Sat.-Sun., May 30-31 Summer
Fun 2026
Summer brings bountiful free concerts
By ANDY GRAY Staff writer
Gas prices may be soaring, but the cost to see live music in many locations throughout the area is staying the same — free.
Outdoor concerts at parks and public spaces have been a staple in the region for decades, and at least 16 locations have concerts scheduled in June, July and/or
Austintown Concerts In The Park
Concerts take place at Township Park, 6000 Kirk Road, Austintown, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays through August.
June 2 — Blue Siren
June 9 — Cin City & the Saints
June 16 — Leanne Binder, Greg Horvat & Friends
June 23 — Train Wreck
June 30 — Canfield Community Concert Band
July 7 — The Vegas Reunion Band
July 14 — Vintage Vinyl
July 21 — Common Ground
July 28 — Youngstown Area Community Concert Band
Aug. 4 — Randy & Friends
Aug. 11 — Girard Swing Time Band
Aug. 18 — Jim Frank Combo
Aug. 25 — Davis & Henner
Bazetta Music in the Park
Concerts are scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Sundays at Bazetta Township Park, 2035 Wilson Sharpsville Road.
June 3 — Terry & Diane McCabe
June 14 — Cortland Community Band
June 24 — Solo Sixstrings
August. More than 160 performances are listed below. Additional venues may have concerts planned, but did not have their schedule finalized by the date of printing.
At most of these venues, concertgoers won’t need their wallets or purses, but they will need to bring lawn chairs or blankets for sitting. And, as with any outdoor event, inclement weather could cause postponements or cancellations.
June 28 — Blue Siren
July 8 — Music by Chuck
July 12 — Dan Webb
July 22 — Cool Breeze
July 26 — Tonic Boom
Aug. 9 — Jenah Shank
Aug. 19 — Music by Chuck
Aug. 23 — Humble Music
Beaver Township Music In The Park
Concerts are scheduled on Wednesdays at Woodworth Park, 255 Warren Ave., Beaver, and start at 7 p.m.
June 3 — The Groove Band
June 10 — Jim Frank Combo
June 17 — Captain Colada
June 24 — Vegas
July 1 — Vintage Vinyl
July 8 — Guys Without Ties
July 15 — Swingtime Band
July 22 — Common Ground
July 29 — Richie Wilkins Trio
Aug.5— Davis & Henner
Aug. 12 — The Breakups
Aug. 19 — Kelly Kreidler Dunlap Boardman Park
Concerts start at 6:30 p.m., unless specified otherwise, at Maag Outdoor Arts Theatre at
Boardman Park, 375 Boardman-Poland Road. For more information, call 330-726-8107.
June 11 — Guys Without Ties
June 18 — Senior Showcase
June 25 — Breakawaze
July 2 — American Made
July 9 — The Zolkas
July 16 — Speed Limit
July 18 — Community Day in the Park with Gabriel Davis at 4:15 p.m., Properties of Amber at 6 p.m. and No Funk No Justice at 8 p.m.
July 23 — Captain Colada
July 30 — Dueling Pianos
Aug. 6 — 12th Street Band
Aug. 13 — J. Rose & Company
Aug. 15 — Family Night with Vintage Vinyl at 6 p.m.
Aug. 20 — The Wrangler Band
Buhl Farm Park Summer Concert Series
Concerts take place in the Performing Arts Center at Buhl Farm Park, 715 Hazen Road, Hermitage, Pa. Wednesday concerts start at 6:30 p.m., and Sunday and Friday performances start at 6 p.m. For weather-related cancellations, check the park’s Facebook page or call 724-981-5522, Ext. 103, after 3 p.m. The schedule includes open dates on Sept. 2, 9 and 13 as make-up rain dates for shows that are postponed during the season.
June 7 — One of These Nights
June 10 — Blue Fish Jam
June 14 — Buhl Community Band
June 17 — County Mayo
June 21 — Liverpool Lads
June 24 — John Reese & Backbeat
June 28 — The Wrangler Band
July 1 — Pipe Dreams
July 5 — The Breeze Band
July 8 — Vintage Vinyl
July 12 — 2nd Avenue Project
July 15 — Dante DiThomas Swing Band
July 19 — Mercer Community Band
July 22 — Guys Without Ties
July 26 — Reminiscent
July 29 — 12th St. Band
Aug. 2 — Terry Dach Band
Aug. 5 — Rick Hornyak & the Highway Companions
Aug. 9 — Four Kings and a Queen
Aug. 12 — FX Project
Aug. 16 — Silver Springs
Aug. 19 — The Groove
Aug. 23 — Menagerie
Aug. 26 — The Dorals
Aug. 30 — Vegas Reunion Band
Sept. 7 — Buhl Day with live entertainment
Sept. 18 — Mr Miyagi ‘80s Band
Submitted photo
The Rex Taneri Orchestra will play several of the free outdoor concert series offered throughout the summer.
Saturday-Sunday, May 30-31, 2026
Campbell Music In The Park
Concerts start at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at Roosevelt Park, Sycamore Drive.
June 4 — John Grahovic (Ice & Spice)
June 11 — Rex Taneri
June 18 — Justified-Laurie James
June 25 — Cin City & the Saints
July 2 — Buckshot-Don Williams
July 9 — Chubby Love
July 16 — Rex Taneri
July 23 — Phil Gonzalez
July 30 — Jim Frank Combo
Aug. 6 — Chubby Love
Aug. 13 — John Grahovic (Ice & Spice)
Aug. 20 — Buckshot-Don Williams
Sept. 3 — Little Rock Country Band-Gary and Debbie Parker
Sept. 10 — Justified-Laurie James
Sept. 17 — Matrix 2-2
Canfield Summer Concert Series On The Green
Concerts start at 7 p.m. Mondays on the Village Green on state Route 46. Attendees
Monday thru Saturday
to 8:00pm
Submitted photo
Speed Limit will play free outdoor concerts in Boardman, Howland and Niles this summer.
are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
June 8 — Girard Swingtime Big Band
June 15 — Guys Without Ties
June 22 — John Reese Project
June 29 — Jim Popp & Helena Vadino
July 6 — Justified
July 13 — Richie Wilkins Trio
July 20 — Rex Taneri Band
July 27 — Auto Pilot
Aug. 3 — One Cello
Aug. 10 — Mikey Dee Band
Aug. 17 — Canfield Community Band
Concerts In The Courtyard
Concerts are scheduled primarily on Saturdays at Town Center at Firestone Farms, 101 Town Center Ave., Columbiana. However, this year also includes two Friday performances.
June 13 -– Decades at 7 p.m.
June 20 -– John Reese & Backbeat at 6:30 p.m.
June 27 -– Out of Eden at 6:30 p.m.
July 10 — Rudy & the Professionals at 7 p.m.
July 11 — The Soul Men at 6 p.m.
July 18 — Old Skool at 6:30 p.m.
July 25 — Full Circle at 6 p.m.
Aug. 1 — AC & the Heat at 6 p.m.
Aug. 8 — Wrangler Band at 6 p.m.
Aug. 15 — Beatlemania Magic at 8 p.m.
Aug. 21 — RDNA at 6 p.m.
Aug. 22 — Cheeseburger in Paradise at 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 29 — Jimmy and the Soul Blazers at 7 p.m.
Harding Park
Concerts take place at Harding Park’s Bandstand, 249 Roosevelt Drive, Hubbard Township, from 6 to 8 p.m. Sundays.
May 24 — Hubbard Pep Band
June 7 — Justified
June 14 — Dixie Dandies
June 21 — Buckshot
June 28 — Girard Swing Band
July 5 — Mc’s Welsh Project
July 12 — John Reese Trio
July 19 — Jim Frank Combo
July 26 — FX Project
Aug. 2 — Take II
Aug. 9 — Richie Wilkins Trio
Aug. 16 — Justified
Aug. 23 — T Vaughn Blue
Aug. 30 — Rex Taneri
Howland Park Concerts
Eight concerts are planned at 6 p.m. Sundays at Howland Community Park, 2000 Rosegarden Drive NE, and one is scheduled on a Friday
May 31 — Richie Wilkins Trio
Submitted photo Leanne Binder will perform June 16 as part of the Concerts in the Park series at Austintown Township Park.
June 7 — Strums and Drums
June 21 — Justified
July 5 — Erie Heights Brass Ensemble
July 19 — The Drunken Iguanas
Aug. 9 — Speed Limit
Aug. 14 — The Howland Tiger Marching Band
Aug. 23 — RTR
Aug. 30 — Mystery Guests
Kinsman Music In The Garden Series
The Kinsman Free Public Library, 6420 Church St., Kinsman, will offer a pair of outdoor concerts at 5:30 p.m. in its garden, and there will be a food truck at each event so attendees can get supper with their songs. Concertgoers are encouraged to check the library’s Facebook page or call 330-876-2461 for up-to-date information on weather-related cancellations.
June 3 — The Barn Owls and LaPalma Food Truck
July 1 — TLC Acoustic and Sandy’s Melt Down
McDonald Concert Series
Programs start at 7 p.m. Thursdays at Ramsay Memorial Pavilion, Fifth Street and Ohio Avenue.
July 9 — Jim Frank Combo
July 16 — Auto Pilot
July 23 — Zero Pressure
July 30 — Mikey Dee Band
Aug. 6 — Dixie Dandies
Aug. 13 — One Cello
Music at Mauthe
Concerts at Mauthe Park, 174 Smithfield St., Struthers, start at 6 p.m. and are scheduled on Thursdays, with one exception.
June 11 — American Made
June 25 — Vintage Vinyl
July 9 — RTR
July 16 — Rick Ward Band
July 23 — Chubby Love
July 24 — The Decades
Aug. 6 — Jim Baluck
Aug. 13 — Steel Roots Band
Aug. 20 — Robert Noble
McKinley Memorial Library Music on the Lawn
Concerts take place on the grounds of the National
Submitted photo
Helen Welch will sing with the W.D. Packard Concert Band for its Fourth of July Spectacular at Packard Music Hall’s south lawn bandshell in Warren and also perform with the Big Band Sound of Packard on Aug. 23 to close the summer season.
McKinley Birthplace Memorial, 40 N. Main St., Niles. All concerts start at 6:30 p.m. unless specified otherwise. Call 330-652-1704 for more information.
June 11 — Captain Colada
June 18 — Dixie Dandies
June 25 — Rotary Club of Niles Strawberry Festival at 5:30 p.m. with Random Stranger at 6:30 p.m.
July 9 — Speed Limit
July 23 — French Blue
July 30 — Friends of Library Annual Picnic at 5:30 p.m. with Cin City & the Saints at 6:30 p.m.
W.D. Packard Concert Band
Summer Lawn Concerts
The W.D. Packard Concert Band brings the music outdoors in the summer with concerts at the south lawn bandshell at Packard Music Hall, 1703 Mahoning Ave. N.W., Warren. The summer season includes performances by the full band as well as the Big Band Sound of Packard and the Packard Dixieland Band. Concerts start at 7 p.m. unless specified otherwise, and funding is provided by the W.D. Packard trust.
June 7 — W.D. Packard Concert Band with Michael S. Butler, guest conductor
June 21 — W.D. Packard Concert Band with Galen S. Karriker, conductor, and Joseph Natoli, accordion
July 4 — Fourth of July Spectacular: W.D. Packard Concert Band with Galen S. Karriker, conductor, and Helen Welch and Doug Thomas, vocalists, at 8 p.m., followed by fireworks
July 19 — W.D. Packard Concert Band with Bruce Moss, guest conductor; Sujin Lee, soprano; and Shawn Mathey, tenor
July 25 — Packard Dixieland Band, directed by Daniel Carioti, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the National Packard Museum car show.
