Classic cars, vintage planes and country music fill Mansfield’s Fantastic Final Friday Weekend

Published on July 18th, 2022.

Travelers will want to plan a trip to Mansfield Aug. 26-28, when a jam-packed weekend filled with fantastic times offers loads of opportunities to make memories with family and friends. The action actually gets rolling on Wednesday, when the rare and massive WWII planes of the Air Power History Tour fly into Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport. The Final Friday live concert at the Brickyard and the Heart of the City Cruise-In round out the weekend fun.

Mansfield Lahm Airport Day

The first of what’s expected to be an annual event in Mansfield will show off the area’s updated Mansfield Lahm Airport on Saturday, Aug. 27 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Designed to spark an interest in aviation among young people, free Young Eagles Flights are offered to attendees age 8-13 who’ve never been on a plane, starting at 9:30 a.m. Registration for these limited flights is recommended and opens at 1 p.m. Aug. 19 at yeday.org. A Food Truck Rally will host nearly a dozen different offerings, while the special KidsZone bounce houses and interactive inflatables are staffed by members of the Civil Air Patrol. An area showcasing the businesses of Mansfield Lahm Airport will introduce all that’s new at the airport.

Aug. 24-28, the sights, sounds, and stories of World War II aviation fly into the airport as the AirPower History Tour brings five of the era’s most important aircraft to the main terminal ramp. The tour is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and access is $20 for adults, $10 for youths age 11-17 and free for kids age 10 and under. Details and tickets are found at airpowersquadron.org/mansfield-ohio. Presented by the Commemorative Air Force, the tour gives visitors a rare opportunity to view aircraft up close and to tour B-29 and B-24 cockpits when the aircraft aren’t flying. The CAF is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to honoring American military aviation history by keeping these majestic aircraft flying and through exhibition and remembrance. A highlight is a ride aboard any of five iconic 1930s-1940s aircraft. Advance reservations are recommended, with 20- and 40-minute ride prices ranging from $299-$3700/person. Rides are available in the B-29 Superfortress “Fifi,” B-24 Liberator “Diamond Lil,” T-6 Texan; PT-13 Stearman, and P-51 Mustang “Gunfighter.” Ride schedules and booking is available online at airpowersquadron.org/book.

Final Fridays Concert in the Brickyard:

The wildly popular Final Friday Concert Series takes place in the historic downtown Mansfield’s Carrousel District. Friday, Aug. 26, 2022, an all-country lineup includes Jose Sanchez, Tom’s Kitchen Table, and County Line, who take the Brickyard stage at 5:30 p.m. Guests often bring their own chairs to this popular outdoor arts and cultural venue, where local craft beer and food trucks draw lines of hungry and thirsty music lovers. Once a bustling commerce and warehouse district, the area faded, leaving deteriorated old industrial buildings, long past their prime. Local visionaries developed the Brickyard to create a downtown cultural center. Today, a live music stage, farmers’ markets, and pop-up shops have replaced the wholesale demolition of littered alleys and piles of bricks.

Heart of the City Cruise-In:

The 25th anniversary Heart of the City Cruise-In rolls into downtown Mansfield, Saturday, Aug. 27 at noon and runs through 8 p.m. One of the state’s largest car shows, the event features drool-worthy cars, trucks, and vans, competitions with trophies, show favorites, a 50/50 raffle, live music, and great food. Held rain or shine, entrants in this massive antique car show cruise up SR 13 from Central Park. With the hundreds of cars lined up to strut their stuff, the parade will feature every imaginable antique vehicle, plus some modern stunners, from a 1920s Model T, a 1933 Plymouth PD Coupe or a ‘65 Ford Shelby GT350, to a rare 1964 Chevy Corvair Rampside, a 1920s Packard Roaster or the 1957 Chevy 210. Live entertainment will have some of that same vintage flare, with hometown 1960’s rock bands Ohio Express, Music Explosion, and The Cyrkle, along with Journey cover band Departure. Anyone who wants to show off their ride can register at the show at 9 a.m. for $15.

A destination unlike any other, Mansfield, Ohio offers unusual travel adventures and experiences, such as spending the night in a haunted former state prison where Hollywood blockbuster movies are shot, world-class motorsports, skiing, hiking, biking, golf, and loads of other outdoor adventures attract families and visitors of all ages. Complete visitor information, lodging details, and free visitor guides are available at destinationmansfield.com.

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