Holiday events around the Mahoning and Shenango valleys

The holidays are a busy time each year, but take some time and enjoy some of the local events for you, for the family, some for adults only, and even some for your pets. There are shows, music, and shopping events from now through the end of the year. And we have made your holidays less stressful by offering you a daily guide of things to do.

If you have an event you would like to have added to our list, email it to us.

Through mid-January

• The Rink at DeBartolo Commons (at Southern Park Mall in Boardman) for ice skating opens. Click here for more details.

Dec. 1

• Youngstown Holiday Parade, Christmas Tree Lighting & Flea on Phelps, 4-8 pm. Central Square, with parade at 6 pm, followed by the tree lighting ceremony approximately 7:15 pm. Get pictures with Santa, and the OH WOW! Children’s Center will be open for free from 4-6 pm.
• Jim Brickman, A Joyful Christmas. Ford Family Recital Hall, 7:30 pm. A holiday concert with the Grammy-nominated songwriter and pianist. Tickets are $50, $60 each. 
• Trumbull Co. Historical Society, "Condemned to do so..." a line from well-known Charles Dickens' book, "A Christmas Carol," is the title for this Victorian era tour of ways to die. Only are invited to join in a tour at Warren City Hall, 391 Mahoning Ave. NW in Warren. Two tours, 6 pm and one at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $25.00 each.

Dec. 2

• 34^th Annual Canfield High School Craft Show, 100 Cardinal Dr, Canfield, 10 am to 4 pm. Free admission and parking. Free shuttle service
• Optimist Club of Cortland/Bazetta Christmas Craft Show, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. 2619 Hoagland Blackstub Rd, Warren. The show will have over 50 vendors. There will be a basket raffle and 50/50 in which the proceeds go to support youth of the community. 
• 12^th Annual Santa Shuffle, Draught House, 219 W. Federal St., Youngstown. VIP tickets, $25, General Admission $10. Dash through the streets of Youngstown, spreading cheer and laughter along the way.
• East Liverpool Christmas Parade, Light Up the Night: Downtown East Liverpool. Parade kicks off at 6 p.m., followed by the Light Up the Night event. Also, bring canned good donation or a toy or new clothing for the Fill the Truck campaign, which will go to the Destiny House Church food bank and toy drive.
• Winter Celebration - Festival of Trees: Fellows Riverside Gardens, 123 McKinley Ave., Youngstown. 60 holiday trees, open 10 am to 5pm. Also open on Tuesday through Sunday, during the same hours.
• Santa’s Winter Workshop: Boardman Park in the Lariccia Community Center, tickets are $15 at the door, in advance $12. 10 am to 4 pm, games, crafts for kids, photo with Santa. Workshop tickets can be bought on-line at www.oliviasgrace.com or at park office.

Dec. 2-3

• Ballet Western Reserve Presents The Nutcracker. Powers Auditorium, 260 W. Federal St.. Saturday at 7 pm, Sunday at 2:30 pm. The holiday classic comes to life, presented by the local students of BWR. Tickets range from $17 to $29 each.
• Angels for Animals 21st Annual Antiques, Collectibles & Christmas Sale. 4750 W South Range Rd., Canfield. Dec. 2, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 3, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Salem Home Tours: See seven homes decked out for the holidays, built from 1863 through to 2018. Tickets may be purchased at the Historic Ruth Smucker House, 271 S. Broadway, the home of the Salem Federation of Women’s Clubs. 
  During the tour, please bring warm used coats to the Smucker House to be donated to the Blue Coats, which is a nonprofit organization that helps the area Veterans and the homeless.

