Area Events

Chevrolet Centre jumps into the rib festival fray with its first National Rib Cook-Off, which runs through Sunday in the arena parking lot. The Clarks, the Pittsburgh-based rockers with a strong local following, headline the festival Friday night at 10 p.m., while classic rockers Kansas (“Carry On, My Wayward Son”) are the main event Saturday night. Chevy Centre is on East Front Street, downtown Youngstown.

The Brier Hill Italian Festival is the only local Italian festival that is set in a neighborhood. It can be found near St. Anthony’s Church, on Calvin and Victoria streets on Brier Hill. From Belmont Avenue on Youngstown’s North Side, turn down Burlington Street and turn left on Turin Street. Hours are 4 p.m. to midnight Thursday and Friday, and noon to midnight Saturday and Sunday.

To combat the area’s shortage of Italian festivals — there have only been six since June — Salem has started one this year. The first Salem Italian Festival will be in the municipal parking lot on East Pershing Street, downtown. It starts at 5 p.m. and runs through Sunday.

Don’t miss the Verb Ballet of Cleveland’s free performance at the Warren Community Amphitheater. It’s tonight at 7 p.m.

If antique tractors are your thing, you have hit the lottery. The Antique Tractor Club of Trumbull County has its annual Antique Tractor Show this weekend at the Ali Baba Grotto Showgrounds, While the title truly says it all, antique tractors aren’t the only attraction here: there will be a tractor rodeo, tractor pulls and other assorted tractor-related mayhem. The showgrounds are on Perkins-Jones Road, Warren. Hours are 8 a.m. to dusk, and admission is $3 (free for kids under 12).

Red Hawk Native American Organization’s annual Powwow returns to the Willow Ranch, on South Hubbard Road (just off U.S. Route 422) in Coitsville. The Powwow features traditional Indian drumming and dancing in a natural setting. Hours are 10 a.m. to dusk (and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday). Admission is $4 ($3 for children and seniors). Bring a lawn chair.

It’s Vexfest day! The annual all-day outdoor rock festival — now in its fifth year — begins at noon and ends around 1 a.m. At last count, there were 41 bands on the schedule, most from Youngstown, but a few from other areas. Vexfest is on West Federal Street between Phelps Street and Wick Avenue.

The Youngstown Playhouse gets the 2008-09 theater season started with “Noises Off,” which opens Aug. 22. If you’ve never seen this farcical “play within a play,” rest assured that is a hilarious — and amazing — feat of timing and physical humor. Call the Playhouse box office at (330) 788-8739.

Blue Man Group’s How to be Megastar Tour 2.1 lands in Youngstown for a Sept. 17 date at Chevrolet Centre. Tickets are $45 to $65.