Celebrate Hudson!

Issue #11: September 15, 2026

Celebrate Hudson! is a free monthly email newsletter produced as a community service by Hudson Community Foundation and Destination Hudson -- both local independent non-profit organizations -- to showcase some of the incredible community events hosted by an array of non-profit organizations in Hudson. Scroll down and enjoy. 

Take a guess at Hudson Trivia Question #3 for a chance to win a prize. It’s mid-way in this email.

Hudson Farmers Market

Saturdays through October 10, 2026

9am to 12:30pm

Hudson Clocktower and Gazebo Greens

The Hudson Farmers Market is a collaborative effort dedicated to preserving the unique character of Hudson. The Market is an independent nonprofit organization (not affiliated with or funded by the City of Hudson) managed entirely by residents and volunteers. It began as a project of Leadership Hudson (Class of 2006-2007), a program sponsored by The Rotary Club of Hudson Clock Tower. Opened in 2006, the market has grown to host more than 40 vendor tents, representing businesses located within a 100-mile radius of Hudson. Learn more at www.hudsonohiofarmersmarket.org.

First & Main: Screen on the Green

Saturday, October 3, 2026

Beginning at dusk

First & Main Green, downtown Hudson

Start the Halloween season with a treat. On October 3, Hocus Pocus will be showing on First & Main’s outdoor movie screen. Bring your own chairs and blankets. Hocus Pocus will begin at dusk. It is free and open to everyone.

Friends of Hudson Parks: Dog Walks With Friends

Saturday, October 17, 2026

9am to 10am

Cascade Park, 130 Lynn Dr., Hudson

Sunday, November 15, 2026

9am to 10am

Barlow Farm Park, 1965 Barlow Rd., Hudson

Take your dog for a walk with the Friends of Hudson Parks. All dogs must be on leashes. Meet by the restrooms near the parking lot. Registration is required at Hudson Park Events - Friends of Hudson Parks.

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Hudson Senior Network Classes and Events

Registration is open for wellness classes, page turners, social gatherings and special events hosted on two Wednesdays each month by Hudson Senior Network. Ways to Register:

• Online: Visit https://letstalk.hudson.oh.us/senior-activities for full details and to register.
• Direct Link:  3^rd Quarter Registration Form.
• By Phone: For events and classes at City Hall, call (234) 293-9983 and leave a message. A volunteer will return your call.

All Hudson Senior Network classes, social events, and special events are held in the City Hall Community Rooms, 1140 Terex Road, unless otherwise indicated. Coming up:

• September 23: Our Lower GI (Snack & Refreshment). Sponsor: Western Reserve Hospital



Also, Seniors are invited to play bocce at 2pm each Friday at Hudson Springs Park, weather permitting. In case of bad weather, gather at Barlow Community Center for board games from 2pm to 3:30pm on Fridays through October.

Upcoming Events: Learning & Education

Hudson Community Foundation: Estate Planning Program

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

5:30pm

Flood Room, Hudson Library & Historical Society, 96 Library Street, Hudson

Estate Planning & Tax-Smart Charitable Giving Strategies is a free informative session covering estate planning fundamentals, current tax laws and practical strategies designed to help individuals and families preserve and transfer wealth efficiently. Gain a better understanding of today's estate planning landscape, learn strategies to maximize the impact of wealth and explore approaches for achieving both financial and philanthropic goals. Advance registration is requested.

Trey Bennett, attorney with Stark & Knoll Co., L.P.A; Jessica Tepus, CPA, director of private client services at Bober Markey Federovich; and Amy Jordan, president of Hudson Community Foundation, will lead the discussion and Q&A.

Hudson Library: Cemetery Walking Tour

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

10am

Hudson Library & Historical Society, 96 Library St., Hudson

Join a walking tour of the Old Hudson Township Burying Ground, the final resting place for many of Hudson’s founders and early pioneers. Hear the stories behind the cemetery's most well-known residents, including David Hudson, Owen Brown (father of abolitionist John Brown) and many more. All walking tours are weather dependent and meet at the entrance to the library. Remember to wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.

Register at Programs & Events| Hudson Library | Hudson, Ohio or call 330/653-6658.

Hudson Trivia Question #2:

What was the name of the railroad created and financed by Hudsonites to provide direct train service from the Atlantic Ocean to the Missouri River?