Dec. 3

• Holiday Music at Fellow's Riverside Gardens: 5 pm. Christmas music by guitarist Tyler Guerrieri and a Christmas tree display, activities for the kids.
• Blind Christmas Beer Taste: Vintage Estates, 7319 South Avenue. 2-5 pm. 13 Christmas beers, you decide which is the best! Tickets are $35 and includes all 13 tastes as well as seasonal foods.
• Community Christmas Event: Boardman Park Gazebo. Free tree decoration, Santa and holiday music for families from 2-4 pm. Reservations taken, by calling the Park Office at 330-726-8105. Santa arrives by firetruck at 4 pm, with caroling at St. James Meeting House with the Boardman High School Chorus.
• Breakfast with Santa event presented by Rowan's Memorial Park, 4180 Westford Place, Canfield, 9 am to 1 pm. Tickets are $15 if purchased in advance, and $20 at the door. Meet and greet with Santa, story reading from Mrs. Claus plus crafts for kids, basket raffle and holiday music.

Dec. 4 & 11

• Southern Park Mall:  Paws & Claus, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Get a family photo of your pet with Santa (well-behaved pets on leashes are welcome and walk up or reservation).

Dec. 5

• Holiday Dinner Concert: 5 pm. Almost Home Event Center, 230 S. 12^th Street, Sebring. Dinners are $15 and accompanied by the West Branch Young and Alive and jazz band.

Dec. 6

• YSU Carols & Cocoa and the Dana Holiday Concert, 1000 Fifth Ave., Stambaugh Auditorium, 7 pm: YSU's Dana School of Music vocal and instrumental students holiday music and carols in the Jeanne D. Tyler Grand Ballroom. Cookies and Cocoa will be available in the lobby during intermission as the concert moves from the Jeanne D. Tyler Grand Ballroom to the Concert Hall for the Dana Holiday Concert. Tickets are $6 to $7.

Dec. 7

• CaRayna Farms Fresh Pine Centerpiece. 5616 Phillips Rice Rd., Cortland. 6:30-8:30 pm. Reserve your place making your own Christmas arrangement. $45 per person, reservations needed. 330-360-5132.

Dec. 7, 8, 9

• Sebring Historical Society: Come see the holiday film “It Happened on Fifth Avenue,” a 1947 comedy starring Victor Moore set during the holidays. Movie will start at 6:45 and reservations are required, 330-259-5946. Donations of $20 for members; $25 for non-members and hors-d’oeuvres will be served with drinks and homemade cookies. Popcorn will also be available.

Dec. 7, 14, 21

• Southern Park Mall, center court stage:  Classic Christmas story with characters, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., free face painting. Dec. 7, Elf on the Shelf; Dec. 14 Mrs. Claus reads a story (kids can wear holiday pajamas); Dec. 21, Grinch and Cindy Lou story time.

Dec. 8, 9, 10

• Vienna United Methodist Church. 4265 Warren Sharon Rd., Vienna. Dec. 8, 2-8 p.m., Dec. 9, 10-8 p.m., Dec. 10, 12-7 p.m. Candyland: Life Size Game and Christmas Display. Everyone's favorite childhood game comes to life once again in the most spectacular Christmas fashion! Open one weekend only. This event is 100% free to the public. Besides the game, there will be hot chocolate, cookies, a photo booth, and other activities for the whole family. The last hour of each night will be designated as a "Lights Out Walk Through" if you would like to come walk through the display by tree light.

Dec. 8

• The Struthers Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting: The parade begins at 6 pm in front of 960 5th St. and goes to the Fire Station on Elm Street. The tree lighting will follow immediately after the parade. There will also be donuts, hot chocolate, face painting, photos with Santa, music, inside the fire department until 9 pm. Open to all Struthers residents.

Dec. 9

• Northside Farmers Market, at the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor, 151 Wood St., 11 am to 2 pm. Multiple local farmers and artisans will sell their goods.
• The Magical Polar Express: Powers Auditorium, 260 W. Federal St. 7 p.m. Come in your Christmas pajamas for the interactive experience as you stow-a-way to the film and live music performances, dancers and of course, Santa. Tickets are $29 each. 

