Downtown Youngstown has a weekend full of fun and entertainment.
 
The 2026 season for First Fridays Youngstown began on March 6 with the theme "The Arts at SMARTS".
 
The free community event was hosted at Students Motivated by the Arts (SMARTS), 25 E. Boardman St. The event featured hands-on art activities, music, creative writing and more. The evening also included a live performance by Larry Elefante.
 
The Live Music initiative will add performances at downtown venues, including The Avalon, Penguin City, and Twisted Roots.
 
The weekend's entertainment continues as Bert Kreischer brings his "Permission to Party World Tour" to the Covelli Centre at 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.com.
 
The Ward Beecher Planetarium at Youngstown State University has three shows this weekend. "Spring Skywatch" at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and "One world, One Sky" Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
Penguin City Brewing Company starts their weekend with line dancing from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m on Friday. On Wednesday, they will have trivia with John Monroe from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. An international Women's Day celebration will also take place on Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thirsty Thursday karaoke will be from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday.
 
Saturday at noon, YSU women's lacrosse faces Marquette at the Watson and Tressel Training Site.
 
The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County will have a Farmers Market that runs from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
 
At Noble Creature Wild Ales & Lagers, the Food for Thought book discussion will start at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
 
The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber is a partner in advancing downtown redevelopment and continues to help businesses and organizations grow.