater, song and dance during the Ohio Open Doors Event, Sunday, Sept. 11 on the elevator-accessible third floor of the historic Logan Theater. The program features two parts: At 3 p.m., live performers will share of excerpts from the original musical "The Last Canal Boat, followed by a screening of the video "In Search of the Hocking Canal" at 4:30 p.m. Admission to this unique afternoon is free.

The performances and film are part of the Ohio History Connection’s Ohio Open Doors program, which seeks to shares stories of important landmarks and interesting sites around the state, merging historical storytelling with historic preservation. By highlighting the history and unique nature of some of Ohio's most treasured places, visitors can discover Ohio's amazing heritage around the state through a variety of Open Door events Friday, Sept. 9, through Sunday, Sept. 18, as historic buildings and fascinating places across the state open their doors for tours and events as part of the Ohio History Connection's annual event. A list of the free statewide events and activities is available at ohiohistory.org/opendoors.

Ohio Open Doors partner organizations include the Ohio Arts Council, TourismOhio, the Ohio Travel Association and Heritage Ohio.  Complete travel information for the Hocking Hills can be found at ExploreHockingHills.com.