Aug. 2 — W.D. Packard Concert Band with Frank Tracz, guest conductor
Aug. 16 — W.D. Packard Concert Band with Galen S. Karriker, conductor
Aug. 23 — Big Band Sound of Packard, directed by Daniel Carioti, with Helen Welch, vocalist
Salem Summer Concert Series
Most concerts are scheduled Sundays at Waterworth Memorial Park, East School Street, Salem, and start at 6 p.m.. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
June 7 — Salem Quaker City Band
June 14 — Pipe Dreams
June 21 — Chardon Polka Band
June 28 — Salem Quaker City Band
July 12 — Swingtime Big Band
July 19 — Aftermath
July 24 — Salem Quaker City Band
July 26 — Full Circle
Aug. 2 — Jimmy and the Soul Blazers
Aug. 9 — Salem High School alumni night with New Wave Nation and a “Cars of the Decades” display
Aug. 16 — Paige Marie Band
Aug. 23 — New Frontiers and a Mahoning Valley Corvette Club display
Tod Park Summer Concert Series
Concerts start at 6:30 p.m. Sundays at the park, located off of Park Avenue in Girard.
June 14 — Guys Without Ties
June 21 — Rex Taneri Orchestra
June 28 — Jim Frank Combo
July 19 — The Cugines
July 26 — Zero Pressure
Aug. 2 — Penn Ohio Polka Pal All Stars
Aug. 9 — Auto Pilot
Aug. 16 — Mikey Dee Band
Aug. 23 — Dixie Dandies
Vienna Sunday Concert Series
Concerts start at 6 p.m. Sundays at the Bicentennial Gazebo, 4275 Warren Sharon Road just west of state Route 193. In the event of rain, concerts will be moved to Vienna United Methodist Church Hall.
July 19 — Vintage Vinyl
July 26 — Jim Felix
Aug. 2 — Good Question
Aug. 9 — Leather & Lace Acoustic
Aug. 16 — Liverpool Lads
“Proudly Serving our Customers with Tender Loving Care!”
Sunshine, great company, the open road, and a motorcoach full of adventure is waiting just outside the window! We’re rolling out a summer of good times at all the popular destinations you’ve been dreaming of! Give us a call for all the information on any of these outstanding tours and get your reservation in soon while there’s still time.
Trains and National Parks of the Colorado Rockies
June 9-21 * Spectacular Touring all the Way Through!
Yellowstone National Park and the Great American West!
Celebrate July 4th at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor
July 3-5 * Gorgeous Hotel, See Fireworks from a Yacht, More!
Maine Magical Summer & Acadia National Park July 18-24 * Bar Harbor, Boothbay Harbor, Lobsterbake, More!
Girlfriends Gifts & Giggles in Indiana’s Amish Country July 29-31 * So Much Fun ~ Call for the Full Flyer!!
Lake Superior Lighthouses & Maritime Trail August 3-8 * Follow the Great Lakes Shoreline, Cruise on a Steamship, More!
Yellowstone National Park & the Great American West! August 8-21 * Grand Tetons, Old Faithful, Black Hills, So Much More!
The Amazing Great Dakota Adventure!
September 4-13 * Crazy Horse, Mt. Rushmore, National Parks, Chuckwagons
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta by Motorcoach!
September 30- October 10 * Palo Duro Canyon, Santa Fe, Indian Pueblo, Spanish Mission
Other Ones to Check Out: Cape Cod, Atlantic City, Bardstown KY, Historic Wash. DC & Bible Museum, Vintage Rt. 66, French Canada, Nashville & Memphis Duo, Noah’s Ark & Creation Museum, Starved Rock & Kenny Rogers Tributed, Marietta Gems, Outer Banks of NC, Internat’l Fireworks Championship, 100-Mile Cruise, Lake George Balloon Fest, Charming Coastal Southeast w/ Savannah, Charleston & Jekyll Isle ~ Plus many Gorgeous Fall Tours and Holiday Tours!!
~~ Call for a FREE TOUR BOOK with over 120 Tours in it from one-day to 14 and more! ~~ Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Also ask for fully-detailed flyers for any tours 3 days or more!
Staff file photos / R. Michael Semple
Youngstown features free outdoor summer movies
Staff report
Eight films are scheduled for the Youngstown Summer Movie Series, which starts June 22.
It includes a mix of recent box office hits, and a few titles that will have a nostalgic tug for kids of the ’90s.
The lineup is:
June 22 – “Minecraft” (2025)
June 29 – “Men in Black” (1997)
July 6 – “Superman” (2025)
July 13 – “Good Burger” (1997)
July 20 – “How to Train Your Dragon” (2025 live action version)
July 27 – “Free Willy” (1993)
Aug. 3 – “Frankenweenie” (2012)
Aug. 10 – “Lilo & Stitch” (2025 live action version)
The slate includes some local and local-ish connections. Several of the props Warren native John Zabrucky donated to the Trumbull County Historical Society for the Museum of Science Fiction and Fantasy Arts can be seen in “Men in Black,” including
the egg chairs, the universal translator and some of the futuristic weaponry.
Much of the 2025 version of “Superman” was shot in Northeast Ohio with various locations in and around Cleveland playing Metropolis.
All movies start at 9 p.m. and will be shown on the front lawn of the Covelli Centre, 229 E. Front St. If it rains, the screening will be moved to the following night. Those attending are encouraged to bring blankets or
lawn chairs.
Concessions will be provided by the Youngstown Rayen Early College National Honor Society, who will be selling snacks and refreshments each week. throughout the series.
The outdoor movie series is funded with support from community sponsors, including The City of Youngstown, Wean Park, JAC Management Group, Appleridge Productions and Penguin City Brewing Co.
David Corenswet, who played the Man of Steel, is shown at the premiere of the 2025 film “Superman,” one of eight offerings in the Youngstown Summer Movie Series.
Staff file photos / R. Michael Semple
Youngstown, Warren amphitheaters make plans for summer 2026
By ANDY GRAY Staff writer
The summer concert season comes later than normal this year to the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre, while the tribute acts for River Rock at the Amp at the Warren Community Amphitheatre get rolling this weekend.
The first major concert scheduled at the downtown Youngstown venue is blues guitar player Joe Bonamassa and Gov’t Mule on Aug. 9.
Ken Bigley, COO for JAC Live and JAC Management, said there are several reasons for the late start.
One of them is America250 activities nationwide. Many communities that don’t normally
have summer concerts are doing special events around the 250th anniversary of the United States, which has increased the demand — and the asking price — for acts that might play venues the size of the Youngstown amphitheater.
“The America250 celebrations have definitely played a part, a major part,” Bigley said. “The strong inventory (of potential shows) wasn’t there earlier in the year, so we were looking at backloading everything. We have some exciting regional community stuff that’s going to be coming as well as some more national announcements.”
The growing number of music festivals also makes an impact. JAC is used to dealing with
non-compete clauses in contracts that keep an act that’s playing in Cleveland or Pittsburgh from also playing in Youngstown. However, music festivals often have wider non-compete radiuses, maybe 150 miles instead of 50 miles. That limits the availability of those artists until after the festivals take place. At press time for this special section, three YFA shows had been announced — Joe Bonamassa, who has been playing local gigs since JAC founder Eric Ryan owned The Cellar in Struthers, in August and two country acts making their local debuts, Niko Moon and Charley Crockett, both in September.
JAC Management
operates both the amphitheater and the neighboring Covelli Centre, and some acts that might have been outdoor concerts in the summer may end up at the arena in the fall.
But that doesn’t mean the Youngstown amphitheater won’t be busy
And Bigley said they are excited to be a part of the Youngstown’s America250 event on July
5 called Ignite the Night. It will feature a free concert by the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, followed by fireworks, and it will span the amphitheater and Wean Park.
“With the amount of planning the city’s putting into it, it’s going to be phenomenal, and we’re happy to have it,” Bigley said. “There’s plenty of room, and everybody can spread out and enjoy it. All involved went to great lengths and pulled this together. It should be breathtaking.”
New this summer as part of the WesBanco Community Events Series at the amp is YO Nights!, a concert series designed to support downtown businesses as well as entertain.
JAC worked with Youngstown Special Events Coordinator David Labra, who approached downtown businesses to see who was interested in participating and also worked on the lineup for each YO Nights! event.
Nine downtown businesses — Twisted Roots, The Federal, V2, Varsity Club, Draught House, Casa di Canzonetta, Avalon Downtown, The Social and Penguin City Brewing Company — enlisted in the program, and funding from WesBanco enables their participation at no charge.
‘They’re going to be able to come in, sell their own food. We’re not taking a cut.,” JAC Vice President Jordan Ryan said. “They get to keep all the proceeds of that. And the downtown businesses will get a portion of the beverage sales that we’re selling while we’re there.”
The seven YO Nights! offerings will feature Y-town
Country artist Niko Moon will play the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre on Sept. 11.
Located on the grounds of Rodney White Olympic Park, behind the Hermitage Municipal Building, 800 N. Hermitage Rd, Hermitage, PA
SATURDAY, JULY 25TH NOON - 9:00 P.M.
SUNDAY, JULY 26TH 11:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
A free community event featuring children’s activities, an artist marketplace, and talented balloon artist. Don’t miss Saturday’s featured band Velveeta!
Live Entertainment | Free Children’s Activities | Artist Marketplace | Food Vendors
Artists on June 20, RDNA on July 2, Geo C & tha Storm on July 17, No Funk No Justice on Aug. 7 and the Rick Ward Project on Aug. 21 with performers to be announced on Aug. 14 and Sept. 4.
WARREN SHOWS
Eleven shows, including many past favorites, will play the Warren Community Amphitheatre this summer as part of the River Rock at the Amp concert series, which runs through Labor Day weekend.
As in the past, the lineup leans heavily on classic rock, acts that dominated in the 1970s and ‘80s, but Sunrise Entertainment President Ken Haidaris said they are bringing back a couple of shows that will have a younger appeal.
The Boy Band Review, scheduled June 13, performs the music of such acts as *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys and Jonas Brothers, and this time the Miss Americanas, a local Taylor Swift tribute act, will open for them.
“That was a home run. They were incredible,” Haidaris said. “I love when I’m standing on stage in the back, and you can see people enjoying themselves, and that was one of those shows.”
Another act that drew a younger audience was the Morgan Wallen tribute 7 Summers, which returns on Aug. 1. Haidaris said it’s easy to tell when an act attracts a new audience. There are more questions from customers at
Sunrise Inn, the restaurant Haidaris coowns, and more questions at the amphitheater than normal about where the bathrooms are or about the different food vendors available.
Last season popular Michael Jackson tribute act Who’s Bad also included a Prince tribute. This summer Who’s Bad will be paired with Earth to Mars, a Bruno Mars tribute making its first appearance.
The season concludes with Night Fever on Sept. 5. Sunrise Entertaintainment has booked Bee Gees’ tribute acts before, but Night Fever is making its River Rock debut.
Returning favorites include Queen Nation (Queen tribute) on July 25, E5C4P3 (Journey tribute) on Aug. 15 and Wish You Were Here on Aug. 29. Wish started playing at the outdoor Warren venue when promoter Walt English started booking tribute acts there shortly after it opened, and they’ve been a summer staple ever since.
“Their light show and their lasers and everything are just great,” Haidaris said. “Those guys have really stepped up their game. They put a lot of money into their act. A lot of acts, I don’t want to say they don’t get better, but they kind of stagnate a little bit. Eroc (Sosinski, who leads Wish You Were Here) just keeps stepping up their game. They’re pros, and I like working with them.”
Nation has been one of River Rock at the Amp’s top drawing acts in recent years. The Queen tribute act performs July 25 at Warren Community Amphtheatre.
Joe Bonamassa, who’s played several concerts in the Mahoning Valley over the years, will make his first appearance at the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre on Aug. 9.
Submitted photo / Chiefbear on the Road Photography Queen
2026 Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre Schedule
July 5 — Ignite the Night, Youngstown’s America250 Celebration with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra and fireworks from 6 to 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 9 — Joe Bonamassa and Gov’t Mule at 7 p.m.
