Youngstown CityScape, Downtown Youngstown Partnership, the Mahoning Valley Historical Society and local partners are inviting the community to a special event where Youngstown history meets future potential.
First Fridays Youngstown’s “Past, Present, & Future” takes place today from 4–8 p.m. in downtown Youngstown.
The free event marks the 150th anniversary of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society and includes live music, history tours, storytelling, exhibits, vendors and community popups.
Activities occur on West Federal Street, Vindicator Square and surrounding downtown locations.
West Federal Street will be closed to through traffic and parking. Public parking will be available at the Tyler History Center and additional downtown lots. ADA drop-offs occur at the parking lot west of Tyler.
Highlights
- Main Stage Performances. Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kari Ann Rutushin will perform from 4-5:45 p.m. Seasons of Swing, a traditional pop and jazz quartet, will take the stage from 6:15–8 p.m. West Federal Street, downtown.
MVHS Tyler History Center Open house and Local History Fair. MVHS hosts its Founders Day Open House with special anniversary displays and first floor exhibits. On the west end of downtown, community partners will celebrate the history and culture of the Mahoning Valley. 325 W. Federal St., Youngstown. 4-8 p.m.- Spring Common Guided Walking Tours. Meets at the Tyler History Center lobby, 325 W. Federal St., Youngstown. Route: Tyler History Center, Spring Common, Firefighters Memorial Bridge, Oak Hill Avenue, Marshall Street Bridge, Vindicator Square to Federal Street. Groups of 20–25 depart every half hour. 4:30-6:30 p.m.
- Special Anniversary Exhibits. Vehicles new and old (mostly old) will be on display, including a 1940s Ford truck from the Youngstown Water Department, a 1953 American LaFrance fire truck, a new WRTA electric bus and a 1905 Mahoning Touring Car.
- Downtown Youngstown Partnership Bar. Features beer, wine and signature cocktails with Golden Age Beverage mixers. Includes celebrity guest bartenders.
- Interactive Passport Challenge. Visitors can collect passport stamps at featured locations and redeem them for a Good Humor Bar (while supplies last). Completed passports will be entered for a prize basket from Sweet Memories Vintage Tees.
Additional activities
- Art Show and Live Painting with Daniel Rauschenbach. The art show and live painting event also includes an historic poster display. Concept Studio, John R. Davis building, first floor, 217 W. Federal St., Youngstown.
- Vendor Markets. Includes a First Fridays vendor market on West Federal Street and an Inspiring Minds market in front of the Youngstown Business Incubator.
- Food Trucks. Features a curated lineup.
- Youngstown Business Incubator Open House. YBI will host an open house with interactive displays and refreshments. 241 W. Federal St., Youngstown.
- WRTA Open House. Includes a bus display with transit planning exhibit.
- DT-1 Enterprises Open House. Will showcase the adaptable, flexible downtown workspace. John R. Davis building, second floor, 217 W. Federal St., Youngstown.
- Strollo Architects Open House. Includes an architectural exhibit of downtown Youngstown projects. Wells Building, 201 W. Federal St., Youngstown.
- Sweet Memories Vintage Tees New Design Launch. Sweet Memories Vintage Tees is the official licenser of Good Humor brands and home to the nation’s largest Good Humor shirt collection. Owner Linda Barton will launch three new T-shirt designs outside the Tyler History Center. Proceeds benefit Akron Children’s Hospital, where the partnership has already raised $70,000 for the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit. Barton has revived Golden Age Beverage with two new designs celebrating the return of a historic Youngstown bran. “I love taking old brands and giving them new life in a way that benefits a cause and captures our culture,” Barton said.
“First Fridays are about bringing people together to celebrate what makes Youngstown special,” said Adam Lee, program director of Youngstown CityScape. “This month, we’re proud to honor the Mahoning Valley Historical Society’s 150 years of preserving our history while highlighting the creativity and energy shaping our future.”
First Fridays occur every first Friday of the month in and around downtown Youngstown and offer live music, dining, shopping, entertainment, arts and recreation. For more information, visit here.
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