Travel report: Bible carvings, glass pumpkins

New Bible carvings on display

© Biblewalk photo
A carving of The Last Supper, now at BibleWalk museum in Mansfield

The BibleWalk museum in Mansfield is the new home of more than 500 wooden carvings by the late artist Joseph Barta.

The works, which mostly portray various people and scenes from the Bible, had been displayed at a museum in Wisconsin, which recently closed. The carvings were done by Barta over 30 years. The life-sized carving of The Last Supper alone took two years.

BibleWalk also exhibits many other works of biblical-themed art and an important collection of Bibles. A new exhibit featuring more than 200 Bibles all in different languages is scheduled to open next year.

For more information including hours, prices and tours, visit biblewalk.us.

Looking through a glass pumpkin

Jack Pine Studio in Laurelville in the Hocking Hills will host a “Glass Pumpkin Patch” festival Oct. 22-25.

Visitors will find a pumpkin patch filled with beautiful blown-glass pumpkins, glass-blowing demonstrations, giant pumpkin-carving, an artists’ market and a variety of pumpkin foods as well as other food from area vendors. 

To ensure proper social distancing, admission will be limited. To make a reservation in advance or for more information, visit jackpinestudio.com.

Choo-choo choose this ride

The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway is offering fall foliage train rides every Thursday through Sunday in October.

Trains leave the depot in Nelsonville on Thursdays and Fridays at 1 p.m. and noon and 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. 

Later in the season, the railway’s Santa trains begin their holiday runs on Thanksgiving weekend. Santa will board the train and talk with the children as the train proceeds to Logan and back.

The last train of the year is the New Year’s Eve Special, with one section for adults with wine, cheese and other snacks, and a second section with pizza and soda for families. The evening ends with a midnight fireworks display to ring in the New Year.

For more information about trips, fares, schedules and COVID-19 safety measures, visit hvsry.org.

More frightening than Rutherford B. Hayes

Frightful local and regional ghost stories will be spun by lantern light during an evening walk through Speigel Grove in Fremont on Oct. 30.

Visitors will walk the grounds, the home of the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, with a storyteller for one-hour tours, including two stops at the historic Hayes home to hear tales of Victorian-era practices surrounding death and the supernatural.

The event is from 7 to 10 p.m. and includes a campfire and popcorn, cider and hot chocolate. Guests also can take pictures with “ghosts” at the spirit photography station.

Tours are limited to 10 people per tour, and attendees must wear face coverings. Tours are offered throughout the evening, with the last tour leaving at 9 p.m.

Tickets cost $15. Advance reservations are recommended. Visit rbhayes.org for reservations or more information.

— Steve Stephens

[email protected]

@SteveStephens

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Travel report: Bible carvings, glass pumpkins