Sept. 11 — Niko Moon at 8 p.m.
Sept. 19 — Charley Crockett and Durand Jones & the Indications at 7:30 p.m.
The Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre is located at 201 S. Phelps St., Youngstown. Admission to Ignite the Night is free. Tickets for all other concerts are available at the Covelli Centre’s Southwoods Health box office and through Ticketmaster. For more information, go to youngstownfoundationamp.com.
2026 WesBanco Community Series Schedule
June 19 — Juneteenth Drone Show
June 20 — YO Nights! featuring Y-Town Artists with Downtown Business Takeover: Twisted Roots
July 2 — YO Nights! featuring RDNA with Downtown Business Takeover: The Federal
July 5 — Ignite the Night Youngstown featuring Youngstown Symphony Orchestra
July 17 — YO Nights! featuring Geo C & Tha Storm with Downtown Business Takeover: V2
July 25 — Youngstown Wine and Jazz
Aug. 7 — YO Nights! featuring No Funk No Justice with Downtown Business Takeover: Varsity Club & Draught House
Aug. 14 — YO Nights! featuring entertain-
ment to be announced with Downtown Business Takeover: Casa di Canzonetta
Aug. 21 — YO Nights! featuring Rick Ward Project with Downtown Business Takeover: Avalon Downtown & The Social
Sept. 4 — YO Nights! featuring entertainment to be announced with Downtown Business Takeover: Penguin City Brewing Company
Oct. 4 — Non-Violence Parade & Rally at Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre and Wean Park
All events will be at Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre, 201 S. Phelps St., Youngstown, unless specified otherwise. Times and additional details will be announced in the coming weeks.
2026 Warren River Rock at the Amp Schedule
May 30 — Fins to the Left (Jimmy Buffett tribute) with members of the Coral Reefer Band and My Drunk’n Uncle
June 13 — The Boy Band Review and Miss Americanas (Taylor Swift tribute)
June 20 — King’s Highway (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers tribute) and Vicious Cycle (Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute)
June 27 — Seven Bridges (Eagles tribute) and Silver Springs (Fleetwood Mac tribute)
July 11 — Forever Seger (Bob Seger tribute) and Brass Express
July 18 — Who’s Bad (Michael Jackson tribute) and Earth to Mars (Bruno Mars tribute)
July 25 — Queen Nation (Queen tribute) and Moving in Stereo (The Cars tribute)
Aug. 1 — 7 Summers (Morgan Wallen tribute) and Random Strangers
Aug. 15 — E5C4P3 (Journey tribute) and Best of Times (Styx tribute)
Aug. 29 — Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd tribute) and Invincible (Pat Benatar tribute)
Sept. 5 — Night Fever (Bee Gees tribute) and No Funk No Justice
All shows take place at the Warren Community Amphitheatre, 321 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren. Gates open at 5 p.m., with the first band starting at 5:30 p.m. and the headliners usually starting at 8:30 p.m. For more information, go to riverrockattheamp.com.
Canfield, Trumbull County fairs offers rides, food and shows
By DAVID SKOLNICK Staff writer
Officials with the Canfield and Trumbull County fairs say there is plenty of fun, food and attractions for everyone to enjoy at the annual events.
George Roman, Canfield Fair’s director of concessions and entertainment, said: “We’ve got a lot to offer. We’re looking forward to welcoming people back to the fair.”
Kierstin Holmes, Trumbull County Fair secretary and board director, said: “We want to make sure everyone who comes here has a good time.”
Among the new attractions is weiner dog racing at 7 p.m. July 14 and a glass blower this year with the items created auctioned off on the last day of the fair.
The Canfield Fair went to an online system to register concessionaires and those entering various exhibits last year, Roman said.
“It made it simpler and easier for people and we’re going to keep it,” he said.
The success of the fairs, Holmes and Roman said, depends a lot on the weather.
Roman said: “As long as the weather cooperates, we expect a lot of people to enjoy themselves at the fair this year.”
CANFIELD FAIR
DATES
Sept. 2-7 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily
ADMISSION
Children under 6 are free.
Sept. 2: $4 for ages 7 to 12, $6 for 13 to 61 years of age and $4 for those at least 62
Sept. 3: Free for those under 12, $4 for 13 to 17 years of age and $8 for those at least 18
Sept. 4: $4 for ages 7 to 12, $10 for those 13 to 61 years of age, $6 for those at least 62
Sept. 5 and 6: $5 for those ages 7 to 12, $10 for those 13 and older.
Sept. 7: $4 for ages 7 to 12, $8 for those 13 and older
Parking is free.
There’s a separate fee for rides.
GRANDSTAND EVENTS
There’s also a separate fee for grandstand events.
Sept. 4: Demolition derby, 8 p.m.
Sept. 5: Truck and tractor pull, 7 p.m.
Sept. 6: Big & Rich concert, 7 p.m.
Sept. 7: Bret Michaels concert, 7 p.m.
TRUMBULL COUNTY FAIR
DATES
July 14-19 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily
ADMISSION
$15 on July 15-19 including parking, rides and grandstand events and free for those three years old and under.
Also, $5 admission on July 14 with ride passes for $10. Free on July 14 and 15 for veterans and first responders with proper identification.
GRANDSTAND EVENTS
July 14: Harness racing, 12:30 and 4:30 p.m.
July 14: Weiner dog racing, 7 p.m.
July 15: Demolition derby, 7 p.m.
July 16: Rough Truck Presented by Derby Dog, 7 p.m.
July 17: Truck and tractor pull, 6:30 p.m.
July 18: Rodeo, 6 p.m.
July 19: Demolition derby, 5 p.m.
July 19: Fireworks, to follow demolition derby
Attendance at last year’s Trumbull County Fair was 44,659 compared to 44,980 in 2024.
The attendance last year at the Canfield Fair was 284,191 compared to 273,709 in 2024.
The Trumbull County Fair is July 14-19 while the Canfield Fair is Sept. 1-7. Both fairs are open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
“This is as late as the fair can be” as it always ends on Labor Day, Roman said.
The Canfield Fair is the largest county fair in Ohio and the third largest county fair in the United States.
The Trumbull fair admission is $15 which also includes rides and grandstand events admission on July 9-13. Also on its opening day, admission is $5 and a ride pass is $10 so adults who don’t want to go on the rides can save money. Those at least 62 years old can get into the fair for $5 the other days.
Holmes said: “It’s one-price admission for Wednesday to Sunday with parking and grandstand events included.”
Admission costs for the Canfield Fair vary by day. On Saturday and Sunday, admission is $4 for those between the ages of 7 and 12 and $10 for those at least 13 years old. The price on the last day of the fair drops to $8 for those at least 13 years old.
The price includes parking. There is a separate fee for grandstand events.
The Canfield Fair paved sections of its blacktop, fixed some roofs and make some plumbing and electrical improvements, Roman said.
The fair’s event center had $2 million worth of additions made to it including offices, meeting rooms and restrooms in 2023. The improvements added about 10,000 square feet of space to an existing 35,000-square-foot center, Roman said.
At the Trumbull County Fair, a few buildings were improved, including a separate building for small animals to be shown and work to the grandstand.
Staff file photos / R. Michael Semple
Staff file photos / R. Michael Semple
Summer festivals honor traditions, heritage and future hopes
By RAYMOND L. SMITH Staff writer
WARREN — Trumbull County’s festival season generally is bookended with the annual African American Achievers Association festival that generally begins during the first week of June, and ends with the annual Warren Italian American Festival that takes place during the first or second week of August.
Both festivals honor the heritages of their founders, but also encourage people of different ethnicities to join in on the fun and educational experiences.
The 40th annual Trumbull County African American Achievers Association Heritage Festival is scheduled June 5-7 at Courthouse Square in downtown Warren. This year’s festival theme is Living Out Our Legacy.
“We are hoping to bring happiness and joy to the community,” Kim “KJ” Johnson, a seven-year member of the festival committee, said.
The three-day event features its annual parade on June 6, which starts at Restoration Christian Fellowship Church, 7760 Main St., on Main Avenue.
Saturday night’s performances at the Warren Community Amphitheatre will include Ebony Watson, who will begin her performance at 7 p.m. and then the Greg Williams Project, which will begin at 8 p.m. They will be followed at 9 p.m. by Word Up Story, which comprises former members of the funk group Cameo.
Earlier Saturday, in Courthouse Square, the festival will have a talent show at 2:30 p.m., line dancing contests, as well as performances by the Carvelle Austin Experience, Letisha Allen and the group Renegade.
In conjunction with the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office, there will be a basketball tournament that will feature members of the sheriff department competing against area teens. There also will be a three-point shooting contest.
There also will be miniature car and motorcycle shows.
Sunday will feature an all-day gospel showcase hosted by Van Nelson that will begin at 1:30 p.m.
Some proceeds from the festival are used annually to provide six $1,000 scholarships to Trumbull County students headed to college. The scholarship check presentations are given during
the annual Trumbull County African American Achievers Association banquet in February.
WARREN ITALIAN FESTIVAL
The 41st annual Warren Italian American Festival is Aug. 6-9 in Courthouse Square Park, downtown Warren. It is always the first week of August.
It has grown to be one of the finest celebrations of Italian culture and heritage in the tristate region. It began in 1985, with a concept of founder Lou Metter.
The event features four days of Italian food, live entertainment, music, bocce tournaments and a wine-tasting competition, cultural exhibits and a family-friendly atmosphere.
Included in the festival is a Meatball Mania eating contest, fireworks on Saturday night and amusement rides. There are the annual Miss Italian Junior contest and the Tiny King and Queen contests, which are Thursday and Saturday of the festival.
There is no admission, but a small donation is encouraged to support college scholarships for members.
OTHER TRUMBULL COUNTY FESTIVALS
• The 2026 Weathersfield Flag Day Festival is scheduled June 11-13 at the township park, 3750 S. Main St. (state Route 46) in Mineral Ridge. It will feature a parade, a variety of carnival rides, games, local food vendors and live entertainment.
• The annual Full Spectrum Pride in the Valley will take place June 20 from 12:30 to 10 p.m. at Courthouse Square.
• Cortland Lions Street Fair, Main Street, Cortland, will take place June 27. It features the Little Miss Cortland and Miss Cortland pageants, as well as a parade and food concessions.
• The annual Mesopotamia Ox Roast will take place July 3-5 at the Mesopotamia Center, which is located at the intersection of state routes 534 and 87. With more than 160 dealers and live entertainment, its “famous” roast beef sandwiches, fries and beverages are served each day starting at 10 a.m. There is a pancake breakfast at Town Hall 7 to 11 a.m. each morning. Admission is free. Parking is available at the fire station.
• The 57th annual Warren St. Demetrios Greek Festival will take place July 22-26, at
Staff file photos / R. Michael Semple
the St. Demetrios Community Center, 3223 Atlantic St. NE.
SIMPLY SLAVIC EXPANDS TO THREE DAYS
In Youngstown, the 15th annual Simply Slavic Heritage Festival takes place June 26-28 at the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre in Youngstown. It will include live music, folk dance performances, children learning areas, educational exhibits and ethnic vendors.
This is the first year the heritage festival will include Sunday events, including a Catholic Mass, an ecumenical service and a full afternoon of family-friendly entertainment.
The three-day festival will honor people from Belarus, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine.
“We decided this is the year to expand to a third day after the city asked us to move to a different weekend, because there was another event happening,” organizer Aundrea Cika Heschmeyer said. “There have been some of our members that have been saying we should expand for several years, so we decided why
shouldn’t this be the year.”
Simply Slavic originally began shortly after the Youngstown Catholic Diocese announced some parishes and organizations would be merging.
“We looked at the variety of social organizations that were around at that time and decided we would be better together,” Heschmeyer said. “We wanted to do something for ourselves.
