COLUMBUS, Ohio – A statewide celebration of movies made in Ohio will include more than 250 free screenings of films in all 88 counties, including several in the Mahoning Valley.

The Ohio Goes to the Movies events are part of the America 250-Ohio celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.

The screenings will begin in February.

Here is the local schedule:

  • “The Deer Hunter,” the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor, Youngstown, Feb. 20, 5 p.m. This 1978 film includes scenes shot in Struthers.
  • “A Beautiful Mind,” Regal Boulevard Centre, Niles, March 7, 3 p.m.  This 2001 film was directed by Chris Columbus and featured actor Austin Pendleton, both of the Warren area.
  • “Little Giants,” Columbiana Arts Theatre, May 22, 7 p.m. Set in a fictional Ohio town, this 1994 film focuses on rival pee-wee football teams coached by brothers. One of the stars is Youngstown native Ed O’Neill.
  • “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” Robins Theatre, July 10, 7 p.m. This 2001 film was directed by Chris Columbus.
  • “The Shawshank Redemption,” Waterworth Memorial Park, Salem, Aug. 1, 9:30 p.m. This 1994 film was shot at the former Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield.
  • “E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial,” Elm Road Drive-in, Aug. 10, 7 p.m. Pat Bilon, an actor from Youngstown, physically portrayed the extraterrestrial in this 1982 film. Director Steven Spielberg was born in Cincinnati.

The full calendar of events can be found at OhioGoesToTheMovies.org and will continue to be updated throughout the celebration.

Ohio Goes to the Movies showcases the state’s long-standing influence on American film, including actors and directors and the iconic movies filmed here.

Ohio has produced some of the most distinguished talent in Hollywood history, including Halle Berry of Cleveland, Paul Newman of Shaker Heights, Doris Day of Cincinnati, John Lithgow of Akron, Clark Gable of Cadiz, the Russo Brothers of Cleveland and Sarah Jessica Parker of Nelsonville. 

The 2026 series also recognizes many of the most popular films made in Ohio. Screenings across the state will feature films such as “The Shawshank Redemption,” filmed in Mansfield and Upper Sandusky; “A Christmas Story,” filmed in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood; “The Avengers,” shot in downtown Cleveland; and “Rain Man,” filmed throughout Cincinnati. 

Molly Kreuzman, program director for Ohio Goes to the Movies, said the initiative reflects the state’s creative depth and community pride. “This celebration honors Ohio’s filmmakers, in front of and behind the camera, and the towns and cities that brought some of America’s most beloved stories to life.”

One Night in Memphis Will Come to Robins Theatre

WARREN, Ohio – “One Night in Memphis,” a concert featuring the music of Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash, will come to the Robins Theatre on March 13 for a 7:30 p.m. performance.

The concert recreates a legendary night, Dec. 4, 1956, when the four artists came together for an impromptu jam session at Sun Studios. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at RobinsTheatre.com and the theater box office, 160 E. Market St.

Free Lecture on Victorian Christmas Cards

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Have you ever wondered how the tradition of sending out Christmas cards started? 

George Johnson will discuss “19th Century Victorian Christmas Cards” in a free lecture at noon Thursday, 

Dec. 18, in the Tyler History Center ballroom, 325 W. Federal St., downtown.

During the Victorian Period, a wide range of Christmas cards were created in England, Germany and, somewhat later, America. Some were simple but beautiful chromolithograph images, while others were masterpieces of paper art that folded and unfolded on various shapes and even three-dimensional images. Others had added lace, silk fringe, hidden pictures and messages, and even perfume sachets – all of which were designed to go through the mail. All of these will be explored in the presentation, and some will be on display.

Artist to Demonstrate Process at McDonough Museum

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The McDonough Museum of Art invites the Youngstown community to a special evening with artist Julia Betts from 5-7 p.m. Dec. 18. 

This free event, sponsored by Akron Soul Train, offers an opportunity to witness Betts’ distinctive creative process in action.

Betts, currently artist-in-residence with Akron Soul Train, is recognized for her innovative pour-process technique that transforms paint into sculptural form. During this interactive demonstration, attendees will gain insight into her artistic approach, have the chance to ask questions and view a pop-up installation of her work created exclusively for this one-night-only event.

Following the demonstration, guests are invited to enjoy light refreshments while meeting the artist and connecting with fellow community members.

Admission is free and open to the public. Parking is available in the Wick Avenue Deck (M30) for a $5 cash fee.

Betts is an Ohio-based artist whose practice spans sculpture, performance and installation. She is an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University.

Magazine Recognizes Valley Novelist’s Work

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – Nancy Christie’s fourth short story collection, “The Language of Love and Other Stories,” was included in Cleveland Magazine’s list of “50 Cleveland Book Releases We Loved in 2025.”
“This collection is very special to me, and I hope people enjoy reading the stories as much as I enjoyed writing them,” said Christie, of Youngstown. “While not all have the conventional ‘happy ending,’ they all exemplify the range of emotions that are part of loving relationships.”
The stories depict a variety of relationships: between parent and child, adult children and elderly relatives, between new lovers and those who have been together for years, Christie said.

One reviewer noted: “This collection turned out to be everything I could wish for in a story collection, and then some. … This outstanding work will probably be one of my top anthology/collections of 2025,” while another called it “a heartfelt collection that captures love in its many forms, reminding us that love isn’t always grand gestures – it’s in the small moments, the unspoken words, the everyday choices.”
Christie’s other collections include “Mistletoe Magic and Other Holiday Tales,” “Peripheral Visions and Other Stories” and “Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories.” She is also the author of three Midlife Moxie novels: “Reinventing Rita,” “Finding Fran” and “Moving Maggie,” and three nonfiction books. A fourth novel, “Transforming Tessa,” is scheduled for release in May 2026.

Butler Museum Announces Holiday Closures

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Butler Institute of American Art will be closed Dec. 24-25 for Christmas and Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 for New Year’s. The museum will be open as usual surrounding these holidays.The museum store will be open through Dec. 23. Looma Café will be closed Dec. 24, 25, 26 and 31 and Jan. 1.