Canton Repository writer Ed Balint takes a look at what’s happening in arts, music and entertainment in Stark County, including events this weekend and later in February.
1. Canton First Friday has golf theme
Too cold to golf in February? Not with First Friday festivities in downtown Canton, where 18 holes will be spread amongst businesses and other locations.
“Par Tee On A Little Green” will run 5-9 p.m. Friday. Scorecards will be available at the participating businesses to play six, nine or 18 holes and enter a contest for a chance to win a pack of gift cards.
Golf greens will be at The 19th Hole; Arcadia Grille; Boomyada; Cantonology; Carpe Diem Coffee Shop; Culture Lounge; Fromage du Monde Cheese; George’s Lounge; Grapes in a Glass; Julliard Arts Center; Just Imagine by TWi; Milestone; Miss Larana’s Alchemical Apothecary; Patina Arts Centre; Silo Arts Studio; The Vagabond Cafe; Visit Canton; and The Woodshop brewery.
There will also be a Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health scavenger hunt. Participants will have a chance to win prizes by searching downtown for Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health-branded golf balls, which gives you entry into a special raffle.
A “Wall to Wall” open studio artist showcase will be 5-10 p.m. at The Hub Art Factory, 336 Sixth St. NW.
Canton Comedy Boom will have a free show at 8 p.m. in the downstairs event space of Patina Arts Centre, 324 Cleveland Ave. NW. Northeast Ohio comedians will be featured.
The movie “Wicked” will be shown at 7:30 p.m. at Canton Palace Theatre, 605 Market Ave. N. General admission tickets are $7 and can be purchased at cantonpalacetheatre.org/ or at the door.
2. Pro wrestling at the Stark County Fairgrounds
NEOPro Wrestling returns to the Art Hall Feb. 15 at the Stark County Fairgrounds.
“WHITE NOISE” will feature NEOPro Wrestling champion Ashton Day and the new women’s champion.
Wrestlers also will be vying to become the first NEOPro Wrestling Great Lakes champion, according to a news release.
Doors open one hour before the 6 p.m. event. Tickets, $20 for general admission and $25 for VIP, are available at https://neopro.ticketleap.com/. The fairgrounds is at 305 Wertz Ave. NW.
3. Valentine’s Murder Mystery Party at The Auricle
The Auricle Venue + Bar will host an interactive Valentine’s Day Murder Mystery Party on Feb. 14.
Guests will play either a murder suspect or detective while discovering clues left at the crime scene and interrogating one another. The gangster-themed mystery murder is set in Chicago in the 1940s.
The goal is to unmask the killer. Each guest who correctly solves the mystery is awarded a “Super Sleuth Certificate.” Similar to playing the board game “Clue,” the event is presented by Get Away with Murder, Inc.
Doors open one hour before the 8 p.m. event at The Auricle, 201 Cleveland Ave. NW. Tickets can be purchased for $20 in advance at https://www.simpletix.com/. Tickets will cost $25 day of the event.
4. Joe Martino art show at Strauss Studios
Professional mixed media artist Joe Martino will open a solo exhibition Saturday at Strauss Studios in downtown Canton.
The longtime Stark County resident will debut a new collection of paintings from 4 to 6 p.m. during a reception in the Upstairs Gallery of Strauss Studios, 236 Walnut Ave. NE.
“Mixed Media Magic: Artistic Alchemy” will be on display through March 14.
“Patterns in nature, physical processes, and the great abstract painters of the past have have all helped spark my creativity,” Martino said in a news release from Strauss Studios.
Jazz guitarist Dave Marchione will perform at the reception, which also will include a brief talk by the artist and light refreshments.
Martino’s mixed media art has been showcased in juried art shows and festivals across the country. He’s also a former Stark County science teacher. His mixed-media, abstract paintings focus on color and heavy textures. Science and patterns in nature serve as backdrops.
5. ‘Golden Girls’ tribute show in Jackson Township
A “Golden Girls” tribute show will be Feb. 15 La Pizzaria in Jackson Township.
Stardust Dinner Theatre will present the tribute show, which includes dinner. Three popular episodes from “The Golden Girls” television show will be recreated on stage by area actors.
Tickets, $45 and $55, can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/.
6. ‘Vinyl Revival’
A Valentine’s edition of “Vinyl Revival: Stark County’s Record Swap & Shop” will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 8 at The Auricle, 201 Cleveland Ave. NW in downtown Canton.
The Auricle, Erie St Vinyl in Massillon and Quonset Hut in Canton are partnering on the event. A DJ will play music, and The Auricle’s bar will be open.
Early admission from 10 to 11 a.m. costs $5. Admission from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. costs $2. Cash and credit will be accepted at the door.
7. Bourbon & Blues orchestra fundraiser
“Bourbon & Blues,” a fundraiser for the Canton Symphony Orchestra, will be at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at The Auricle Venue + Bar in downtown Canton.
Standard tickets cost $65 and include concert admission, appetizers and a bourbon flight. Premium tickets cost $90 and include a wristband for the open bar. Bourbon-tasting stations will be available.
Tickets can be purchased at cantonsymphony.org/bourbon-and-blues/ or by calling the symphony box office at 330-452-2094.
Presented by the Craig Covey LGBT & Diversity Pride Fund, “Bourbon & Blues” will feature the music of Becky Boyd & The Groove Train, which is led by vocalist Becky Boyd.
Basket raffles also will be available, with all proceeds benefitting the education, entertainment and community programs of Canton Symphony Orchestra.
8. Rock anthems by candlelight
A candlelight concert recalling ’80s rock anthems will be Saturday at Lions Lincoln Theatre in downtown Massillon.
Songs tentatively scheduled to be performed include “Africa” by Toto; “Every Breath You Take” by The Police; “Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac; “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush; “Another Brick in the Wall” by Pink Floyd; “Without or Without You” by U2″; and “Sweet Child ‘O Mine” by Guns ‘N Roses.
Tickets, $13 to $29, can be purchased for the 6:30 p.m. concert through www.lionslincolntheatre.org/.
Reach Ed at ebalint@gannett.com. On X (formerly Twitter) @ebalinREP and Instagram at ed_balint