Eighteen months later, the early founding members formed what would later become Simply Slavic. They started out with a one-day event that had a couple vendors.
“The response has been tremendous,” she said. “We are a legit not-for-profit organization that is supporting other organizations.”
The three-day event now has performers and vendors that come from all over the region.
Heschmeyer envisions its continued growth to a point where people will come from across the region to attend.
“There is nothing like ‘Simply Slavic’ in Ohio,” she said.
OTHER MAHONING COUNTY FESTIVALS
• Ribs-N-Rock Festival, June 11-13, Southern Park Mall, 7401 Market St., Boardman. It
will feature Puddle of Mudd, Trapt and The Clarks. Free admission until 3 p.m. Fees are charged after 3 p.m.
• The 2026 Juneteenth Weeklong Celebration, downtown Youngstown, June 19-21, will begin with a downtown parade on June 19. There will be a variety show, a car/ bike show, as well as exhibitions showcasing local black culture and history.
• Christ Our Savior Parish Festival, St. Nicholas Church, June 17-20.
• Penn Ohio Polka Pals Festival will include Polkas and Pierogis, June 20, at 3 p.m., at Penguin City Beer, with Patty C & The Guys, as well as the REx Taneri Band. There will be a Polka Picnic Dance, July 26, 3 to 7 p.m., at the SNPJ Farm, featuring Bill Bevec.
• Celebrate Poland, June 26-27, is expected to feature a giant fireworks display, kids petting zoo, pony rides, a stilt walk, a community bake off and other events.
•The 41st annual St. Nicholas Greek Summerfest at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 220 N. Walnut St., July 9-12, will feature live music and authentic cuisine, which is sold to support the church.
• The 131st Lowellville Mount Carmel Festival, July 15-18.
• Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica Italian Festival, July 24-26.
• Greater Youngstown Italian Festival, July 31 - Aug. 2. Central Square, downtown Youngstown.
• Brier Hill Italian Fest, Calvin and Victoria streets, Aug. 13-16.
• Picklefest with Polka Bums, Penguin City Brewing Co., Aug. 15.
• Hot Air Balloon Festival, Mastropietro Winery, Aug. 16.
• Water Ski Show & Hot Pepper Festival Lake Milton Association Fireworks, Lake Milton State Park, Aug. 22.
• ¡HOLA Fest!, Sept. 12, Wean Park, Youngstown. The festival is a vibrant celebration of the Hispanic and Latin American (HOLA) culture.
• The 28th annual Summer Festival of the Arts in the Wick Avenue area of the Youngstown State University campus, is July 15-18 and will showcase more than 80 regional and national artists, live music, dance performances and other family-friendly activities, highlighting the cultural diversity of the Mahoning Valley. Many events will be centered in and around Kilcawley Center and its surrounding green spaces. Admission is free.
For more information on any of these festivals, visit the Explore Mahoning website,which is the county’s convention and visitor’s bureau.
Farmers markets keep things fresh
By BRANDON CANTWELL Staff writer
Farmers markets have been a staple in the Mahoning Valley, and organizers aim to maintain that consistency, with some revamping their shopping areas with new dates, times or activities for 2026.
Local farmers markets and craft shows look to continue serving as more than just retail hubs, offering people of all ages an opportunity to try new things while regaining a sense of freshness in their fruits, vegetables and other goods that might feel lost in a trip to the supermarket.
Sevasti Tripoulas, community programs coordinator for the Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership, organizes the Warren Farmers Market, said they moved it from 3 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays to 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays for a variety of reasons — one of which was the weather.
“The weather, it definitely was hotter at those hours; we wanted to try to see if more of the lunch crowd would come
downtown, like at the end of the day people just wanted to go home from work,” Tripoulas said. “It seemed like a more pleasant time for seniors and earlier, and vendor availability — they’re on a circuit, so sometimes they have markets on Saturday.”
“They could have their produce and goods on Friday and then carry on to Saturday, what they don’t sell,” she added.
Tripoulas said her office was waiting on some grants that they hadn’t heard anything about, but they would like to put shade structures in the market area and improve the landscape.
“As far as programming, we’re going to have the cuddle cows, some therapy cows coming for June,” Tripoulas said. “They’re miniature cows that you can take a picture with or sit with, and they’re supposed to be very therapeutic.”
The Howland Farmers Market, which started as a monthly event but has gained a reputation that has attracted both vendors and artists alike,
continues to provide the community with a space to come together.
“I’m so glad we have the market, and it’s managed so well. The trustees are very supportive, have always been supportive,” Planning Director Kim Mascarella said. “We’re very thankful that they also see the benefits in hosting a farmer’s market, so we want to give a big shout-out to our township trustees and administration for supporting us.”
Mascarella said officials see a broad range of people attending the market, from older individuals to young families getting their kids out of the house.
“(Farmers Market Manager) Aubrie (Manley) has done a lot of good work in providing kids’ activities, and we do see our fair share of middle-aged, older population,” Mascarella said. “They really enjoy the whole routine of coming down and going to the farmers market, and whatever they don’t find there, they’ll go to their favorite grocery store and kind of fill the gap.”
Staff file photos / R. Michael Semple
MAHONING COUNTY
Robin Perry, network coordinator with Healthy Community PartnershipMahoning Valley, said their primary goal is improving the access, affordability and consumption of healthy foods by increasing food access points, such as community stores, farmers markets and mobile markets.
“They’re always looking to increase access points and also access points in areas where they see either a high need or that there would be a big response,” Perry said.
Perry said the farmers’ market was brought about by data that was collected on the Mahoning Valley Mobile Market for the Community Health Improvement Plan, which was showing a “high level of participation.”
Perry said the first thought was to put a grocery store in the library, leading to planners wondering what they could put there and the eventual idea of a farmers’ market.
“We did already have a library involved in the partnership from having the Food Security Summit there about two years ago or three, it was 2023, I think,” Perry said.
Jeff Magada, the founder and Executive Director of Flying HIGH Inc,
noted the value of the mobile markets, a staple of the Mahoning Valley for years — providing food access to people without transportation at a “very reasonable price.”
“We’re able to offer discounts to our customers so that they can get our product at an affordable price,” said Olivia Cooke-Murphy, Flying HIGH’s development and marketing manager. “We offer a coupon system where if you spend a certain dollar amount, you get discounts off of your bill — up to $30 off.”
Cooke-Murphy said they also have a monthly sales flyer with different deals, such as 10% off different meats or essentials, lining up with certain holidays or seasonal needs.
Magada said the mobile markets utilize local growers whenever possible, getting eggs from a local farm, meats from a local butcher and produce from their own urban farm.
“The urban farm is part of our work acclimation and workforce development program, where individuals work on the farm as they are getting prepared and qualified for employment,” Magada said. “They grow the produce that goes back into the community, that helps people who have limited access.”
MAHONING COUNTY FARMERS MARKETS
• ACTION/Grow Flying High Urban Farm Pop Up — Tuesdays through Fridays, May through August, visit fhipdc.org/mobile-markets for locations and exact times
• Northside Farmers Market — 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays beginning May 6, Wick Park, 901 Elm St.
• Boardman Community Market – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., final Saturday of every month, from June to September, 317-321 Boardman Poland Road.
• Downtown Youngstown Farmers Market – 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday, year-round, Main Library, 305 Wick Ave.
• Glenwood Fresh Market — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m Tuesdays and Thursdays year-round, 2915 Glenwood Ave.
• Four Seasons Flea and Farm Market — Open year-round 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Wednesday and Sunday, 3000 McCartney Road.
TRUMBULL COUNTY FARMERS MARKETS
• Warren Farmers Market — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays, June 5 to Sept. 25
347 N. Park Ave (next to WarrenSCOPE)
• Howland Farmers Market — 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 6 through mid-October
Richard E. Orwig Park, 8189 E. Market St
• Hubbard Farmers Market — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays, July 6 through Sept. 28, Roosevelt Student Wellness Center 110 Orchard Ave SE
• Girard Vendors Markets Aug. 9, 6 to 8 p.m. in Tod Park; 4 to 6 p.m Sept. 17 and Oct. 15 in front of the Girard Police Station
• Vienna Farmers Market — 5 to 7 p.m. on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday starting in June at the Vienna Township Bicentennial Park on the Green.
• ACTION/Grow Flying High Urban Farm Pop Up — Tuesdays through Fridays, May through August, visit fhipdc.org/mobile-markets for locations and exact times
Cooling off in the water
By BOB COUPLAND Staff writer
With Memorial Day weekend considered by many the beginning of the summer season, there are many ways adults and children can enjoy cooling off during the summer months.
Both Mahoning and Trumbull counties offer many outdoor swimming locations from large area lakes, to outdoor swimming pools and local splash pads.
Many local outdoor swimming areas opened for the summer season on Memorial Day weekend and will remain open through Labor Day weekend.
Lake Milton State Park in Mahoning County and Mosquito Lake State Park in Trumbull County provide a free place for summer swimming with beach areas at both.
Nelson Ledges in Portage County is a falls and water area for those in the area who don’t mind traveling a little further north to stay cool on those hot summer days.
MOSQUITO LAKE PARK
Park officials at Mosquito Lake State Park said people can swim whenever they want to in the lake but most swimming is between Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
The 7,850-acre man-made Mosquito Lake is one of the largest in the state. It also includes a 600-foot beach. When entering the main park entrance on state Route 305, visitors can reach the beach area by turning right onto the first road.
The beach and swimming area is marked off from boating and fishing areas.
Officials said there are no lifeguards at the park’s beach so it is recommended parents keep an eye on their children in the water and focus on safety. People should watch each other in the water for safety and also stay within the designated swimming area, which is marked off by buoys.
During the summer, there will be free kayaking classes and free standing paddle board classes in the water. There will be different naturalist programs throughout the summer with some by the beach or in the water.
Other scheduled events at the park and near the beach and lake include a wildlife show June 6 with Mosquito Lake’s naturalist team and volunteers; and Lake to Plate event on June 13 which is a three-part, hands-on program which will teach participants how to fish, clean their catch and cook a meal with local anglers.
Park officials said there will also be two Mosquito Lake Beach bashes on June 20 and August 15. Returning for 2026, the summer Beach Bash will feature live music, food trucks and a car show at the beach parking lot.
A Kids Fishing Derby is set for June 20. Designed for anglers 15-years-old and younger, the fishing derby at the Lakeview Recreation Center will feature naturalist activities and prizes.
Registration and specific time information for all of the events available at Mosquito Lake State Park.
LAKE MILTON / CRAIG BEACH
At Lake Milton, people can enjoy the 600-foot beach, which park officials said gets very busy during the summer days.
Craig Beach on the shore of Lake Milton is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, with swimming, boating and waterskiing. The beach is located off Grandview Avenue.
Park officials said families like coming to Lake Milton for picnics while also enjoying swimming and the disc golf course and the storybook trail for children, which are both near the beach.
The 600-foot beach has restrooms, change booths, showers, playground, basketball court and sand volleyball court. Swimming is permitted in designated areas. Swimmers should exercise caution while swimming at the beach. Pets are not allowed on the beach.
There is a marina located nearby that has items people may need. A new dock for boaters is also available.
A concessionaire operates out of the marina each season. Its located in the Harry Meshel Picnic Area (near the lighthouse). Boat rentals, gasoline, ice, and other supplies are available for purchase. For information call 330-654-4991
WILLOW LAKE
Willow Lake, 6863 Mahoning Ave NW in Champion, which has made the Guinness Book of World Records for its large outdoor swimming pool, is enjoyed by children and adults alike.
A spokesperson for Willow Lake said while the campgrounds have been open since early May, the swimming pool opens Memorial Day weekend and will be open seven days a week through the summer through Labor Day weekend.
The unique water playground includes a Tarzan swing, several slides, diving board rings, climbing units and other play areas.
