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Festival of the Arts
YSU event continues to grow
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
YOUNGSTOWN
The groups involved have dubbed it “The Biggest Weekend of the Summer,” and from an arts and entertainment standpoint, it’s hard to argue.
This weekend’s action is pegged around three main events and a bunch of smaller ones, all running concurrently in the downtown area. A goal of concentrating the events is to reacquaint suburbanites and former residents with Youngstown.
The Tour of the Valley bicycle race, which debuted last summer and was an instant hit, gets underway Friday and runs through Sunday. And the Youngstown Jazz Festival, with national acts Spyro Gyra and David Benoit, is Saturday.
But at the center of it all is the Summer Festival of the Arts at Youngstown State University, which began 12 years ago and has grown each year in participants, attendance ... and respect.
In an area that has a ton of summer festivals, the SFA — which is Saturday and Sunday — stands out.
It’s a daytime festival, for one thing, opening before noon and closing in the early evening, well before dark. Plus, it offers a carefully-screened slate of the highest quality music, art, theater, dance and food. Not surprisingly, it attracts an appreciative crowd.
With a laid-back yet lively atmosphere, it’s the most unique festival of the year.
This year, the SFA will sport a record number of artists — more than 70.
Lori Factor, director of the SFA, offered a few reasons. “Maybe it’s an indication that the economy is getting slightly better,” she said, and the public is in more of a buying mood.
“Another possibility is that we treat artists very well and that word gets around,” she continued. “I have had many artists this year who said they were at another arts fest and they were sitting near one of our artists and they said I should apply. So we are gaining a nice reputation as far as hospitality and how we treat artists, and that is important in the world of art festivals.”
Live music will be a constant throughout the SFA, and at several locations, including the Kilcawley Fountain and the Festival of Nations area.
New this year is The Lemon Grove Stage, which will feature emerging local artists. It is being sponsored and programmed by The Lemon Grove Cafe, downtown, which is owned by Jacob Harver.
“We try to have a nice ebb and flow so that people don’t get stuck in one place,” said Factor. “They can listen or watch for awhile then move on and do something else. We don’t ask our performers to perform concerts, just sets, so there is a constant background noise level.”
In addition to some well-known crowd-pleasers, look for some newcomers, like Justin Joseph Edwards.
Participation by community and arts groups is also at an all-time high. The following will have activity tents at the SFA:
Power of the Arts, Mahoning Valley Theater Buzz, SMARTS, University development (selling bricks), WYSU, Rust Belt Theater Co., Easy Street Productions, Wick Neighbors Inc., Rich Center for Autism, Oakland Center for the Arts.
Additionally, just beyond the confines of the SFA, many nearby places will hold activities at their own sites, including the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Summer Festival; and the Arms Museum, Rose Melnick Medical Museum, the steel museum, Public Library, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Maag Library, Ward Beecher Planetarium, McDonough Museum of Art, and the Butler Institute of American Art.
The SFA will include workshops on genealogy and family history. Sherry Linkon from Steel Valley Voices will do several on preserving family history Saturday at Maag Library. Martha Bishop of the steel museum will do a cemetery research workshop Saturday.
The Festival of Nations will have more groups than ever, and two new food additions: Chinese and soul food. Plus Chrystal’s Catering will introduce an Irish booth.