Unique Oz Events for October

[ http://www.visitwamego.com/events/oztoberfest]

Oztoberfest, the Oz Museum’s annual event, is here! This Oct. 6, come fill your day with Oz theme activities, participate in the costume contest, and meet Oz characters, special guest authors and Oz collectors. Enjoy food vendors, story time at the library, the Wicked Witch’s dunk tank, stilt-walking apple trees, a car show, barbecue cook-off, a street dance Saturday night, and much more. Join the Toto scavenger hunt around town, and be sure to see the display of smaller Toto sculptures available for purchase in the Columbian Theatre’s Swogger Gallery. Friday and Saturday evening don’t miss the Judy Garland Songbook. This live concert at the Columbian Theatre is complemented each day with a talk by Garland biographer John Fricke.

October 12-26 dance on over to Kansas City for a Wizard of Oz performance like none before. The Kansas City Ballet has partnered with two other ballet companies, to produced a lavish, million-dollar Oz production with all new costumes and sets. All new music, too, performed by the Kansas City Symphony. Dancers will fly and fans will cheer!  An Emerald City Ball benefactors’ fundraiser will be held Oct. 6. For info and tickets, check out their website.

The Ruby Slippers owned by the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington, DC, returns to public display Oct. 19 following a year of research and conservation treatment. Also featured, a private collector found a long-lost wand photographed with Billie Burke as the Good Witch of the North. It’s been 80 years since these two props were together. Ray Bolger’s Scarecrow costume also is among the Museum’s treasures. Screenings of MGM’s classic film are scheduled as part of the celebration.

All month the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia offers The Museum of Oz filled with themed events and activities. It will make a memorable Halloween.