The 650-foot-by-172-foot pool holds 8 million gallons of water. The pool has a two-feet deep baby pool, a fivefoot deep section and a 14-foot deep section.
The pool’s category for the Guiness Book of World
Records is the “world’s largest, automatically chlorinated, concrete, land-locked pool.”
Willow Lake is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. Admission is $13 for adults and children, $7 for ages 60 and older, $6 for ages 4-12 and free to age 3 and under. For information call 330-847-8614.
NORTHSIDE POOL
In Youngstown, the city’s parks and recreation department offers the Northside swimming pool, 2160 Belmont Ave., which opens June 1. It is open in the summer daily 1 to 8 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for children. For information call 330-743-4035.
Originally built in 1939, the pool has provided an inexpensive summer activity for children to experience over the years. In 2006 it was torn down to be remodeled and after years of remodeling and financial discussion it reopened to the public and is currently the only public pool open in Youngstown.
City officials said it is the last remaining public swimming pool in Youngstown. At one time, the city operated six swimming pools.
FIRESTONE PARK
The Columbiana Firestone Park outdoor swimming pool, 28 W. Friends St., is open starting Memorial Day through Labor Day. In addition to the large outdoor pool that has two diving boards and a water slide, there is also a baby pool. There are rentals available for pool parties.
The pool is open daily from noon to 7 p.m. for all
Staff file photos / R. Michael Semple
ages. Admission is $8 adults, with seniors 62 and older $6, children ages 4-12 $6 and children 3 and under free. Anyone under 10 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
Park officials said the pool will close on certain dates for home swim meets and also if a special event is scheduled. These dates and times may vary and will be posted at the pool. At the discretion of the pool officials, the pool may also be closed because of inclement weather.
For information, call 330-482-2173.
NELSON LEDGES
Nelson Kennedy Ledges Quarry Park is located at 12001 state Route 282 in Nelson Township in Portage County.
Park officials say visitors love jumping off the cliff into the water since the cliff is like a high diving board. People can swim out to a small island in the water and can jump off that as well.
The cliff jumping is for ages 13 and older .Those under 18 are asked to take a swim test before jumping off the cliff. There is also a lifeguard on site at the water area, which is spring-fed and clear.
Visitors to the park can see the rock shelves underwater while scuba diving and snorkeling. Parts of the quarry are as deep as 35 to 38 feet.
The swimming area park is open daily at 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Memorial Day to Labor Day. The pool is open 70 degrees and sunny. Daily admission is $12 adults and $5 children for non-festival weekend. For information, call 440-548-2716.
In 2025, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources celebrated the opening of the new Falls Edge Glass Walkway at the park. The new walkway is designed to enhance both the visitor experience and the preservation of one of northeast Ohio’s most unique natural landscapes. The 137-foot-long pedestrian bridge features structural-grade glass decking and an “S” shape design that allows visitors to walk directly above Sylvan Creek’s gorge and gaze down 50 feet to the water below. The walkway ends just short of Minnehaha Falls, with a section that gives visitors the sensation of floating above the waterfall itself.
PIONEER WATERLAND
Pioneer Waterland and Dry Fun
Park, 10661 Kile Road, Chardon, in Geauga County, is a family-oriented outdoor entertainment destination located on a 75-acre property with a water park and dry land activities.
Liza Suderman, office manager, said the water park has water slides, a large activity pool with one area 10 feet deep, inner tube ride, paddleboats and splash area.
Dry area activities offered include go-karts, miniature golf, batting cages and sports arcades.
Suderman said there is an artesian well, which is a custom-built concrete pond filled with fresh spring water making it one of the few waterparks in the nation to offer this unique swimming experience.
An artesian well is a well that brings groundwater to the surface without pumping because it is under pressure within a body of rock or sediment
She said the park is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday to Saturday. The season will open the first week in June through Labor Day.
For more information on daily passes and other admission information visit the parks website or call 440-285-5200.
Splash pads in the Mahoning Valley:
• In Mahoning County, there are splash pads for children at Austintown Township Park and the Mill Creek MetroParks Wick Recreation Area.
• In Trumbull County, there are splash pads for children at Packard Park in Warren, Waddell Park in Niles and parks in Cortland and McDonald.
Swimming locations in Trumbull County:
• Hubbard Community Pool, 200 Hall Ave. SE, Hubbard, 330-272-9901
• Mosquito Lake State Park, 1439 Wilson Sharpsville Road, Bazetta, 330-637-2856
• Willow Lake, 6863 Mahoning Ave. NW, Champion, 330-847-8614
Swimming locations in Mahoning and Columbiana counties:
• Columbiana Firestone Park swimming pool, 338 E. Park Ave., Columbiana, 330-482-1026
• Lake Milton State Park Craig Beach, 16801 Mahoning Ave., 330-235-0030
• Youngstown Northside swimming pool, 2160 Belmont Ave., Youngstown, 330-743-4035
More than 1,000 and still going strong
By J.T. WHITEHOUSE Staff writer
AUSTINTOWN — How does an artist who has made a name for himself in the automotive and custom sign world unwind and relax? Just ask Guy Shively of Austintown.
Shively, 71, is continuing in an amazing career. He grew up in Austintown attending Lloyd Elementary School where his father (Walt Shively) served as principal from 1955 to 1979. He graduated from Fitch and went on to attend Youngstown State University in 1973 through 1978, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
He recalled attending the Trumbull County Fair and seeing a sign painter’s booth. The hand lettering and painting interested Shively and helped him center his artistic career on areas such as automotive pinstriping. He began Guy’s Graphics in 1975 as a service of the Ohio Van and Truck Supply Company in
Austintown, then established his own business in 1992 in Austintown.
Today he works on signs, boats, cars, trucks, motorcycles and practically any object that can hold paint. He is known by Model A enthusiasts for his hand painted pinstriping, which was the way the vintage cars were actually striped on the early assembly lines.
“The early Ford assembly line had two men hand-paint the pinstripes,” Shively said. “Each one began in the front and painted the stripes, meeting together at the rear of the car as it moved along the assembly line.”
Shively almost always has a Model A or Model T in his shop, waiting on the hand-painted striping. He also does custom signs and is known for painting all the graphics on the Mill Creek MetroParks trolley, and has displayed works at the Packard Museum and Butler Art Museum.
In a 2022 article, Shively said he has no plans of retiring any time soon and he
still stands by that statement. He enjoys the work as well as his leisure time. That is where his favorite pastime/hobby comes into play.
Shively enjoys the hobby of model building. He said his passion for the hobby began when he was a little kid.
hand-painting. The signs are but one aspect of
“I built my first model car in the 1960s with my dad (Walt),” he said. “Sixty-six years later I am still building model car kits. They help me sleep at night.”
He said he often uses model cars to help fall to sleep. He will lay in bed and dream of building a certain vehicle and the next thing he knows, he is fast asleep.
He even has a small workshop off his main business, where the models are painted and assembled. His wall of parts containers and specialized tools are at his disposal. His small workshop, like
the Ford Model A factory, appears as an organized assembly line.
“I have about 17 models in progress at any given time,” Shively said.
His collection is mammoth, easily breaking the 1,000 models mark. He organizes them by era, make and even colors. On one wall he has models representing the history of the Ford Motor Company.
Besides building model car kits, he also collects classic toy cars. He has cabinets containing Matchbox vehicles, the rubber Marx and Auburn cars.
Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse Guy Shively of Austintown completes a custom sign he is
his business.
Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse
Guy Shively admires his wall of Fords covering every model Ford introduced, in order.
Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse
While Guy Shively’s model collection numbers over 1,000, he can still tell a story about each vehicle from his own research.
He also has dioramas with various scenes. He used a large glass display case to feature his salvage yard. The scene has a wide variety of models including some junkyard vehicles on which he mastered the art of weathering to make them appear to be rusty. The scenes include barrels, junk yard tools and a wooden fence, all lending to a real-life miniature display.
He enjoys building and collecting, but said it is strictly as a hobby.
“I don’t want to be known for my models,” he said. “It’s just something I
enjoy doing when I get a spare minute or two.”
As the summer cruise and car show schedule is well under way, enthusiasts will be seeing a wide variety of classic, customs, competition and show cars. Those events will demonstrate the passion the Mahoning Valley exhibits for the motor vehicle. The same passion that graces the walls and cabinets of Guy Shively’s shop, where he probably has built and displayed a model of every one of those real ones.
ST. NICHOLAS
Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse
Guy Shively in his model car work area where he has roughly 16 models in some degree of completion. He is holding a custom painted Mustang that is almost ready to be mounted on a chassis.
Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse
Guy Shiovely shows off some of his car haulers and a collection of Ford Mustang models he has built over the years.
Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse
Guy Shively’s friends know his passion for model cars and occasionally he will receive the gift of a display case where he can showcase specialty vehicles. In this wooden case, he placed his collection of monster trucks and semi trucks.
Valley revving up for car shows this summer
MAY
May 30, noon-3 p.m. — Gillette 4th Annual Car Show at Gillette Nursing Home, 3310 Elm Road, Warren. Event is hosted by the Gillette Nursing Home and Rehab to benefit Gillette’s activities department. Event details: raffle, food, live music, T-shirts, dash plaques. Pre-registration available. Contact: Angie at 330-372-1960.
May 30, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. — Old Arby’s Reunion Car Show at The Brightside Project, 1909 North Ellsworth Ave., Salem, to benefit The Brightside Project. Event details: Music, door prizes, Chinese auction, 50/50, food. Contact: Gene at 330-277-8139.
May 31, noon-3 p.m. — Papa
Dave’s Summer Opener Car Meet at El Jalapena Mexican Restaurant, 5125 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles. Event details. DJ, 50/50, food and drinks.
May 31, 3-6 p.m. — Jeep Jam at The Dam at Halliday’s Winery, 2400 N.E. River Road, Lake Milton, hosted by the Steel Valley Jeep Club to benefit Friends of Fido (Mahoning County Dog Pound). Event details: 50/50 raffle, basket raffle, dogs and Jeeps.
JUNE
June 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. — Hollywood Knights Car Club Annual Car Show at UAW 1112, 11471 Reuther Drive S.E., Warren, to benefit the Youngstown Multiple Sclerosis Society. Event details: music, basket raffle, pinstriping, food trucks,
and custom trophies.
June 6, 1-3 p.m. — The Cars are the Stars 11 Benefit Classic Car Show at the Girard MultiGenerational Center, 443 Trumbull Ave., Girard. Event is hosted by the Girard Multi-Generational Center to benefit the center. Event details: awards, raffles, 50/50, DJ, door prizes, food, T-shirts. Registration opens at 10 a.m. Contact: 330-545-6596.
June 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Hollywood Knights Car Club Annual Car Show at UAW 1112, 11471 Reuther Drive S.W., Warren. Event to benefit Youngstown Multiple Sclerosis Society. Event details: custom trophies food trucks, music, Chinese auction, pinstripping.
June 6, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. — Annual Newton Falls Street Car Show in downtown Newton Falls to benefit the Newton Falls Fourth of July fireworks. Event details: dash plaques, goody bags, trophies, DJ, food, beer vendors. Contact:tonysabo@embarqmail.com
June 11-14 (check web page for times) — Salem Super Cruise in downtown Salem. Contact: visit www.salemsupercruise.com
June 13, 1-4 p.m. — 1st Annual Fairhaven Industries Car and Bike Show at 420 Lincoln Way, Niles. Event details: trophies, raffles, live music, food concessions, vendors. Information: 330-974-5445.
June 13, 3-10 p.m. — Muscle Car Madness at Paladin Brewing, 6520
Mahoning Ave., Austintown. Event details: awards, tap room.
June 13, 10 a.m. — Weathersfield 2026 Flag Day Festival car show at Weathersfield Township Community Park, Mineral Ridge, Ohio.
June 14, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. — Middlefield Swiss Cheese Festival Car Cruise In at the Cardinal School Grounds along Almeda Drive, Middlefield. Event details were not available at press time.
