Get ready for the Biggest Weekend of the Summer
YOUNGSTOWN - They're calling it the Biggest Weekend of the Summer.
July 9, 10 and 11 will feature a bicycle race, run, arts festival, open houses and a jazz festival.
It's time for the second annual Tour of the Valley. A press kit for the event says, "The Youngstown Live Tour of the Valley is a competitive sporting event featuring pro and elite amateur riders. Expected to attract more than 300 racers and 4,000+ spectators to the tri-county area, this annual event features 17 races and over $20,000 in cash prizes."
According to the event's Web site, there are multiple chances to check out the event as a spectator. The first is time trials Friday at 5 p.m. at Mastropietro Winery in Berlin Center.
Saturday, the tour will feature a 33-mile road race in Columbiana at 11 a.m. and a downtown Youngstown Criterium on Sunday at 9 p.m.
New this year, there's a community ride Sunday. Registration is $20 and begins at 7:30 a.m. with the race at 8:30 a.m. Riders get a free shirt, refreshments and a chance to win a Mercury Bike Frame, courtesy of race sponsor Carbon Racing.
Saturday will also be the Seventh Annual Smoky Hollow 5K Run and 1-mile Family Fun Walk. Registration begins at 7:45 a.m. at Harrison Field, near Cassese's MVR and Youngstown State University's Bliss Hall.
The race will begin at 9 a.m. and the Fun Walk will start at 9:10 a.m. The event also has a green element: If you bring your old running shoes, they'll be recycled.
At Youngstown State University, it'll be Summer Festival of the Arts on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Festival director Lori Factor says the Biggest Weekend of Summer was a matter of a number of entities coming together and realizing they could do better together.
"We can pull our resources, we can cross-promote. They're buzz words, but they're really smart marketing efforts," she says. "We are better together. This weekend will be a really good indication of that."
Factor says SFA is up in the number of artists from previous years.
"I think that says a couple of things, including that the economy is doing a little better," Factor says.
In addition to the more than 70 artists and traditional Festival of Nations, there will also be live performances of poetry, theater, music and dance during the free event.
Art Youngstown's Three-Letter Project will be on display during SFA.
"Art Youngstown and Summer Festival of Arts wanted to put together some sort of public art project," she says.
Factor says the project is similar to Wrap the Arts, with different artists painting banners that interpret Youngstown
"We offered banners to anyone who wanted one," Factor says.
She says about 40 banners were complete, some by individuals and some by groups. They'll be on display and for sale near Debartalo Hall. After SFA, Factor says the remaining pieces will be displayed through the community.
"It's a belief that art doesn't have to be cumbersome; it can just be a banner," Factor says.
Factor says The Lemon Grove Café has taken responsibility for the open stage. Performances will begin Saturday at 11 a.m. with Julius Veal, follow by Shiloh Hawkins & Courtney Waskin, Angie DeNicholas and Liz McBride. At 3 and 5 p.m., the Tribe of Eos Bellydance Troupe will perform. Later, Rocco Sait will perform at 4 p.m., followed Brandon martin, lee Boyle of Third Class and Matt Palka. Sunday's lineup has not yet been announced.
Also at SFA, "Youngstown: Still Standing," produced by Youngstown notice Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, will be screened twice in the McDonough Museum of Art. The Ward Beecher Planetarium at YSU will have a full schedule of shows, including family-appropriate "The Little Star That Could" at 12 and 1 p.m., "Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity" at 2 and 3 p.m. and 3D program "STARS" at 4 and 5 p.m.
To illustrate Factor's point of collaboration, she says there's also things going on at the Rose Melnick Medical Museum, The Arms Family Museum of Local History and the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.
St. John's Episcopal Church will also host a rummage sale during SFA and the First Presbyterian Church will host a community worship service. There will also be a festival at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church on Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 12 to 10 p.m.
On Saturday, the city of Youngstown, Mahoning County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau and the Regional Chamber are organizing the Downtown Youngstown Jazz Festival.
According to a press release, "The downtown area will be blocked off for the event, with activities centered in the area at East Federal and Market streets. The festival begins at 4 p.m. with beverages, food and wine and cheese tasting. The show starts at 5:30 p.m."
Local acts include Soundoctrine, Howard and the Point Five Band and the YSU Jazz ensemble. Headliners are Spyro Gyra and David Benoit.
Tickets for the Jazz Festival are $15 and children 12 and younger are free. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster or the Regional Chamber.
On Sunday in downtown Youngstown, from 3 to 9 p.m., there will be the Fallen Officer Bike Run and outdoor Central Square Party featuring a performance by Phoenix Rising.
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