YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Imani Winds, the 2024 Grammy Award-winning wind quintet, will come to Youngstown State University’s Ford Theater on April 4 for a 7 p.m. concert.

Tickets are available HERE. Parking is available in the Wick Avenue Deck (M30) for a $5 fee payable in cash only. The concert is the final offering in the Cliffe College of Creative Arts performance series.

Imani Winds embraces the traditional chamber repertoire but also offers commissioned works that reflect on modern society. 

Imani Winds performs regularly at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center, and the group holds workshops and master classes for thousands of students each year. The quintet also holds the Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival each summer.

Imani Winds’ 11th studio album, “BeLonging,” was released in June and was nominated for a 2025 Grammy Award.

Wrestling Show at Eastwood Field

NILES, Ohio – Northeast Wrestling and the Mahoning Valley Scrappers will present Wrestling Under the Stars at Eastwood Field on July 19 at 7:30 p.m. 

The card will include WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson, MVP, Matt Riddle, Maria Kanellis, Isla Dawn, Shelton Benjamin and an appearance by WWE Hall of Famer Kane.

Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. April 1 HERE and at the stadium box office, or by phone at 330 505 0000. A limited number of field seats and VIP packages will be available. A limited number of suites will be available for the event for $300 (includes 12 tickets and three parking passes).

There will be a special fan meet and greet for all in attendance prior to the event. Gates will open at 4 p.m. Fans will have the opportunity to take pictures and get autographs from the superstars for an additional charge. For meet and greet preorders, go to NortheastWrestling.com.  

‘Christmas Vacation’ Bobblehead Giveaway

NILES, Ohio – The Mahoning Valley Scrappers will give away National Lampoon’s “Christmas Vacation” Scrappy bobbleheads to the first 1,000 fans at Eastwood Field on July 25. The bobblehead will feature Scrappy, the team mascot, dressed like Clark Griswold holding the infamous moose mug.

Fans can guarantee the bobblehead by purchasing a special ticket package that includes a game ticket and $10 loaded value (in-stadium merchandise or concessions). The package is on sale now and starts at $25 per person. For details or to purchase, click HERE or contact Bri Masirovits at 330 505 0000 or bmasirovits@mvscrappers.com.

Spring Choral Concert at St. Columba

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University will present its annual spring choral concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 31, at St. Columba Cathedral. Admission is free.

Directed by Hae-Jong Lee and accompanied by DaEun Choi, the Dana Chorale will perform musical selections that reflect the rich diversity of its program, which spans various cultures and languages. Highlighting the central theme of “light,” the concert will honor the significance of Morten Lauridsen’s “Lux Aeterna” as the centerpiece of the event.

The concert will be split into five sections, each with its own theme: “Eternal Light,” “Dreams and Serenity,” “Folk Impressions,” “Global Voices” and “Spiritual Journeys.” Musical selections include Lauridsen’s “Lux Aeterna,” “I Dream a World” by André J. Thomas and “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” arranged by Jay Althouse.

Autism Society Presents Special Bunny Event

NILES, Ohio – The Autism Society of Mahoning Valley will present Special Bunny from 9-11 a.m. Sunday, April 6, in the Eastwood Mall concourse. 

Families must register at AutismMV.org for this private event. 

The annual event ensures families with children with special needs can enjoy seasonal traditions. The project has been expanded into a celebration with the addition of arts and crafts, games, train rides, an egg hunt and therapy bunnies from F5RS Bunnies in Baskets.

This year, the Cafaro Foundation will sponsor family photos. This allows each family to receive a free family photo. 

Birding Guidebook, App Now Available

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, in collaboration with Ohio Sea Grant, has released an updated edition of the Ohio Lake Erie Birding Trail Guidebook, which details the best places to see birds along the Lake Erie coast.

The guidebook is now available online, and print copies can be purchased at birding events throughout the year.

Ohio’s excellent birding attracts tens of thousands of visitors from across the world each year, many of them stopping along the Lake Erie Birding Trail. Each spring, the influx of birders along Lake Erie’s shores contributes around $40 million to local economies. Throughout Ohio, wildlife viewing generated $1.6 billion in spending in 2022. More than 400 bird species have been recorded in the Buckeye State.

The new Ohio Lake Erie Birding Trail Guidebook is available now for $15. Packed with detailed site descriptions for 90 premier birding locations, maps, species highlights and expert tips, this updated edition enhances every birding adventure, including warblers in spring, shorebirds in summer and raptors in winter.

Designed for birders of all experience levels, the guidebook serves as both a navigational tool and an educational resource, emphasizing conservation efforts and responsible wildlife viewing.

To enhance accessibility and engagement, the Division of Wildlife has also launched the Lake Erie Birding Trail on the OuterSpatial app, allowing users to access site information, interactive maps and real-time updates from their mobile devices. This digital platform expands the reach of the trail, making it easier for birders to plan visits, track species and connect with other outdoor enthusiasts. 

Ohio Trails+ is available for download on both iOS and Android devices.

For information on the trail, to purchase the guidebook or to download the OuterSpatial app, click HERE.

Pictured at top: Imani Winds quintet.