June 19, noon to 2 p.m. — Adult Day Services at Heritage Manor will host a Father’s Day car show intended to celebrate Father’s Day with clients. Those who would like to participate with a classic car should call Kristen at 330-719-3577.
June 20, noon-4 p.m. — 2nd Annual March into Summer car show at McKinley High School, 225 East Indiana Ave., Sebring to benefit the Sebring Marching Band. Event details: face painting, raffle, 50/50, live music, trophies, cash prizes. Contact: Wade at 330-206-9608 or Cindy at 330-206-1586.
June 20, noon-2 p.m. — Father’s Day Old Fashioned Cars Cookout and car show at Omni Manor Healthcare, 3245 Vestal Road, Youngstown. Information 330-7935648, ext. 7320 for RSVP.
June 20, 9a.m.-2 p.m. — 18th
Annual Camaro vs Mustang Showdown at Summit Racing Equipment, 1200 Southeast Ave., Tallmadge. Event is hosted by the Northeast Ohio Camaro Club and the Mahoning Valley Mustangs to benefit Aluminum Cans for Burned Children (ACBC). Event details: awards, 50/50, basket auction, food trucks. Contact: 330-5650134 (Mustangs) or 330-730-3348 (Camaros).
June 20, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. — Ride for Roy Car and Bike Show at Quaker Steak and Lube, 5800 Patriot Blvd., Austintown All proceeds benefit Ride for Roy. Event details: Trophies, music, food, raffles. Contact: 330-980-0187.
June 20, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. — Unique Treasures 7th Annual Car and Bike Show at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds, 4181 Hoagland Blackstub Road, Gate A, Cortland. Event is hosted by Unique Treasures Charities (non-profit). Event details: door prizes, dash plaques, 50/50, DJ, food trucks, and vendors.
June 25, 1-4 p.m. — Jeep Meet
Up car show at Quaker Steak and Lube, 2191 Millennium Blvd., Warren-Cortland in partnership with Northeast Ohio Jeep Lovers on Facebook.
June 27, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. — Champion High School Car Show,
which benefits the Champion Athletic Boosters. Event details: food, car plaques to first 100 entries, 50/50, basket raffles. Contact: 330-502-4467 or 330-979-4732.
June 27, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. registration 10 a.m.-1 p.m. — Piston Cruisers Car and Truck Show at the Elm Road Triple Drive-in, 1895 Elm Road, Warren. Event hosted by the Piston Cruisers Car Club to benefit Warren Family Mission. Event details: 33 awards, Chinese auction, 50/50, music, and food. Rain date June 28. Contact: 330-207-9619 or 330-766-4717
June 28, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. — Weekend Madness Car Show presented by Zip City Riderz in downtown Newton Falls. Event details: vendors, food trucks, music, Chinese auction. Contact: ZIPCITYRIDERZ@gmail.com
June 28, noon-4 p.m. — Classic Car Show at Sunshine Golden Acres, 3335 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren. Event details: awards food, coffee, donuts, live music, farm market. Contact: 330-240-8807.
June 28, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. gates open at 9 a.m. — 31st Annual Corvette and Classic Car Show at Greenwood Chevrolet, 4695 Mahoning Ave., Austintown. Event hosted by the Mahoning Valley
Staff file photo / J.T. Whitehouse
Bob and Roanne Willison of Austintown enjoyed showing off their 1962 Corvette at the 2019 Hot Rod Super Nationals at the Canfield Fairgrounds.
Saturday-Sunday, May 30-31, 2026
Corvette Club to benefit Warren Family Mission and Second Harvest Food Bank charities. Event details: DJ, food, raffle, and 50/50.
JULY
July 4, noon-4 p.m. registration at 10 a.m. — July 4 Niles Car and Bike Show in Downtown Niles, 1 South Main St. Event details: DJ, food trucks, vendors, awards.
July 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
— Hollywood Knights CC Annual Car Show at UAW 1112, 11471 Reuther Drive SW, Warren. To benefit the Youngstown chapters of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Event details: Chinese auction, trophies, live music, food trucks.
July 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. — 6th Annual Cruisin’ for a Cause at Struthers High School, 111 Euclid Ave., Struthers. Event is hosted by Struthers High School to benefit Moab House. Event details: food trucks, vendors, raffles, music. Contact: visit crusinforacause.com
July 17-19, opens at 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily — Dave and Ed’s Super Auto Events Canfield Swap Meet at the Canfield Fairgrounds, 7265 Columbiana-Canfield Road, Canfield. Hosted by Dave and Ed’s Super Auto Events. Event details: food, vendors, car corral. Contact: www.autoevents. com
July 19, noon-4 p.m. — 31st Annual car show on South Main Street, Columbiana, hosted by the Fairfield Ruritan Club to benefit the club’s scholarship program for Columbiana and Crestview high schools. Event details: DJ, food, dash plaques, trophies, 50/50 and Chinese auction.
July 19, noon-4 p.m. — Mahoning Valley Car Cruises Austintown Super Show at Austintown Township Park, 6000 Kirk Road, Austintown. Sponsored by Mark Cole Collector Car Insurance. Event details: 50/50, raffle, DJ music, awards, prizes, a craft show and food. Contact: 330-793-9575.
July 25, noon-4 p.m. — 5th Annual Marty Orr Memorial Car Bike and Tractor Show to go towards the benefit in memory of Marty Orr, at the VFW Post 5532, Washingtonville. Event details: trophies, valve cover races, 50/50 , raffle, food.
July 25, 4-8 p.m. registration at 2 p.m. — Kool Nite Kruise hosted by Kool Time Kruisers at South Range High School, 11300 Columbiana-Canfield Road, Canfield, to benefit the South Range Key Club. Event details: music, Chinese auction, 50/50, food. Contact: 614-309-5879.
July 25, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. registration opens at 9 a.m. — A Classic Car Show at the National Packard Museum, 1899 Mahoning Ave., Warren. Event details: awards, 50/50, live music, food, exhibits. Information: 330-394-1899 or www.packardmuseum.org.
July 26, 10 a.m.-registration ends at 1 p.m. — Cruise Around the Lake at Copeland Oaks, 800 South 15th St., Sebring. Event details: free food, raffles, 50/50, drawings. Contact 330-938-6126.
Mark Torella Jr. of Struthers wanted to preserve a little local history while ending up with a vintage looking company vehicle. He purchased the 1965 Ford F-100 and had it professionally lettered from a vintage Hollywood Auto Supply ad for a business that used to exist in Youngstown in the 1960s. He showed off his creation in 2019 at area car shows.
Leejo Sanchez showed off his 1956 Chevy Bel Air Gasser during the 2019 Hot Rod Super Nationals in Canfield. He owned the car since 1976 and decided to use it as a message board in the early 2000s.
AUGUST
Aug. 1, 10 a.m. — 2nd Anniversary Zasón Boricua & Los De Siempre Car Club Carshow at Oak Street Market, 1804 Oak St., Youngstown hosted by Los Siempre Car Club .
Aug. 2, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. — Cars in the Park at Boardman Park, 375 Boardman-Poland Road, Boardman. Hosted by the Mahoning Valley Olde Car Club to benefit children with medical needs. Event details: dash plaques, trophies, 50/50, DJ, food. Contact: www.mvocc.com
Aug. 2, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. — Stars, Bars, and Cars Car Show, celebrating America250-Ohio at Ernie Hall Aviation Museum Sloas Airport, 4033 North River Road, Warren, with proceeds supporting local charities and a scholarship for aviation students. Event details: Dash plaques to THE first 250 cars, food, and more.
Aug. 7-9, noon-6 p.m. on Friday, noon-6 p.m. Saturday,
9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. — Rockabilly Ruckus at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds, 899 Everett Hull Road, Cortland, to benefit the It’s All About the Warrior Foundation. Event details: contests, auction, live music, kid’s tent, food, thrill show. Contact: visit www.rockabillyruckus.com
Aug. 8, noon-6 p.m. — 3rd Annual Car Show hosted by the Royal Rider Car Club at Penguin City Brewing Co., 460 East Federal St., Youngstown. Event details: trophies. Contact: 330-9372031 or 614-394-4010.
Aug. 15, starts 1 p.m., registration at noon — Papa Dave’s Motor Mayhem Car Show at El Jalapeno Mexican Restaurant, 5125 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles. Event details: music, food and drink specials, awards. Contact: Papa Dave’s Car Show on Facebook.
Aug. 16, noon-4 p.m. — Warrior Nation Community Summerfest Car show at Brookfield Local Schools
Campus (upper lot and football field) 614 Bedford Road. Event details: vendors, crafts, awards, kid zone, DJ, punt-pass-kick contest, t-shirts for first 100 entries.
Aug. 16, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. — 43rd Annual All Oldsmobile Show and Swap Meet at American Legion Post 737, 16465 Milton Drive, Lake Milton for all Oldsmobiles-1897 through 2004. Hosted by American Legion Post 737. Event details: music, dash plaques, trophies, 50/50, vendors, car coral, and food. Contact: 330-503-1250 or jamesmlketa@gmail.com
Aug. 22, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. — 2nd Annual Charity Car Show presented by the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office, 150 High St. NW, Warren (Court House Square) to benefit Someplace Safe. Information: 330-675-7030 or Samuel.Ruggiero@co.trumbull.oh.us
Aug. 22, 1-4 p.m. — Third Annual Cruise-In for Christ Car Show hosted by Church at the Center, 1785 South
Lincoln Ave., Salem. Event details: Family-friendly event, food, dash plaques, awards, DJ, live music, 20,000 square foot open air building. Contact: 330-337-7907 or info@churchatthecenter. org
Aug. 23, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. — Gathering in the Grapes Car Show at Mastropietro Winery Inc., 14558 Ellsworth Road, Berlin Center hosted by the winery. Contact: www.mastropietrowinery.com
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 18-20, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. — Dave and Ed’s Super Auto Events Canfield Swap Meet at the Canfield Fairgrounds, 7265 Columbiana-Canfield Road, Canfield. Hosted by Dave and Ed’s Super Auto Events. Event details: food, vendors, car corral. Contact: 330-477-8506 or email info@superautoevents.com
Sept. 19, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. — Campbell Cruelty Humane Rescue Jeep, Car and Bike Show at Austintown Township Park, 6000 Kirk Road, Austintown to benefit the rescue organization. Event details: vendors, food, basket raffle. Information: 518-481-7869 or 330-540-9993.
Sept. 20, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. — The Rust Belt Revival, a traditional hot rod show at 365 East Boardman St.,
Youngstown. Event details: food, music, three awards. Contact: via Facebook page
OCTOBER
Oct. 11, noon-4 p.m. — The Michael J. Fox Annual Greatest Spooktacular Car Show at Springfield High School in New Middletown. Event is hosted by Springfield High School for the benefit of the Michael Fox Remembrance Foundation. Event details: awards, food, dash plaques, DJ, kids costume class, and trick or treat (bring candy) from 1-3 p.m., best car display.
WEEKLY EVENTS
Mondays, 5-8 p.m. — Top Notch Diner Cruise, 682 South High St., Cortland
Mondays, 5-8 p.m. — Lowellville Business Association’s Cruising the River, Downtown Lowellville
Tuesdays, 3-7 p.m. — Spellbound Sisters Bookstore and Café, 7095 Lockwood Blvd., Boardman
Tuesdays, 5-8 p.m. — MVOCC Tuesday Night Cruise, DeBartolo Commons area at the Southern Park Mall, 7401 Market St., Boardman
Tuesdays, 5-7 p.m. — Cortland Car Cruise on West Main Street, Cortland. Tuesdays, 5-8 p.m. — Vienna Dairy Queen weekly cruise, 921 Youngstown Kingsville Road.