Dec. 9, 10

• Christmas on the Farm: White House Fruit Farm, 9249 State Route 62, Canfield. 11 am-5 pm. Take a $5 horse-drawn trolley ride or a private sleigh rides, $50, up to 5 adults, 2 children, weather permitting. Shop at the Winter Gift Barn. Live music, enjoy a hot chocolate or coffee, while roasting hot dogs and smores over a fire. Santa and his reindeer are her 11 am – 2 pm

Dec. 11

• Holiday Sip & Cake, One Hot Cookie, 1315 Boardman-Canfield Rd., Youngstown. 6 pm, ages 14 years old and up, Tickets purchased in advance, $35. Learn how to create your own beautiful snowman themed, full-size chocolate chip cookie cake. Price includes the cake, decorating supplies, instruction, a bottle of water and a “spirited” holiday punch.

Dec. 12

• Be a Santa to a Senior Wrapping Party. Home Instead, 5329 Mahoning Ave., Austintown. 9 am to 4 pm, wrapping gifts for in need seniors.

Dec. 15, 16, 17

• Easy Street Production Presents Miracle on Easy Street: Edward W. Powers Auditorium, DeYor Performing Arts Center. Friday, 7:30 pm; Saturday, 7:30 pm; Sunday, 2:30 pm. Maureen Collins and Todd Hancock are back with the Little Rascals. Tickets are $19-$35 plus fees.
• Rudolph the Red-nose Reindeer. Presented by the Special Needs Actors of the Squeaky Wheel Theater Company, 5 North Main Street, Columbiana. Tickets are $15.
• How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas, Youngstown Playhouse, 600 Playhouse Lane, Youngstown. Friday, 8 pm; Saturday, 8 pm and midnight; Sunday, noon and 2 pm. Tickets are $20. A new version of the classic Charles Dickens' classic holiday story, with modern twists lampooning politics and current events.

Dec. 16

• First Baptist Church of Howland Holiday Extravaganza. December 16, 10a.m - 3p.m. 8957 E Market St, Warren, OH 44484. 
• FIRST SNOW Rock Holiday Orchestra Tribute at Robbins Theatre. December 16 at 8p.m. 160 E. Market St., Warren, OH. Doors open at 6:30p.m. First Snow focuses on the musical and vocal precision that the famous American, Rock Holiday Orchestra is known for.  The show includes a professional production stage set with lights and video wall,  13 professional musicians; including 6 backing vocalists and 7 lead vocalists. Music for the whole family. Buy tickets here.

Dec. 16-17

• Last Minute Market, B&O Station Banquet Hall, 530 Mahoning Avenue, Youngstown. Starts at 5 p.m., admission is $1. Artists of the Rust Belt offer last-minute gift ideas. Food and drinks available to be purchased, music.
• Welcome to Whoville, The Vineyards at Pine Lake, 14101 Market Street, Columbiana. 11 am or 1 pm. Meet the Grinch, Cindy Lou Who and enjoy activities for children and a lunch. Tickets purchased in advance, $25 adults, $20 children. Available times limited.

Dec. 17

• Third Annual Breakfast with Santa, 11 am to 3 pm. Penguin City Brewery, 460 E Federal St, Youngstown. Build Your Own Breakfast, a pop-up kitchen, will be cooking the food for the Santa event.
• Boardman Park Holiday Concert: Park Avenue Brass will play holiday favorites at St. James Meeting House in the park. Free.
• The Ultimate Cookie Exchange: Arrive at 2:30 pm with cookies, exchange starts at 3 pm. Tickets are $20 each, purchase here. Here is how the exchange will work, bring six dozen of your favorite cookies (one type, none that require refrigeration) and bring them to Penguin City Brewing, 460 E Federal St, Youngstown. Two dozen will be for sampling, and the other four dozen will be for attendees mix and match with or participants to take home. Boxes for cookies will be provided.

Dec. 22, 23

• Home Alone movie with Live Orchestra Accompaniment: Edward W. Powers, 260 W. Federal St., Youngstown. Friday showing at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 2:30 pm. Tickets range from $18 to $63.