(scroll to the end of this email for the answer)

State of Mind Hudson: Mental Health First Aid Training

Saturday, October 3, 2026

9:30am

Hudson Library & Historical Society, 96 Library Street, Hudson

State of Mind: Hudson is hosting Mental Health First Aid training as part of its commitment to expanding access to mental health education in our community. Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training for adults 18 and over that teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of a mental health or substance use challenge. The evidence behind the program demonstrates that it builds mental health literacy and provides an action plan to help people respond safely and responsibly and connect someone with appropriate support.

This invitation-only training is offered at no cost to participants. Community members who are interested in being added to the invitation list are encouraged to email stateofmindhudson@gmail.com. 

Hudson Community First: Science-Based Strategies for Raising Kids

Monday, October 5, 2026

7pm

Hudson Middle School, 83 N. Oviatt St., Hudson

In this free Community of Care presentation, award-winning author and science journalist Melinda Wenner Moyer will share practical, science-backed strategies for helping children develop three important skills: COPE, CONNECT and CULTIVATE. Moyer is a contributing editor at Scientific American, a regular contributor to The New York Times, and a former faculty member at NYU's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. Her work draws on hundreds of interviews, research-based interventions, and thousands of studies to give parents useful tools they can apply in everyday life.

City of Hudson: Electronics Recycling Day

Saturday, October 10, 2026

9am to 1pm

Hudson City Hall, 1140 Terex Rd, Hudson

The City of Hudson and Summit e-Waste will be collecting, recycling and shredding unwanted electronic devices, including computers, printers, cell phones and TVs. For guidelines and a full list of what will be accepted, visit Hudson City Hall - Summit e-Waste

Friends of Hudson Parks: Fall Mindful Hike

Sunday, October 11, 2026

9am to 10am

Cascade Park, 130 Lynn Dr., Hudson

Join Friends of Hudson Parks us for a Fall Mindful Hike for Mental Health – a walk through nature, exploring the connection between mental health and the outdoors. Come prepared for rainy weather. This event is a collaboration between Friends, Shannon Speaks, LISW-S, of Nourish Whole-Person Coaching, and State of Mind: Hudson. To register for the hike, go to Fall Mindful Hike for Mental Health - Friends of Hudson Parks.

Hudson Heritage Association: History Programs

Founded in 1962, Hudson Heritage Association works to protect historic buildings, the village streetscape and the city’s Western Reserve architectural aesthetic. HHA also shares and celebrates the history of Northeastern Ohio by publishing books and newsletters, conducting workshops and field trips, and hosting monthly meetings that feature local preservationists, historians and craftsmen.

Two free programs upcoming include:

• A Tour of Hudson’s Archives – Thursday, October 8, 2026, at Hudson Library & Historical Society North Room, and
• A Viewing of the Frederick Douglas Movie -- Thursday, November 12, 2026, at Western Reserve Academy Chapel.



Watch the HHA website for details: www.hudsonheritage.org

Hudson Trivia Question #3:

What was the original purpose of the building that now houses the Rosewood Grill restaurant and several offices at 36 E. Streetsboro Rd?

(scroll to the end of this email to see how you can win a prize by guessing at the answer to this question)

Hudson Library: Kit Homes of Hudson

Monday, October 12, 2026

6:30pm

Hudson Library & Historical Society, 96 Library St., Hudson



Discover the fascinating story of America's mail-order homes. In the early 20th century, more than 400,000 kit homes were built across the United States. Homebuyers selected designs and features from catalogs, and pre-cut building materials were shipped directly to their communities for assembly. This presentation will explore several Hudson homes ordered through the Sears Roebuck catalog and other kit home manufacturers, highlighting their unique history and lasting impact on the city's architectural landscape. 

Registration is required. Register at Programs & Events| Hudson Library | Hudson, Ohio or call 330/653-6658.

Peg's Gallery: Nature Mandala Workshop

Thursday, October 15, 2026

5:30pm to 7pm

Peg’s Gallery, 53 First St., Hudson

Join visual artist Care Hanson for a quiet, meditative workshop exploring the art of creating nature mandalas. Participants will choose from a variety of natural and found materials to create a personal, temporary mandala—a circular arrangement designed to encourage presence, reflection and an appreciation for impermanence. 

There is no “right” way to create a mandala. The process is an opportunity to slow down, notice the beauty around you, and enjoy the simple act of making. Because these mandalas are temporary, participants are invited to photograph their creations if they wish; there is no physical artwork to take home. The workshop is free. No experience is necessary.



