Things to Do in Kettering

One fateful day 24 years ago, a group of doomed souls got lost amid the shadows of 22 acres of wooded land and were never found. Each year following that, more and more people met the same fate. Nightmare On Valley Street dares guests to gather their courage and walk—or run—down the haunted trail where these souls were last seen, confronting characters from horror movies and being chased by four-wheelers that were deprived of their afternoon nap. During the 30-minute adrenaline-filled adventure, participants encounter more than 30 scenes and more than 40 live monsters that will soon join their nightmares.

For wee ones and those who would rather smile than scream, Nightmare On Valley Street also hosts Hillbilly Hayrides that set out in the crisp autumn air, while the sun is still duct taped to the sky. In addition to free parking, the amenities include onsite concessions for fortifying the strength of those who have fainted.

Sprawled across Ed Martinek's 63-acre family farm, Adventure Acres cultivates a wholesome harvest of activities for pintsize and full-size visitors alike. Five corn mazes snake across a combined 11-plus miles of land, challenging navigators with twists and turns as onlookers and overly concerned scarecrows shout directions from an elevated watchtower. Scenic 30-minute hayrides explore the winding creeks and wildlife that meander peacefully across the grounds, and air-powered corn cannons equip trigger fingers with the power to launch ears up to 500 feet. After scouting the farm's outlying features, guests wrap back around to the petting zoo, where they can play with or try to elicit stock advice from tightlipped goats, horses, and cows.

For James Michael Kahle, the molten material he uses to craft his sculptures and vessels is a living thing, an element that must be cooperated with in order to achieve the desired response. Since beginning his career at the Toledo Museum of Art in 1990, the artisan has come to master a number of methods for creating stunning visual effects, from melding metal and alloys into the glass to encasing air bubbles. James channels his skill into crafting pieces—such as installation pieces, prismatic sinks, and even memorial sculptures forged around the ashes of a departed loved one—for display and use around the home. The glassworker also invites groups into his studio for classes, vigilant as his students work their own pieces in lava-powered ovens reaching more than 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit.

The history at Victoria Theatre stretches back to 1866, when the "Magnificent Edifice" was first built at First and Main Streets. Its halls have hosted entertainment luminaries of many eras, including Harry Houdini, Mark Twain, and Socrates during his I Know That I Know Nothing comeback tour. After becoming the victim of two fires (1869 and 1918) and a flood (1913), the theater avoided man-hurled wrecking balls in 1975 when it was named to the National Register of Historic Places, a list where the Italianate structure still resides well into the 21st century.