YOUNGSTOWN - The weekend lineup for downtown Youngstown is set to include the return of the Toughest Monster Truck Tour at the Covelli Centre, starting Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The Monster Truck Tour will be hosting a second show at 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Covelli Centre. Each show is complete with a pit party, giving fans the chance to meet drivers and get a closer look at the trucks. Pit passes, however, must be purchased in addition to event tickets.

Tickets for the Monster Truck show are available through Ticketmaster or at the box office.

The Rotary Club of Youngstown's Groundhog Beerfest will also be returning to downtown on Saturday. The 8th annual Beerfest will be at Stambaugh Auditorium  and will consist of two tasting sessions: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Craft beer, wine and non-alcoholic drink options will all be featured at the beerfest. Gorant's Candy is a new addition for the 2026 festival and will offer chocolate bars paired with non-alcoholic beverages. 

Organizers say tickets to the Groundhog Beerfest include a "limited number of premium tickets for each session and mocktail/non-alcoholic tickets." Tickets cost $60 apiece and can be purchased ahead online or by calling the Stambaugh box office at 330-259-0555. The Saturday event will also include food vendors, a live DJ and a band throughout the day.

Since it began in 2019, the Rotary Club of Youngstown has raised over $130,000 in grant money through the annual beerfest. Proceeds from each year benefit local nonprofits and community initiatives, according to the rotary's website. Past beneficiaries have included Operation Warm for Youngstown Schools, Easter Seals of Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana Counties and The Dorothy Day House.