FANS of Shawshank Redemption may soon be able to celebrate the show's 30-year anniversary in person. Residents of Mansfield, Ohio , will see a huge celebration with a stacked three-day lineup of events for hardcore fans. The town and surrounding areas were where much of the film was shot.
According to Destination Mansfield , events begin this weekend in order to honor the movie's legacy. The cult-favorite film is IMDb's number-one movie of all time. Fans can begin their festivities on August 8 with a drive-in screening of the film at the Renaissance Theatre's backlot.
Read More on Travel Additional screenings with reserved indoor seating will also take place on August 9 and 10. Shawshank Redemption enthusiasts can also sign up for tours of over a dozen filming locations in and around Mansfield. Visitors will follow the "Shawshank Trail," a collection of sites that are relevant to the movie.
Sites included on the tour include the Ohio State Reformatory, the Shawshank Museum, the Renaissance Theatre, the Shawshank Woodshop, the Pugh Cabin, and more. Most read in Travel Fans will also have the rare opportunity to meet Hollywood director Frank Darabont, who wrote the film's screenplay based on Stephen King's Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. Other cast members, such as Bob Gunton (Warden Norton), William Sadler (Keywood), and Gil Bellows (Tommy Williams), will be in Mansfield throughout the weekend.
Can't-miss events include a cast panel hosted by Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz. The panel is set to feature discussions, as well, including one with background actors, to give fans a true behind-the-scenes look at the film. Bus tours begin at noon on August 8, starting at the Ohio State Reformatory, and will end at 4 pm.
The Thursday screening of the movie will begin at 8:45 pm in the green space of the Imagination Plaza beside Renaissance Theatre. The Behind the Scenes and Beyond Panel will take place at Theatre 166 on Friday, August 9, starting at 10 a.m.
The Q&A panel with the film's background actors will take place in the same theatre on August 10, starting at 10 am. An "intimate" evening with the stars of the film will also take place the same night at 4:30 pm inside the Ohio State Reformatory. While tickets for the event are currently sold out, fans can grab tickets to the live stream at the Renaissance Theatre here .
Read More on The US Sun The weekend anniversary events will wrap up with the final Shawshank Bus Tour at the Ohio State Reformatory at noon on August 12. For a full list of events, check the anniversary site here ..
