The Update | Art, Music and Fun Downtown; Trick Dog Expo; Cedar Point Rated Spookiest

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – This week’s First Friday event in downtown Youngstown is a collaboration between several organizations, museums, bars and restaurants.

It will include a multitude of activities at several venues with a goal of bringing people into the downtown area.

The evening is presented by Downtown Youngstown Partnership (a component of Youngstown CityScape), with The Butler Institute of American Art, The McDonough Museum of Art, Octave Live Music Café and Event Center, Nobel Creature Wild Ales and Lagers, Yosteria, Youngstown State University, Penguin City Brewing, Bistro 1907, Ballet Western Reserve and the Mahoning Valley Historical Society.

Here is the schedule:

• 4 to 6 p.m.: Discounted drinks at Bistro 1907.
• 4 to 10 p.m.: Dine-in pizzas for $10 at Yosteria.
• 5 to 7 p.m.: The Butler Institute of American Art (free admission) will stay open late.
• 5 to 8 p.m.: Scavenger hunt, maker table and more at the McDonough Museum of Art.
• 5 to 8 p.m.: Friends of Fido Chili Cook-off at Penguin City Brewing.
• 5 to 10 p.m.: Live music at The Octave Live Music Café.
• 6 p.m.: Vignettes of scenes from “The Nutcracker” at Ballet Western Reserve. Also, United Returning Citizens evening at Stambaugh Auditorium.
• 7 to 10 p.m.: Tabletop station game night at Penguin City Brewing.
• 7:05 p.m.: Youngstown Phantoms hockey game at Covelli Centre.
• 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.: Lvrboy performing at Noble Creature Wild Ales and Lagers.
• 7:30 p.m.: “Zombie Prom” presented by YSU Theatre at Bliss Hall’s Ford Theater.

Trick Dog Event at Collingwood Center

CAMPBELL, Ohio – The Eastern Regional Trick Dog Expo will take place Saturday, Oct. 7, at Collingwood Center, 633 Porter Ave., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Participants from West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio will take part in the show.

Admission is $25 and includes all workshops. To register or for information, contact Patty Stafford at 330 550 5547 or [email protected].

The workshops will include Trick Dog, Stunt Dog, Canine Conditioning Fitness and Animal Actors, with morning and afternoon sessions. Do More with Your Dog is the official governing and sanctioning body for the sport of dog tricks.

Owners interested in finding out what it takes to get their dogs into show business can participate with their dog simulating a live set with lighting and a green screen.

“This is the first time this exciting new event has been brought to the Mahoning Valley,” said Patty Stafford, advisory board member of Do More with Your Dog.

For information about the sponsor, go to domorewithyourdog.com.

Cedar Point Top Theme Park for Halloween

SANDUSKY, Ohio – Cedar Point has been named the best U.S. theme park for Halloween.

In a new ranking created by JeffBet, parks were graded on their amenities, attractions, availability, crowding, price, seasonal popularity, spooky theming and value.

Cedar Point received a score of 6.9 out of 10.

Knott’s Berry Farm in California ranked No. 2 with a score of 5.8; Disneyland in California was No. 3 with a score of 5.4.

Rounding out the top 10 are Six Flags Magic Mountain, California; Kings Island, Ohio; Hersheypark, Pennsylvania; Universal Studios, California; Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey; Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Virginia; and Disney California Adventure, California.

Auditions for ‘Alice in Wonderland’

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Auditions for the Youngstown Playhouse youth production

Of “Alice in Wonderland” will take place Oct. 23 and 25 from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

This is a fun version of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale that reimagines the experience of Wonderland and introduces the cast and audience to American Sign Language in theater.

The director is seeking actors age 5 to 18. Specific character breakdowns are available on the Youngstown Playhouse’s website.

Actors age 5 to 8 will have auditions from 4:30 to 4:50 p.m. to play games that test their skills;

actors 9 and older will have auditions from 5 to 7 p.m. to read from the script.

The creative team is under the direction of Eden Lesnansky and includes Isa Foltz as stage manager. Rehearsals will begin in early November. Technical rehearsals will occur the week of January 15, and performances will take place Jan. 19-21, with a school performance Jan. 19.

For information, go to youngstownplayhouse.org/audition.

Music Major for a Day at Westminster

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – High school students interested in studying music are invited to participate in Westminster College’s Music Major for a Day event Monday, Oct. 9, and Tuesday, Oct. 10.

The event gives students a glimpse into the campus life of a music major. Each day will have a specific focus of interest. High school sophomores, juniors and seniors are encouraged to attend campus events on one or both days. Attendees will be paired with a current college student to shadow for the day, and there will be opportunities to play or sing with ensemble rehearsals.

The Oct. 9 event will concentrate on woodwinds, brass and percussion. On Oct. 10, strings, voice and keyboard will be highlighted. Both days will provide opportunities to attend classes, participate in rehearsals and meet with faculty and current students.

The event is free, and lunch will be provided. Same day admissions will be available to students interested in applying to Westminster for fall 2024.

To register, go to westminster.edu/music.

For information, contact Timothy Winfield at 724 946 7274 or [email protected].

Lecture on Ohio’s Presidents at St. James

BOARDMAN, Ohio – Gary Reel will give a lecture titled “Ohio’s Presidents” on Saturday, Oct. 14, at 10 a.m. at St. James Meeting House, 375 Boardman-Poland Road.

The event is sponsored by Boardman Historical Society. Admission is free. A question-and-answer period will follow the 45-minute program.

Reel is a graduate of Austintown Fitch High School and Youngstown State University. He taught at the Austintown middle school level for 17 years, and then taught high school honors history and economics for 13 years.

Reel has been active in the Austintown Rotary since retiring in 1999.

For information about the program and the society, contact Dona Hammond at 330 726 0651.

Works by Elijah DuPonty at JCC Gallery

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The work of artist Elijah DuPonty will be on exhibit in the Thomases Family Endowment of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, 505 Gypsy Lane, from Oct. 13 through Nov. 26. A reception for “Burned: a Photographic Memoir” will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 15.

DuPonty is a working artist based in New York City. Primarily using photography as his medium, he often explores the manipulation of the classic portrait. In 2020, he received a BFA in photography from Youngstown State University.

DuPonty’s current work explores the ideas of forced identity and familial expectations. His work has been shown several times regionally in exhibitions at the Solomon Gallery, the Coy Cornelius Gallery and, most recently, the McDonough Museum of Contemporary Art.

Chalk Over Hate Event at the JCC

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Jewish Community Center of Youngstown is participating in Chalk Over Hate from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 13 at the JCC, 505 Gypsy Lane.

“Chalk Over Hate: Fighting Antisemitism Through Public Art” is a campaign by Artists 4 Israel to empower everyone to use their creativity in support of battling antisemitism and all forms of hate.

Guided by JCC visual art instructors, members of the community are welcome to chalk their own message of peace and love. Chalk will be provided.

Artists 4 Israel works to prevent the spread of anti-Israel bigotry through art and helps communities and people affected by terrorism and hate.

Pictured at top: The Cedar Point amusement park.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.