YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Youngstown State University’s campus will become a center of culture and community this weekend as it hosts the Summer Festival of the Arts.

The free two-day festival welcomes thousands of visitors each year to experience visual arts, live entertainment, family-friendly activities and local food vendors. It will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is free, and free parking will be available in the M30 Wick Avenue Parking Deck.

The full schedule of activities can be found at the Summer Festival of the Arts website.

The centerpiece of the SFA will be a juried marketplace featuring works by 79 artists and craftspeople. Visitors can browse and purchase paintings, photography, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, textiles, woodworking, metalwork and other handcrafted creations.

“The Summer Festival of the Arts has become a cherished tradition that brings together artists, families and community members from throughout the region,” said Katie Merrill, festival organizer. The festival is now in its 28th year.

Families can enjoy hands-on creative experiences throughout the weekend at the Children’s Village, with representatives from Ballet Western Reserve, the Jewish Community Center, YMCA of Youngstown, YoPass and the Youngstown Playhouse.

In past years, the SFA had a schedule of musicians, dancers and theaters performing on a stage but that will not happen this year because of the volume of space taken by Kilcawley Center construction project.

There isn’t room for a stage, said Jackie LeViseur, director of university events.

But there will be live performances.

“We are highlighting some of our Dana School of Music students in a performance area in between the Butler Institute and the Maag Library,” she said.

The Butler Institute of American Art and Looma Cafe will present a sip and paint area, with all supplies provided to create a special design of the American flag.

The fest will also include information booths by Youngstown CityScape; Stambaugh Auditorium, DeYor Performing Arts Center and the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra; WYSU; Millennial Theater Company; Loop and Lit Youngstown; Purple Cat; and the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County.

The food vendor area will include:

  • Arctic Circle (shaved ice and frozen drinks).
  • Bartell’s Take (items from the original Tokyo House restaurant).
  • Kettle Korn (sweet and salty popcorn).
  • Lena’s Pierogi House.
  • Papa Gelateria.
  • Roxbury Pizza.
  • Sauceeino (Middle Eastern food).
  • Tra’s Gourmet Sandwiches.
  • Wok on the Wild Side.