To register, go to: The Art of Impermanence: A Nature Mandala Workshop - Peg's

Upcoming Events: Arts & Culture

Peg's Foundation and Gallery: A 6-Week Artist's Way Program

Every Friday, October 9, 2026, through November 13, 2026

5pm to 6pm

53 First Street, Hudson

The Listening Path: A 6-Week Artist’s Way Program is for anyone seeking to reclaim, reconnect with or deepen their attention to their creative inner world – and is open to artists and non-artists alike. It offers a shared space to explore creativity, attention, and listening through individual practice and group reflection. The program is facilitated by Laura Naples, an artist based in Hudson.

The Listening Path: The Creative Art of Attention by Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way, provides the framework for gatherings, which will include reading, small-cluster sharing and creative practices.

Participants should obtain their own copy of The Listening Path: The Creative Art of Attention and read the Introduction and Week One chapters before the first meeting on October 9. (The book is available for order at The Learned Owl in Hudson.) Because the program builds from week to week, participants are encouraged to review all dates carefully before registering and to plan for consistent attendance.

Spaces are limited. Registration is required. To register, go to The Listening Path: A 6-Week Artist's Way Program - Peg's

Music From The Western Reserve: Free Concerts

Hudson-based Music from The Western Reserve seeks to present the great wealth of musical talent found in Northeast Ohio in the rich, historic tradition of the area. Upcoming concerts with free admission are at 5pm at Christ Church Episcopal, 21 Aurora St., Hudson, with pre-concert talks at 4:30pm and receptions to follow.

Irwin Shung, piano and harpsichord

Sunday, September 27, 2026, 5pm

Christ Church Episcopal, 21 Aurora St., Hudson



Virtuoso pianist and harpsichordist Irwin Shung plays a solo program inspired by "Ten Kings of Hell," an upcoming Exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Harnsberger/Jones Marimba Duo

Sunday, October 25, 2026, 5pm

Christ Church Episcopal, 21 Aurora St., Hudson



The Harnsberger/Jones Marimba Duo plays an exhilarating program of solo and duo marimba repertoire!

Callisto Quartet

Sunday, November 8, 2026, 5pm

Christ Church Episcopal, 21 Aurora St., Hudson

The Callisto Quartet plays a masterful chamber program featuring the music of Mozart, Strum and Beethoven.

Hudson Trivia Question #4:

What and where was a cheese factory once located in Hudson?

(scroll to the end of this email for the answer)

65th Annual Hudson Parade of Bands

Saturday, October 3, 2026

7pm

Hudson Memorial Stadium, 2500 Hudson-Aurora Rd., Hudson

Enjoy the music and pageantry at Hudson High School’s annual Parade of Bands. In addition to the Hudson High School Swing Marching Band, others scheduled to appear include the Hudson High School Alumni Band, Cuyahoga Falls Tiger Marching Band, Solon High School Comet Marching Band and Olentangy Orange High School Marching Pioneers.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at 65th Annual Hudson Parade of Bands | Hudson Box Office. Reserved seating is $15; general admission is $10; student and senior tickets are $8 in pre-sale and $10 day at the event.

More information at Parade of Bands.

Hudson Society of Artists Programs

Mondays, September 21, October 5 and October 19, 2026

7pm to 9pm

Barlow Community Center, 41 S. Oviatt St., Hudson

The Hudson Society of Artists is an organization of individuals interested in furthering artistic endeavors in northeast Ohio. Membership is open to artists of all ages and abilities, from professionals to beginners, as well as those interested in the arts but not necessarily artists themselves. Visitors are welcome at all meetings.

Upcoming meetings will feature:

September 21, 2026: Alexandria Joliat, photomontage

October 5, 2026: Laser and Collage Artist Susan Yingling

October 19, 2026: Sculptor Katina Radwanski

For more information at www.hudsonsocietyofartists.com

Hudson High School Fall Choir and Orchestra Concerts

Come experience the talented vocal and orchestra students of Hudson High School in their fall concerts. Performances are free of charge and held in the Hudson High School Auditorium, 2500 Hudson Aurora Rd.



Fall HHS Choir Concert

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

7pm

The Hudson High School Vocal Music Program, under the direction of Jacob Moore, prides itself on providing a solid foundation of music education for each individual student through a variety of curriculum-based and extra-curricular groups.

Fall HHS Orchestra Concert

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

7pm

The HHS orchestras, under the baton of Roberto Iriarte, perform a minimum of four formal concerts throughout the school year, plus additional performances at festivals, OMEA competitions, and community events.