Wednesdays, 4-7 p.m. — Lordstown Dairy Queen Cruise, 6780 Tod Ave., Warren
Wednesdays, 4-9 p.m. — LaPalma Family Restaurant, Brookfield
Fridays, 5-8 p.m. — Cruise Nights at Urban Tap, 439 E. Market St., Warren.
Fridays, 5-8 p.m. — Quaker Steak and Lube Cruise, 435 Boardman-Poland Road, Boardman.
Fridays, 5-9 p.m. — O’Reilly Auto Parts, 4337 BoardmanCanfield Road, Canfield
Saturdays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. — (2nd and last Saturday of the month) Steel Valley Brew Works, 7401 Market St., Boardman.
Saturdays, 5-8 p.m. — Quaker City Cruisers car and bike cruise at Rendezvous Bar and Grill, 1688 S. Lincoln Ave., Salem
Sundays, 5-8 p.m. — Quaker Steak and Lube, 5800 Patriot Blvd., Austintown
Ron and Kathy Naypaver of Canfield show off their classic 1940 Ford pickup truck at the 2019 Mahoning Valley Olde Car Club “Cars in the Park” show. Their entry was one of over 300 vehicles in the show that year.
Staff file photo / J.T. Whitehouse
Jeff Weaver of Boardman displayed the vintage 1940 Packard sedan he inherited from his late father Don Weaver. The Packard was among the hundreds of vintage vehicles that were on display at the 2019 version of “Cars in the Park” put on by the Mahoning Valley Olde Car Club.
Mahoning parks offer water, nature, activities
Staff report
Parks abound in Mahoning County, but the sprawling Mill Creek MetroParks, which comprises over 5,000 acres, is by far the largest.
It was established in 1891 by Volney Rogers and was converted to a metropolitan park district in 1989 through a vote of Mahoning County residents. It is Ohio’s oldest park district, according to its website.
New last year, Mill Creek has MetroParks partnered with Cruise the Creek to offer hourly electric bike (e-bike) rentals from the Kirk Road Trailhead at 6685 Kirk Road, Canfield. The rentals are being offered as part of a lease agreement between Mill Creek MetroParks and Cruise the Creek.
“This collaboration continues our partnerships with local, private companies in expanding recreational opportunities to the community in a cost-effective manner. Cruise the Creek has developed a large customer base of individuals interested in the e-bike experience and we look forward to having them on the MetroParks Bikeway,” states Aaron Young, Executive Director for Mill Creek MetroParks.
The rental location is now open for the season, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, with the last rental one hour prior to closing. Reservations are required and can be made on the Cruise the Creek website at www.cruisethecreek.com. Rental pricing starts at $18 per hour.
The existing rules and regulations of the MetroParks Bikeway also will apply to electric bikes, which include following a maximum speed of 15 mph while on the bikeway. Other rules and regulations can be found on the MetroParks website.
The Cruise the Creek website states that kids ages 13 and up can ride an electric bike. However, height specifications must be met.
Among the attractions at Mill Creek MetroParks are:
project was completed in 2023 and was designed to improve, enhance, and expand the Ford Nature Center to better serve the community’s nature education needs. The project successfully preserved the historic and physical attributes of this facility while adding both indoor and outdoor educational opportunities, the park website states.
Reconfiguration and expansion of interior spaces has increased public programming and educational opportunities with new interactive exhibits, interchangeable displays and interpretive signage. Accessibility throughout the facility has been improved and new public spaces have been added.
New features within the building include:
• Nature Exhibit Hall—Interactive exhibits for all ages focusing on nature and wildlife found within the MetroParks. The ground level, full length glass observation area features a stunning view of the Native Wildflower Meadow and outdoor classroom.
• History Room — Visitors can spend time learning about the history of the Ford family and Ford Nature Center. They can navigate through the interactive map table to learn more about the Nature Center grounds, trail system and other areas in the MetroParks.
• Bird Observation Room — Guests can relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of native bird species as they feed on various feeders and nest in the multiple bird boxes located in the Wildflower Meadow. They can record their observations or explore the different species at the e-bird desk located in “Nancy’s Nook.”
• Gift Shop — Guests can find the perfect gift for the nature lover in their life. In the gift shop are unique items featuring Mill Creek MetroParks swag for both adults and kids, nature-inspired jewelry, candles, various drinkware, eco-friendly gifts and so much more. Retail merchandise, snacks and beverages are also available for purchase.
Features throughout the grounds include:
• Rooftop Garden — A living rooftop garden comprising select plant species.
Located behind the Nature Center on the roof of the Exhibit Hall, a series of planted trays were combined to create a patchwork of plant species with a wealth of function. The plants include sedges, alliums, and select bulbs that create habitat to attract pollinators such as birds, bees and insects. The plants also absorb rainwater to reduce stormwater runoff, promote health and well-being, lower ambient temperatures and conserve energy.
• Native Wildflower Meadow – The wildflower meadow is a highlight of the Ford Nature Center grounds. Seeds from over two dozen native forbs (wildflowers) and warm season grasses were planted to establish this important habitat. The plants attract pollinator species of birds and insects, as well as providing suitable habitat for ground-swelling animals. Seasonal change is on display throughout the meadow with blooms of varying color and duration, differing textures, and new wildlife, offering a new experience every day.
• Outdoor Classrooms – This space, once the location of the Ford family tennis court, is carved out of the wildflower meadow along the tree line of the property. The classroom is accessible utilizing the perimeter trail. Natural seating and other amenities create a space to gather, learn, and commune with nature. The second outdoor classroom located behind the Education Building, includes terraced sandstone block seating and a concrete patio. Created to encourage
groups to gather, learn, and commune with nature, visitors can directly access the Virginia J. Axtmann Trail for all People or the wildflower meadow perimeter trail. Educational signage is located nearby.
• Axtman Trail for All People (0.1 mile; easy, paved trail) – This paved trail is designed to provide people of all abilities access to the naturally wooded areas surrounding the Ford Nature Center. Visitors can take a leisurely walk along this trail, experiencing forested habitat and the various plant species that comprise it. Educational signage is located throughout the trail.
• Education Building – The three-story Education Building was once the garage to both the Robinson and Ford families. Originally designed and constructed with the house (Nature Center), the structure once housed an apartment on the upper level. The building now facilitates multiple activities in both indoor and outdoor classroom settings, and provides direct access to the James & Coralie Centofanti Foundation plaza and the Virginia J. Axtmann Trail for All People.
FELLOWS RIVERSIDE GARDENS
Fellows Riverside Gardens is a free public garden located at the northern end of Mill Creek Park. This 12-acre display garden features a landscape of remarkable beauty with diverse and colorful plant displays, roses of all classes,
seasonal displays of annuals, perennials, flowering bulbs and scenic vistas. The D.D. and Velma Davis Education & Visitor Center makes the Gardens a destination for all seasons. Fellows Riverside Gardens is one of Ohio’s finest public gardens and attracts more than 400,000 visitors a year.
Fellows Riverside Gardens is located in the city of Youngstown and is operated by Mill Creek MetroParks. Only nine miles from the Ohio Turnpike, many visitors find the Gardens a convenient and worthwhile stop while traveling. For the residents of Mahoning County, the MetroParks and Fellows Riverside Gardens are their pride and joy.
Each year over 40,000 bulbs announce the arrival of spring. Crocus, tulips, narcissus and other bulbs give forth their joyful colors in abundance. Annuals by the thousands replace the bulbs as they subside. Old favorites and new varieties are skillfully blended to produce a show that’s sure to please.
A generous variety of labeled trees and shrubs serve as the background for the many floral displays. Shade trees, flowering trees, shrubs and groundcovers of all descriptions combine to create smaller gardens within a garden. Collections of European beech, rhododendrons, hollies, shade plants, herbs, dwarf conifers, perennials and others are displayed for the enjoyment and education of the visitor. Many come just to relax.
Fellows Riverside Gardens is more than a collection of plants: it is a collection of services offered to the public. Volunteer opportunities are available for those who wish to learn about the many aspects of horticulture. Special events, weddings, private parties and art exhibits bring many; others visit to peruse the fine gifts in the Shop in the Gardens, enjoy lunch in the Garden Café, or take advantage of the many library resources. Local artists and photographers come to the Gardens for compositions and inspiration as do home gardeners.
Fellows Riverside Gardens is a member of the American
Public Gardens Association. A professional association for public gardens in North America, supporting the public horticulture community in its mission to study, display and conserve plants.
JAMES L. WICK RECREATION AREA
Development of the area began in 1949, and it opened in 1956. A master plan for the Wick Recreation Area was developed in 2007. Facilities in this 65-acre tract include:
• Dek Hockey Rink
• Par 3 Golf Course -Seasonal
• Tennis courts – 3 artificial grass, sand-filled surface courts; one court with backboard; lighted for night play
• Batting cages – 4 hardball, 3 softball, slow to fast. Come to the Par-3 building to purchase tokens. Helmets and bats can be rented at no charge (must wear a helmet with a facemask while in the batting cage). Open until Nov. 1
• Volleyball courts – 3 sand courts; lighted for night play
• The Par 3 golf course, tennis courts, volleyball courts and batting cages are lighted for night use until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays after Memorial Day through Labor Day. Starting the week of Sept. 21, lighted play will be available until 10 p.m.
• The Juliana Kurinka Children’s Play Area offers four play areas for children of all ages. The area includes Wet, Adventure, Sand, and Tot Playgrounds with equipment and features designed for interactive, physical, and social play. The Play Area is designed with family in mind as it offers designated areas with appropriately sized / designed play equipment for tots (ages 2-5) and older children (ages 5-12).
• Picnic facilities
• Softball and baseball diamonds
• Soccer and football fields
• Sled Hill – lighted sled riding slopes (open December, January, and February — weather permitting)
• Cross Country Skiing
• Judge Morley Performing Arts Pavilion
• Thomas J. Bresko Pavilion
is available for rental
LANTERMAN’S MILL
One of Mahoning County’s most historic landmarks, Lanterman’s Mill was built in 1845-46 by German Lanterman and Samuel Kimberly. Restored in 1982-85 through a gift from the Ward and Florence Beecher Foundations, this community treasure represents one of the many pioneer industries developed along Mill Creek and operates today as it did in the 1800s, grinding corn, wheat and buckwheat.
Visit Lanterman’s Mill and step into the past. Observe the pioneer ingenuity involved in the early production of meal and flour, smell the sweet aroma of freshly ground grains, and feel the rumbling vibrations of the massive stones as the various grains are ground. Browse the gift shop located in the Mill to find unique items featuring Mill Creek MetroParks swag for both adults and kids, nature-inspired jewelry, candles, various drinkware, eco-friendly gifts and so much more. Our stone-ground cornmeal, buckwheat, and whole wheat flour are preservative-free and can be purchased in the gift shop. Snacks and beverages are also available for purchase. Call 330-740-7115 for information regarding stone-ground flours and meal. Lanterman’s Mill is open seasonally May 1 to Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
MILL CREEK PARK BOATING
Boating is permitted on Lake Glacier and Lake Newport. Boat rentals are available at Lake Glacier Boathouse from around Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. The West Lake Newport Boat Launch will not be open this summer, according to the MetroParks.
Privately owned canoes, kayaks, and boats which comply with MetroParks regulations may be used on these lakes, March 1 – November 30.
LAKE GLACIER
Lake Glacier was created in 1906 by the damming of Mill
Creek at the “narrows” as it approached the Mahoning River. This 44-acre lake has provided recreational opportunities for many generations. Boating and fishing are permitted in season. Kayaks and pedal boats are available to rent at the Glacier Boathouse on West Glacier Dr. A barrier-free fishing dock is located along West Glacier Dr. Hikers can access Old Tree Trail and East Glacier Trail. Boat racks are available. Parking is available at this facility.
LAKE NEWPORT AND WETLANDS
In 1924, Alice Baldwin Lewis donated 70 acres of land specifying that part of the land was to be used for creating a lake. Mill Creek meandered through this shallow valley making it a suitable site for a man-made lake.
