The Update | Carols & Cocoa Returns to Stambaugh; Arts and Crafts Sale at The Butler
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Carols & Cocoa and the Dana Holiday Concert, a Christmas tradition, will return at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, at Stambaugh Auditorium.
The festive event, presented by Youngstown State University, will feature performances by Dana School of Music ensembles. It will begin with carol singing at 7 p.m. in the Tyler Ballroom with performances of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” by the brass quintet, “Marche” from “The Nutcracker” by the flute ensemble and “Oh! Christmas Tree” by the Dana Chorale.
Hot cocoa will then be served in the concert hall lobby during the intermission. The night will conclude in the concert hall with a concert featuring performances of “A Christmas Festival” by the YSU Wind Ensemble, “God Rest Ye Merry Hepcats” by the saxophone quartet and “Frosty the Snowman” by the trombone ensemble.
The concert will culminate with a performance of “The Many Moods of Christmas,” Suite III, featuring the Dana Chorale and special appearances by the Hickory High School chamber singers and the Stambaugh Chorus.
Tickets are $7 ($6 for seniors, free for children 12 and under). YSU students enter free with a valid YSU ID. Tickets can be purchased HERE. Parking is free at the site.
American Holiday Show and Sale Returns
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Butler Institute of American Art’s annual American Holiday Arts & Crafts Show will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 7 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 8.
Admission is $5 (free for children 12 and under).
American Holiday, now in its 53rd year, showcases some of the best artisans working today. Nearly 60 artisans will offer handcrafted jewelry, woodworking, little boxwood Christmas trees, glass, fine art and photography, chocolates and other items. Some returning favorites are Debbie Dory, boxwood Christmas trees and Daughters of Penelope.
The Bonfoey Co. will offer fine art appraisals from noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 8 on the second-floor balcony.
Free parking will be available in the YSU Wick Avenue deck.
The museum will host a preview from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 6. Members will receive an invitation in the mail, but nonmembers can call for information.
The Butler Institute of American Art is at 524 Wick Ave.
Self-Driving Tours of Homes Decorated for Christmas
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The addresses in the annual Christmas Loop self-driving tours of homes decorated for the holidays will be released Friday, Nov. 29, at SpanningTheNeed.com.
Click on the Holiday Loops tabs.
There are two tours – Mahoning Valley and Northeastern Ohio – with a combined total of 150 extravagantly decorated homes.
Additional locations will be added during December as they are submitted.
Those taking the tour can share their thoughts on social media using the hashtag #HolidayCheerNEO.
Katherine Hepburn Clothes on Display
KENT, Ohio – Items from the Kent State University Museum collection will be part of a Dec. 4 program at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center and Katharine Hepburn Museum in Old Saybrook, Conn.
The program will highlight the Kent State museum’s current exhibition, “The Hepburn Style: Katharine and Her Designers,” which draws from the museum’s collection of clothing and costumes from the Hepburn estate.
The program will focus on Hepburn’s style through an exploration of both her personal wardrobe and her costumes, emphasizing her focus on comfort, line and proportion. The program pulls together – for the first time – three iconic costume designers who worked with Hepburn on stage and screen productions.
“The exciting aspect of Katharine Hepburn’s style is that it is enduring,” said Joanne Fenn, Kent State University Museum collections manager and registrar, who curated the exhibition and will headline the program. “Her choices went beyond fashion trends, incorporating her individuality and pushing gender norms.”
The presentation also will highlight archival items from the Katharine Hepburn Museum and conclude with a moderated discussion with the audience.
The program will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are available HERE.
The Kent State University Museum exhibition “The Hepburn Style: Katharine and Her Designers” runs through Sept. 28, 2025, at the museum in Kent, Ohio.
Authors Christie, Gorman to Sign Books
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio — Short story author and novelist Nancy Christie and short story author Anita Gorman will take part in a joint book signing at Leana’s Books & More, 4317 Kirk Road, on from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 7.
Christie will donate a portion of her proceeds to the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley.
In addition to her latest collection, “Mistletoe Magic and Other Holiday Tales,” Christie will have her first two collections available: “Peripheral Visions and Other Stories” and “Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories,” as well as her Midlife Moxie novels, books for writers and essay collection.
Gorman is the author of four short story collections: “Fitting In: Tales from Ashleyville and Other Exotic Places,” “Ashleyville Tales Volume 1 and Volume 2” and “Tomte Tales: Torvald the Traveler.” She will bring a selection of her books for signing.
Pictured at top: Student musicians perform at last year’s Dana Holiday Concert. The festive Youngstown tradition will return Dec. 4.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