The Hudson Players 82nd Season

The Hudson Players kicks off its 82^nd season in October. The 2026-2027 season includes three shows at Barlow Community Center, 41 S. Oviatt St.:

Come From Away, a funny and uplifting story about kindness, community, and the unexpected connections that can bring people together when the world feels divided, runs from October 30 through November 21, 2026;



Mornings At Seven, a warm, character-driven family story about four sisters and their intertwined lives, runs from February 5 through February 27, 2027;

You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, a gentle, heartfelt musical celebrating vulnerability, optimism and the innocence of seeing the world with fresh eyes, runs from April 23 through May 15, 2027.

Individual tickets are $15. Student and senior tickets $13. Season tickets for the entire three-show run are available for $36. Go to www.hudsonplayers.com

Door 2 Art Studio: Open Studio

Every Wednesday (excluding November 25, 2026)

4pm to 8pm

5374 Darrow Rd, Hudson

Door 2 is a multi-faceted art studio in Hudson with professional artists on staff. Door 2 hosts community events, Open Studio, an Artist Speaker Series, Art Classes, Artist Forum and more. All activities are free and open to the public.   

Current offerings:

• Open Studio every Wednesday from 4pm to 8pm welcomes budding artists ages 14+. There are free materials and instructions in painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, and more.
• At monthly Artist Features, hear from a local artist or creative professional about his/her background and work. On Wednesday, September 23, at 6:30pm, the featured artist is Kim Kapera. On Wednesday, November 4, it's Kyle Bee.
• Door 2 offers Studio Classes once each month from 5pm to 8pm on selected Wednesdays (doors open at 4pm). September 30, Drawing with Ron White. October 21, Color Theory with Adriana Caso. All classes are free. No registration is required and all materials will be provided.

Door2 is now accepting submissions for its 2026 Art Show – October 8 through October 11, 2026. This is a juried show with cash prizes up to a $1,000 grand prize. Artists may submit up to two works this year and will be notified if they have been accepted after the jury process. The awards ceremony will be at 7pm on Friday, October 9, 2026. This year’s show will have a special themed category: Darkness to Light.

For more information, visit www.door2art.com

Hudson Trivia Question #5:

What percentage of Hudson households have a computer?

(scroll to the end of this email for the answer)

Upcoming Events: Children's Activities

Hudson Library: After School Coding Club

Thursdays, September 17 and October 15, 2026

4:30pm to 6pm

Hudson Library & Historical Society, 96 Library St., Hudson

Start coding with the library’s after school coding club and FieroCode. The club meets the third Thursday of each month in the second floor computer lab. Students in 3rd grade and up will work on basic computer skills, learn how to make websites, video games, apps, animations and more. No coding experience required. Snacks will be provided. 

Registration is required and space is limited. Register at Programs & Events| Hudson Library | Hudson, Ohio or by calling 330/653-6658.

Participants should create a Fierocode account before the program by going to 

https://app.fierocode.com/sign-in?club=1042 . Each child needs their own unique username, but the same email and library card can be used for siblings. A Hudson Library Card is required to create an account. 

Hudson Family Fun Day

Saturday, September 19, 2026

10am to 12noon

Holden Pavilion, Cascade Park, 130 Lynn Dr., Hudson

Join Friends of Hudson Parks, Hudson Preschool Parents and Hudson Community First at a Family Fun Day. Celebrate the start of a new school year and the end of Playground Palooza with a fun morning at the park – a chance for kids to play, explore and connect as as families. Enjoy an ice cream truck sponsored by Reno Real Estate. Turn in completed Passport for Playground Palooza 2026 and claim a magnifying glass prize. And use your drawing skills to help us create the new “Children’s Guide to Hudson Parks.”

Registration is required Family Fun Day - Friends of Hudson Parks

Hudson Merchant Trick or Treat

Thursday, October 29, 2026

5pm to 7pm

Downtown Hudson

The Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Hudson Merchant Trick or Treat. This is a community celebration of Halloween, offering a festive atmosphere for families. Costumed children are invited to visit participating merchants to collect candies and other treats. Enjoy painted display windows (often created by local students) and encourage kids to show off their best costumes. Participants are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the full route and avoid crowds. Kids should bring their own reusable bags for collecting treats. (Note: Hudson’s community-wide Trick Or Treat is on Saturday, October 31, 2026.)

Save the Date

Hudson Turkey Trot 4-Miler

Hudson Athletic Booster Club and Friends of Hudson Parks are partnering on a new Thanksgiving morning tradition – a 4-mile turkey trot to raise funds for Hudson athletic teams and student athletes. The races will start and finish at Hudson Middle School. More details to come.