In 1928 a dam was built, creating what is now known as Lake Newport.
Lake Newport, the largest of Mill Creek Park’s three lakes, offers 60 acres of open water and 40 acres of wetlands. Boating and fishing are permitted in season. A boat launch is located on East Newport Drive.
The Newport Wetlands, located at the southern end of the lake, provide habitat for a variety of plants and animals. Visitors can experience this complex web of flora and fauna by walking the Albert E. Davies Wetland Trail, a boardwalk through the wetlands with interpretive signs along the way. Kayakers can explore the wetland habitat through water trails inaccessible from land. Hikers can access West and East Channel and Islands Trails and West Newport Trail.
Newport Wetlands Improvement Project: Parking Lot and Biofiltration Garden
The rehabilitation of the Newport Wetlands parking lot and the creation of a biofiltration garden was completed in 2013. These improvements will reduce the volume and velocity of storm water runoff and increase the quality of the water before it reaches Mill Creek and Lake Newport.
The parking lot rehabilitation incorporated permeable pavers that drain storm water through
the pavement surface to reduce the volume of run-off. The pavers are placed in the parking bays and cover over 6400 sq.ft.
The 12,000 sq.ft. biofiltration garden includes a swale, pools and floodplains. Organic soil material, mounding, gravel areas and native plant species enable this area to filter sediment and pollutants. The biofiltration garden will significantly improve water quality, increase native species and wildlife habitat, and create an appealing feature within a popular area of Mill Creek Park.
The project was funded through a grant from the Ohio EPA’s Clean Water Act, and covered 60% of its cost. Mill Creek MetroParks completed the balance of the project with matching funds and in-kind services.
LAKE COHASSET
Lake Cohasset, the oldest of Mill Creek Park’s lakes, was built in 1897 and is known for its stately hemlocks. This 28-acre lake offers visitors a secluded place to view wildlife in their natural habitats. Boating is not permitted on Lake Cohasset. Fishing is permitted. Hikers can access West and East Cohasset Trails to experience this beautiful area.
LILY POND
Migrating waterfowl and resident goldfish have made this 3.25-acre pond a popular site since 1896. Visitors can enjoy this area by taking the .25-mile Lily Pond Circle Trail that loops around the pond. Fishing is not permitted at this location.
An extensive restoration project at the Lily Pond was completed in 2016. The purpose of the project was to restore the attributes and functions of the Lily Pond that had deteriorated from heavy use and frequency of visitors. A bottom-diffused aeration system was installed in 2019, this improves water quality and wildlife habitat through increased dissolved oxygen levels.
Some of the new features include a floating boardwalk, two observation decks to bring visitors to the water’s edge, native vegetation to create seasonal
interest and pockets of diverse habitat, a bioswale, biofiltration area, and permeable pavers to prevent storm water runoff and pollutants from entering the Lily Pond, educational interpretive signage, comfort station, and a kiosk with facility information.
Common species visitors can view at this location include Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Koi, Red-eared Slider, Painted Turtle, Common Snapping Turtle, Mallard, Wood Duck, and Great Blue Heron.
Parking is available at this facility.
MILL CREEK WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
This unique property was acquired with grant funds in 2005 and expanded in 2021 to total 482 acres of diverse wetland and upland habitats. It provides habitat for a vast array of wildlife and plant species, many of which are rare or threatened. Access to this sanctuary is limited to MetroParks educational programs; however, an elevated observation platform is open to the public and provides visitors with panoramic views of the property.
VICKERS NATURE PRESERVE
Vickers Nature Preserve consists of diverse habitats, including meadows, woodlands, wetlands, and ponds. There are also several small streams flowing through the Preserve that flow directly into Meander Creek just upstream of the Meander Reservoir.
SEBRING WOODS
Sebring Woods consists primarily of floodplain forest and wooded wetlands interspersed with open marsh and upland habitats.
COLLIER PRESERVE
Located in Boardman Township, the Collier Preserve consists of over 300 acres of upland and wetland habitats.
McGUFFEY WILDLIFE PRESERVE
This 78-acre retreat is located on McGuffey Road in Coitsville Township and features a natural, unpaved walking path.
HITCHCOCK WOODS
Hitchcock Woods is a densely wooded preserve spanning the Mill Creek corridor south of Boardman-Canfield Road (Route 224) in Boardman Township.
SAWMILL CREEK PRESERVE
Sawmill Creek is a major tributary entering the Meander Reservoir, and protection of this important resource is one of the reasons that the Sawmill Creek Preserve was established.
EGYPT SWAMP PRESERVE
This 57-acre preserve is comprised of wetlands, ponds, streams and floodplains.
SPRINGFIELD FOREST
This 88-acre property in Springfield Township was acquired in 2021 through successful grant applications to the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund and partnership with Western Reserve Land Conservancy. Features of Springfield Forest include a new entry drive and 16car parking lot, aggregate and primitive hiking trails, a fishing pier and boardwalk, scenic vistas, facility signage, a picnic area, and 20 acres of ecological restoration. Recreational activities on the property include hiking along the scenic trail system and fishing at the pier.
HAWKINS MARSH
This 161-acre park was acquired in 2022 in partnership with West Creek Conservancy and a successful grant application to the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund. A variety of unique natural habitats can be found on the property including the critically important category three wetlands. Visitors can enjoy
STEM CAMPS
FOR RISING 5th-8th GRADERS
Monday through Friday from 9am - 3pm. Before/after care are available.
picnicking, hiking, and birdwatching while meandering through the young woodlands and along the picturesque flowing creek.
METROPARKS FARM
Open seasonally, this 402-acre working farm promotes agriculture through educational programming, tours, and display areas. Beginning in the 1910s, the property served as the Mahoning County Experimental Farm. The Ohio State University managed it until 1990, researching improvements in planting, livestock production, and pest management. Since 1990, in line with its mission to preserve open space, Mill Creek MetroParks has operated the property under a lease from Mahoning County. Contact the Education Manager at 330.740.7107 ext. 171 for educational opportunities, programs and events, and farm tours. Also located at this facility:
YELLOW CREEK PARK
Yellow Creek Park encompasses a lovely 76-acre gorge area in the heart of Struthers and is operated by Mill Creek MetroParks. Visitors can enjoy hiking trails, picnic facilities, tennis, horseshoe, and basketball courts, and a playground. Experience the diversity of Yellow Creek Park as you hike its four challenging trails. The historic site of the Hopewell Furnace is accessible by trail when Yellow Creek levels are low. Shore fishing is permitted from March 1 – Nov. 30. Yellow Creek Park offers two rental facilities.
METROPARKS BIKEWAY
Leave your car behind and experience a wide variety of scenery as you reconnect with nature, the community’s history, and each other. Enjoy the MetroParks Bikeway for the health of it. This 11-mile paved trail offers a variety of scenery for hikers, skaters, and bicyclists. The MetroParks Bikeway runs
from Western Reserve Road in Canfield Township to the Mahoning County / Trumbull County Line in Austintown. Parking is available at the MetroParks Farm in Canfield Township and at the Kirk Road Trailhead and Mahoning Avenue Trailhead in Austintown. The grade along the Bikeway is typically very gentle. The lowest point of the Bikeway is at County Line Road. The Bikeway’s grade increases to the highest point at Lisbon Street in Canfield for an elevation difference of 180 feet.
DAFFODIL MEADOW
One of Mill Creek Park’s original consulting landscape architects, Warren H. Manning, believed that park design should adapt to accommodate visitors’ views from automobiles. Because people were traveling at faster speeds, he specified that vistas should appear at the end of vision lines as people were driving toward them rather than on the sides of roads, which would be quickly passed.
In 1932, the Garden Club of Youngstown purchased 8,000 daffodil bulbs to plant on the east side of Lake Newport as part of a beautification plan for the Newport Section of Mill Creek Park. Daffodils were planted in masses in order to catch the eye.
Since then, thousands of visitors flock to Daffodil Meadow each spring to take in the early show of color. Mill Creek MetroParks was even named in a 2009 USA Today article as a top place to see daffodils. New bulbs are planted every fall to ensure there will be enough daffodils for all to enjoy the following spring.
The Garden Club of Youngstown celebrated their 100 year anniversary in 2015 and partnered with the MetroParks by substantially funding an improvement project at Daffodil Meadow. Improvements include: additional daffodil bulb plantings, a new facility sign, ornamental tree/shrub plantings, planting of historic daffodil bulb varieties,
interpretive and educational signage, and daffodil identification labels during the blooming season.
In addition to Mill Creek MetroParks, there are smaller parks scattered throughout Mahoning County. These include:
BOARDMAN PARK
Boardman Park preserves 243 acres of greenspace and provides a variety of recreational facilities and programs year-round. There are 4 miles of trails, four indoor rental facilities and five outdoor rental facilities.
The park offers bocce, pickleball, tennis, hayrides (seasonal), cornhole, two sand volleyball courts, baseball fields, two playgrounds (one for kids 5 and under and one for kids 6 and older), disc golf, a dog park and a hike and bike trail.
Dogs are welcome in most areas of the park if they are on a leash and owners clean up after them.
YOUNGSTOWN PARKS
Crandall Park on the city’s North Side is the largest park. It has a duck pond, a fountain, hiking trail, sled hill, playground, a roofed pavilion with grills and an indoor picnic area. It also
has wide open spaces for playing frisbee, cornhole, bocce and other sports.
Wick Park, located across from Stambaugh Auditorium, has a walking / bicycle trail, outdoor pavilion, indoor pavilion, playground and exercise equipment with how-to placards located throughout the park.
AUSTINTOWN TOWNSHIP PARK
The system consists of the main 220-acre Township Park at 6000 Kirk Road plus four satellite parks located throughout Austintown for a total of approximately 265 acres of park land. More than 100 of these acres are natural woodlands.
The Township Park comprises natural areas including grasslands, forest, streamside forest, ravines, Corll Meadows and one-acre Yeager Pond with a wildlife observation deck.
Diverse habitats provide for a wide variety of wildlife and plants.The grasslands are nesting sites for several Ohio threatened bird species. The forests shelter a range of wildlife species including white-tailed deer, black rat snakes, barred owls, red fox, wild turkey and a variety of salamanders, frogs, and insects, to name just a few. There are numerous recreational
opportunities available year round that include:
• A sand volleyball court
• Disc golf course
• Two basketball courts
• Splash pad
• 18,000-square foot PlayQuest playground area
• Cross country skiing in the winter months with more than 70 acres of open field areas
• Five softball / baseball fields
• Two horseshoe pits
• Several small playground areas
• Five tennis courts
• Four pickleball courts
POLAND TOWNSHIP PARK
This park on Dobbins Road was established in 2005 on wooded and reclaimed land owned by Republic Services and is leased to Poland Township for $1 a year. Volunteers have spent numerous hours over the years clearing areas for the ongoing development of the Park. The 107acre Park is Poland’s gem located in the eastern part of the Township. The area of the Park includes dense forest, forest edge, a somewhat rocky prairie, grassland, and some marshy land. There is something of interest in the park for everyone, including:
• Oak Grove Picnic pavilion
• Playground
• Daffodil trails
• Butterfly gardens
• Soccer fields
• Hiking trails
• Cross country course
• Sled riding hills
CANFIELD
The community boasts four parks, including the largest, Canfield Township Park. There is also Fair Park, Greasel Park and Argus Park.
CAMPBELL
Roosevelt Park on Struthers-Liberty Road features numerous outdoor rental pavilions, an indoor community center, baseball fields, a playground, walking trail and a band shell where live music can be heard throughout the summer. The park also is the site of the city’s annual trunk-or-treat, Christmas event, Easter egg hunt and City Fest.
STRUTHERS
In addition to Yellow Creek Park, which is part of the Mill Creek MetroParks, the city also boasts Mauthe Park and Bob Cene Park.
