Arts, Greek fest, wine and jazz on tap for YSU Summer Festival of the Arts weekend

A weekend of arts, culture and music is planned for July 15-18 as the YSU Summer Festival of the Arts begins at its new location at Wean Park, 229 E. Front Street in downtown Youngstown.

Organizers from Youngstown State University, JAC Management, the City of Youngstown, Mahoning County Convention & Visitors Bureau, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church announce a variety of events planned for that weekend.

Events include:

• The St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Summerfest, Thursday through Sunday, July 15-18, 220 N. Walnut Street.
• YSU Summer Festival of the Arts, Saturday and Sunday, July 17 and 18, at its new location, Wean Park, 229 E. Front Street, Youngstown OH 44503.
• Robinson-Shuba Memorial Statue dedication on Saturday, July 17, 9 a.m. at Wean Park.
• Youngstown Wine and Jazz, featuring Jackiem Joyner, Saturday, July 17, Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre, Downtown Youngstown

St. Nicholas Greek Summerfest kicks off the weekend July 15-18 and includes music and dancing, Greek food and pastries, and a display of cultural memorabilia. Hours are: Thursday, July 15, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, July 16 and 17, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; and Sunday, July 18, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Take out lunch service is available on Thursday and Friday. Admission is free.

The 23rd annual YSU Summer Festival of the Arts will be held July 17 and 18 at its new location, Wean Park, 229 E. Front Street, Youngstown OH 44503 in between the Market Street Bridge (Huntington Community Alley) and the Covelli Centre. Saturday’s hours are 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday’s hours are 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The heart of the festival is the artists’ marketplace that showcases the work of over 70 local, regional and national artists selling original, hand-crafted pieces such as jewelry, paintings, sketches, sculptures, glass, wood and textiles. Artists’ work has been juried, or selected, from among all of the applicants.

Family activities are central to this event and include the popular hands on art tent where children are encouraged to create various pieces of artwork under the guidance of two professional art teachers.

Dozens of music, theater and dance performances are also scheduled at two stages centrally located at the park. Groups performing on Saturday: Youngstown Community Concert Band, Larry Elefante, Conjunto Riquena, Irish Brigadiers, John Blinsky featuring Unc D and Thin Thicket, Opera Western Reserve, Oakland Center for the Arts Kids First Theatre Initiative, Ballet Western Reserve and Millennial Theatre Co. Groups performing on Sunday include: County Mayo, JD Eicher, Willie Ross and Counter Pointe, Oakland Center for the Arts Kids First Theatre Initiative, Rust Belt Theatre Company, The Youngstown Playhouse Youth Valley Players, the YSU Fencing Club and Mahoning Valley Players.

Numerous arts, culture, religious and community groups will join the festivities either on-site in a booth or at their home locations. On-site groups include Ballet Western Reserve, Friends of the Mahoning River, Hopewell Theatre, Lit Youngstown, Mahoning Valley Historical Society, Mill Creek MetroParks, Millennial Theatre Company, Oakland Center for the Arts Kids First Theatre Initiative, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Basilica, Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Simply Slavic, SMARTS-Students Motivated by the Arts, Stambaugh Auditorium, DeYor Performing Arts Center, Youngstown Symphony Society, Opera Western Reserve, The Youngstown Playhouse, St. John’s Episcopal Church, The Montessori School of the Mahoning Valley, Youngstown CityScape, YSU Campus Recreation, YSU Athletics, YSU Honors College, YWCA Mahoning Valley. Others participating at their home locations include The Butler Institute of American Art, McDonough Museum of Art, YWCA, featuring the 39th Annual Women Artists Show, Art House on Elm, Trinity United Methodist Church, Youngstown Presbyterian Church,

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Tyler History Center and Arms Museum, Oh Wow Science Center, Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor-Steel Museum, Soap Gallery and the dozens of restaurants, bars and shops located in downtown Youngstown.

Special events coinciding with the weekend include the dedication of the Robinson-Shuba commemorative statue prior to the opening ceremony of the Summer Festival of the Arts on Saturday, July 17, 9 a.m. at Wean Park; a Pipe Organ Crawl on Sunday, July 18 at 1 p.m. includes short organ performances and a historical talk about each organ at Trinity United Methodist Church, St. John’s Episcopal Church and First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown. St. John's will offer two church tours on Sunday, July 18 at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., while Trinity United Methodist will offer tours on Saturday, July 17 from 1-3 p.m. and on Sunday, July 18 from 1:30-3:30 p.m.

For the tenth year, a Jazz concert will occur in downtown Youngstown as part of the weekend. Youngstown Wine and Jazz will be Saturday, July 17 featuring saxophonist Jackiem Joyner and Jazz in the Park.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., at the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre. Tickets are $10 each ($25 for VIP seating) and available at the Covelli Centre Box Office, at www.ticketmaster.com or at the gate.

Contemporary saxophonist, author, and music producer Jackiem Joyner released his seventh album, Touch, in 2019. After more than 12 years as a recording artist, Joyner continues to stand out with electrifying live performances and productions. As a performer, he has toured over 30 countries and performed with the late George Duke, Marcus Miller, Keiko Matsui, Donnie McClurkin, Angela Bofill, Najee, Kirk Whalum, Peter White, among others. Joyner also enjoys extensive radio playtime.

Joyner has two number-one hit songs, five top 10 billboard singles, and a number one debut album under his belt. In addition, he published a science fiction novel, Zarya, which received a five-star rating on Amazon. More information is available at www.ysu.edu/sfa, or by emailing Lori Factor, festival coordinator at lafactor@ysu.edu.