Hudson Community Choruses Holiday Concert

Hudson Community Choruses – Adult, Youth and Children – will present their annual holiday concert on Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6, 2026. As the concert approaches, stay tuned to www.hudsonsings.org for details and tickets.

Hudson Trivia Question #6:

Where can you find the plaque marking the spot where David Hudson and his settling party knelt to give thanks for safe travel and arrival in Hudson?

(scroll to the end of this email for the answer)

A Look Back to Recent Events

At Hudson-Landsberg’s Biergarten on the downtown Park Lane Green on August 7 and 8, the Northcoast Mix Live Polka Band had the large and festive crowd tapping their feet. This event raised funds for student scholarships and travel grants. 

The culmination of a community-wide effort, Hudson’s DREAM Playground opened on August 9 in Oak Grove Park on Barlow Road. DREAM is Summit County’s first fully inclusive playground—a 24,000-square-foot play space designed for children and adults of all abilities to play, explore and connect with one another. 

Hudson has a comprehensive Community Events Calendar!

Hudson Community Foundation hosts Hudson Happenings, a new, all-encompassing community events calendar created in partnership with Hudson City Schools, Hudson Library and the City of Hudson. This new calendar is one place for everything happening around town. From nonprofit programs and community events to school activities and city government happenings, it’s all in one easy, convenient place. View it online: https://events.hudsonhappenings.org/

Answers to trivia questions in this issue:

#1: Jim Sorgi, founder of Hudson’s American Fireworks, was ahead of his time – fearlessly experimenting with space travel 30 years before the Soviet Union launched Sputnik and 40 years before the USA landed on the moon. Sorgi built larger and larger rockets with more and more powder, testing various versions in Hudson before abandoning the project and focusing on fireworks during the Great Depression. 

#2: The Clinton Air Line Railroad, conceived in 1852, was intended to be a straight-line rail corridor to connect the Atlantic Ocean with the Midwest. Hudson residents raised $200,000 (about $8 million in today’s dollars) for this project. It became known as “the railway that never was.” While the line was abandoned during the Panic of 1857, a stone Roman arch bridge built for the railroad was erected (and still exists) in the greenbelt to the east of Morse Road, between Prospect and Owen Brown Streets. Part of the original Clinton Air Line Railroad property, which would have included a regional hub depot, today is being planned for redevelopment by the City of Hudson in a project called Clinton Crossing.

#3: To guess at this answer, email us at celebratehudson@myhcf.org. A fabulous prize will be awarded to a person whose guess is correct. In the event of multiple correct answers, the winner will be selected in a random drawing. Even if you have won previously, you have the opportunity to win again. So don’t hold back.

#4: The Seymour Straight Cheese Factory was built in 1878 at 88 College Street near the intersection of Aurora Street. Today it is Hayden Hall, the primary music and fine arts center at Western Reserve Academy.

#5: According to 2025 U.S. Census data, 99.6% of Hudson households have a computer of some sort.

#6: The plaque is mounted on a rock on Hudson’s Park Lane Green, on the front lawn of the Baldwin-Buss-Marino House at the intersection of Ohio 91 and 303.

The answer from last month’s trivia contest (from our

August 18, 2026, issue):

In the August issue, we asked readers to submit their best answer to: What is the hottest temperature ever officially recorded for Hudson and the surrounding area?

The correct answer: While there is no historical recording of temperatures specifically in Hudson, a temperature of 104ºF was recorded in Summit County on August 6, 1918.

The winner of our August trivia contest was Melanie Painter.

Melanie and her son, Liam, are seen below with her prizes – a colorful outdoor thermometer (available at Discount Drug Mart in Hudson) and a box containing $20 gift cards from each of 5 Hudson businesses where you can get 5 distinct types of frozen treats on a scorching summer day:

• Hershey’s of Hudson, 50 W. Streetsboro Rd., for ice cream and sundaes by the scoop;
• Cold Stone Creamery, 48 Park Lane, for custom ice cream creations made on a frozen granite stone;
• LuLu’s Yogurt With a Twist, 56 Library St., for self-serve frozen yogurt and desserts with a multitude of decadent toppings;
• 3 Palms Italian Pizzeria & Bakery, 60 Village Way, for handcrafted gelatos and sorbettos; and
• Everbowl, 5 Atterbury Blvd., for fruit-forward Acai bowls and smoothies.

Email us at celebratehudson@myhcf.org with comments, questions or to add your Hudson non-profit organization’s event to future issues of Celebrate Hudson!

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