HOT TICKETS

j Visitors to the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival — which opens today and runs through Sunday — will be greeted by this 8-foot painting of a Roman gladiator. The painting is the work of Poland artist Carlo Rubino, a retired art teacher who taught at Boardman High School for 40 years. Rubino was born in Italy and came to the United States in 1954. It’s a fitting welcome for the OLMC festival, which prides itself in its Italian authenticity. The festival is on the grounds of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, near Choffin Career Center in Youngstown. Admission is $3. Musical entertainment begins at 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

A talented troupe of actors and actresses from the region will bring to life the sparkling Shakespeare comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at 7 p.m. at Morley Pavilion in Mill Creek Park. The free, 90-minute performance begins at 9 p.m. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair.

Classic-car owners are invited to bring their ride to Yellow Creek Theatre Friday evening for a car show and free film. The Mahoning Valley Olde Car Club will also have some vehicles on display. The outdoor theater is behind Poland library on state Route 170 in Poland, and free parking is available at the library. The film, which will begin at dusk, is the 1963 comedy “The Nutty Professor,” starring Jerry Lewis. Live music will precede the film.

It’s another Party on the Plaza Friday. The Werks and Jones for Revival will get the party going on the large plaza in front of Buffalo Wild Wings in downtown Youngstown. Music begins at 8 p.m.

“Fiddler on the Roof” continues this weekend at New Castle Playhouse, with shows at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The theater is at 202 E. Long Ave., New Castle. Call (724) 654-3437.

Kent-Trumbull Theater’s production of “The King and I” also continues this weekend. Shows are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. The theater is on the campus, just off Mahoning Avenue in Champion. Call (330) 675-8887.

Vicious Cycle, billed as the nation’s top Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band, returns to the Warren Community Amphitheatre on Saturday night. The evening begins at 5 p.m. Opening act is country band Dingtown. The amphitheater is on Mahoning Avenue in downtown Warren.

It’s a lineup that could only happen at the best rock ’n’ roll bar between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Three of the top acts from those two cities will show up at Cedars Lounge in downtown Youngstown Saturday night. Mystery of Two and HotChaCha (both from Cleveland) will open for Pittsburgh’s The Takeover UK. Cedars is at 23 N. Phelps Street. Fun starts at 10 p.m.

Boardman Township Park will present Family Night in the Park at 7 p.m. at the Maag Outdoor Arts Theatre. Local favorite Rudy and The Professionals will perform, with a screening of the animated film “Madagascar 2” following at dusk. Other kid-friendly attractions at the free event will include Jocko the Clown, hayrides and a Bounce-A-Round. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. The park is on U.S. 224, just west of the Shops at Boardman Park.

Four-wheelers can get a little mud on their tires at Truck & Jeep Fest, Saturday and Sunday at Canfield Fairgrounds. The event includes all kinds of high-octane fun, including monster truck races, burnouts, rock climbs and extreme quad racing. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $16 ($9 for children 12 and under), but discount tickets are available in advance for $12 at Denny’s locations. For more info, go to truckandjeepfest.com.k

Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church, 53 Laird Ave., Youngstown, will have its 77th annual Serbian Day Picnic, beginning at noon. Traditional Serbian specialties, including chicken paprikash, barbecued lamb and pork, kielbasi and sauerkraut sandwiches, and Cevapcici will be available. Entertainment will be provided by local favorite Libby’s Tamburitzans from noon to 3:30 in the hall and by Udri Banda of Akron from 4-9 p.m. in the newly constructed pavilion. Admission is $3. For more information, call (330) 550-6628.

NextWeek

Hard on the heels of “Barefoot in the Park” comes “Blues in the Night,” the second production this month from Youngstown Playhouse. The musical revue opens July 31. Call (330) 788-8739 for tickets.