JUNE

JUNE
1: Celebrate Ohio's Bicentennial at an outdoor concert featuring Flat Iron Bluegrass Band from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at Loghurst, the historical log home at 3967 Boardman-Canfield Road, Canfield. Admission is $5 per car. Picnicking is encouraged.
Through July 20: Two- and three-dimensional works by Spanish artist Manolo Valdes -- who had a big retrospective at the prestigious Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain -- are on display at The Butler Institute of American Art Trumbull Branch in Howland (East Market Street, opposite Avalon Inn & amp; Resort).
6-7: You'll look at the sky differently after attending "Astronomy A-Z," a YSU Ward Beecher Planetarium program on stars, planets and galaxies near and far. And what better time is there for viewing night skies than warm summer evenings? Recommended for grades five and older. Admission is free. Enter the Planetarium via Lincoln Avenue.
7-8: Check out the Ikebana Flower Show at Mill Creek MetroParks Fellows Riverside Gardens, McKinley Avenue, Youngstown. Call the park at (330) 740-7116 for details of other flower shows during summer.
8: City slickers may spend a "Sunday at the Farm," where horse-drawn wagon rides will be offered from 1 to 5 p.m. at Mill Creek MetroParks Farm, state Route 46, Canfield.
9-15: Se Ri Pak, a previous winner of Giant Eagle's ladies professional golf tournament, will be back to try to recapture that title at Squaw Creek Country Club, state Route 193, Vienna. Various fun and charitable events will precede the tournament, which will be June 13-15.
12-14: Saddle up, cowpokes, for the 25th annual Butler Rodeo at Butler Farm Show Grounds, Route 68, just west of Butler, Pa. Be there by 8 p.m. to see bareback bronco riding, calf roping and cowgirl barrel racing, among other events. (724) 865-9337.
13-15: Mahoning Valley Rib Burnoff has sizzle. Besides those saucy slabs of grilled meat, there will be live music by local and nationally known acts at the Cafaro Field Complex, behind Eastwood Mall, Niles.
15: Take dear ol' Dad to the Father's Day Ice Cream Social from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Loghurst in Canfield. Visitors of all ages can participate in various activities, and the ice cream is free with regular museum admission.
18: For fun on wheels, go to "Camp Roo Free Skate," a weekly event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays at Skate Connection, 7080 Tiffany Blvd., Boardman. Admission is free; skates are available for rental. DJs will spin tunes and there will be games and races. (330) 758-6903.
26-29: "Thunder at Cooper's Lake" will rev the engines of motorcycle enthusiasts and concertgoers alike at Cooper's Lake Campground, 205 Currie Road, Slippery Rock, Pa. (724) 658-5000.
27: If the boat floats, then enter it in the annual Small Ships Revue in Sharon, Pa. The ride down the Shenango River ends at the Three By the River restaurant complex, where the party begins. (724) 981-3123.
28: U.S. Air Force "Band of Flight" will land for the first time in Boardman at 7 p.m. at Boardman Township Park Maag Outdoor Arts Theatre, U.S. Route 224. (330) 725-8107.
JULY
3-6: "Back to the '50s" weekend at Cascade Park, New Castle, Pa., features custom car shows, a sock hop and performances by oldies bands including The Jaggerz (July 3), Johnny Angel and the Halos (July 4 and 6) and Chuck Blasko and The Vogues (July 5-6). (724) 652-8822 or (724) 658-5510.
3: River City Brass Band of Pittsburgh will perform at the Independence Day Celebration, featuring a fireworks show over Brittain Lake, at Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pa. (724) 946-7354.
4-6: The 23rd City Arts, Crafts & amp; Food Festival at Ewing Park, Ellwood City, Pa., will also offer fireworks displays. (724) 758-5630.
6-Aug. 14: The U.S. art scene is alive and well, as evidenced by entries in the 67th National Midyear Show at The Butler Institute of American Art, 524 Wick Ave., Youngstown. Judging this year's show is painter John Alexander.
7-13: Stretch your legs on the midway at the Trumbull County Fair in Bazetta Township. Enjoy rides, concessions, historical displays, music and more.
11-13: Polka till you drop at Slovenefest XXII at SNPJ Recreation Center, 270 Martin Road, Enon Valley, Pa., where tasty European foods also will be available. (877) 767-5732.
12-13: Spend the day at YSU Summer Festival of the Arts, where children make art and music, theater groups perform and artists sell their works. There also will be performances by many musical groups and an international area, where the Mahoning Valley's cultures will be represented. Free admission, free parking. (330) 941-2307.17-20: The Italian influence on food, music and games will be evident at the Greater Youngstown Italian Festival, an annual event at Canfield Fairgrounds, state Route 46.
17-20: Up, up and away ... in Western Pennsylvania Balloon Quest at Scotland Meadows Park, New Castle, Pa. (724) 658-4541 or (724) 652-1902.
20: Dig in at a Community Ice Cream Social at 4 p.m. at Fellows Riverside Gardens in Mill Creek MetroParks. There will be discussions with Dr. Rick Shale, author of "Idora Park: The Last Ride of Summer" and Brian Butko, author of "Klondike, Chipped Ham and Skyscraper Cones: The Story of Isaly's." (330) 702-3000.
26-Aug. 24: The biggest show of the summer at The Butler Institute of Art Salem Branch, 343 E. State St., will be sculptures by Barbara Stanczak, a prominent member of the Cleveland scene.28-Aug. 3: You don't have to be an old farm hand to enjoy the Columbiana County Fair in Lisbon. Ride, eat, stroll around the barns and play games to your heart's content.
AUGUST
3: Celebrate creativity at Festival of the Arts in Harvey S. Firestone Memorial Park, Columbiana. (330) 424-4660.
8-9 and 15-16: Stage Left Players keeps its summer tradition going with an outdoor production of a Shakespeare play -- this time, "Macbeth" -- at Waterworth Park in Salem. (330) 424-5093.
9-10, 16-17 and 23-24: The Shaker Woods Festival crafts fair will be from 10-5 at Shaker Woods, Columbiana; (330) 482-0214.
11-16: Cotton candy time again. Don't miss the mix of agriculture and carnival during the Lawrence County Fair, Route 108, New Castle, Pa. Cowboy boots are optional. (724) 654-7745.
16: SpongeBob SquarePants will be in the crowd at a Kid's Fest from 10 to 6 at Cascade Park, New Castle, Pa. (724) 654-5501.
16: Moonlight and music go together nicely when the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra gives its annual "Pops at the Ballpark" concert at Cafaro Field, Niles. (330) 744-0264.
20: There's a poet in everyone and a place for all at the annual Pig Iron Press Poetry Slam at Cedar Cafe, 131 W. Commerce St., Youngstown.
23-24: May it be a fine day for boating at the fifth annual Regatta at Lake Arthur in Moraine State Park, 225 Pleasant Valley Road, Portersville, Pa. (888) 741-6772.