YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - It's a busy weekend for events in Youngstown. Looking to get out of the house and head downtown? Here's everything you need to know.

Events in Downtown Youngstown this weekend include:

The 23rd Annual Summer Festival of the Arts kicks off this Saturday and will be held at their new Wean Park location. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The Summer Festival of the Arts typically attracts more than 80 artists and more than 10,000 visitors annually. "We've got many artists, performances by music groups and theater groups, a kids art tent and food," said Lori Factor, Director of Summer Festival of the Arts.

The artists featured will be selling original pieces made from many different mediums, such as sculptures, paintings, jewelry, drawings, wood, glass, and textiles.

For children, there will be a tent set up with two professional art teachers to guide the kids in making their very own art.

Admission to the festival and parking are both free. "There's a more open footprint at Wean Park," Factor explained. "People will be able to see the whole expanse of what is to be offered with a view of our beautiful city and Market St. bridge." Factor explained she hopes the location will bring people down to the park to enjoy, even after the event is over. 

The dedication of the Robinson-Shuba Commemorative Statue will happen at Wean Park Saturday morning at 9 a.m. as part of the opening ceremony for the Summer Festival of the Arts.

Sculptor Marc Mellon created the statue in commemoration of the 1946 handshake between George Shuba, Youngstown native and former MLB player, and Jackie Robinson, the first African American allowed to play in modern organized baseball.

During Robinson's debut game with the Montreal Royals, he hit a three-run homer allowing two teammates to score.

Nobody was waiting at home plate to congratulate Robinson after her rounded the bases.

That is when Shuba stepped up to shake Robinson's hand. It was the first interracial handshake to happen on a modern professional baseball field. The dedication is open the the public and a ticket is not required.

Youngstown Wine and Jazz is hosting contemporary saxophonist Jackiem Joyner at the Youngstown Amphitheater Saturday evening. Joyner has two No. 1 hit songs, 5 top 10 Billboard singles, and a No. 1 debut album. General admission is $10 and VIP is $25. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. show. Those entering with general admission are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket to sit on. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster online here.

 

The St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Summerfest begins this Thursday and will run through the weekend. The festival will include music, dancing, Greek food and pastries, and cultural memorabilia. Lunch takeout is available Thursday and Friday. Lamb and chicken dinners will be available all four days of the festival, and fish dinners will be available Friday. Admission is free, and hours are as follows: Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

"We were all waiting and hoping in anticipation that we would be able to do this for the summer," said Bill Dalambakis, Chairman of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Summerfest. "All of the food we made to go. So, you can either order it online or come down and order it."

Three downtown churches are holding a pipe organ crawl on Sunday starting at 1pm at Trinity United Methodist Church. The crawl will move to First Presbyterian Church, and then end at St. John's Episcopal Church around 2 p.m. The crawl includes a short organ performance and the history behind each of the organs in the churches. Trinity will offer tours from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. St. John's and First Presbyterian will also each hold tours of their churches, one at 1 p.m. and a second tour at 2:30 p.m., both on Sunday.

Mahoning Paddle and Pedal is hosting a Beat the Heat event on Saturday where participants will kayak down the Mahoning River with a guide or at their leisure. Kayak rentals are $35 per one-person kayak, with the choice between a sit-in, sit-on. or a fishing kayak. Participants can also bring their own kayak for $15. Kayaks are rented out on a first come, first serve basis with a valid credit card. Reservations are encouraged and can be made at 330-719-2305. The event starts at 10 a.m., but participants should arrive 15 minutes early to sign a waiver. You must be 18 years old or accompanied by a parent or guardian. The Beat the Heat event will occur weather permitting. Parking is available at the West Avenue Boat Dock on the corner of Mahoning Ave. and West Ave., which is also the meeting spot for participants. It is not uncommon to see a bald eagle while kayaking on the river. Expect the trip to take around 3 hours. The route is approximately 5.5 miles long.

According to a news release, other performers this weekend include the "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."

The news release also includes organizations that are participating or performing at their home locations over the weekend, such as "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...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."