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Jazz, arts and cycling fuse for city’s ‘Biggest Weekend’
Tour of the Valley
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If You Go | Biggest Weekend
Tour of the Valley
Today
4 p.m. Time trials begin at Mastropietro Winery, Berlin Center.
Saturday
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Columbiana Road Race on a 33-mile course in Columbiana County and in the city of Columbiana.
Sunday
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Criterium in downtown Youngstown; a criterium is a one-mile lap repeated 20-25 times with fast turns and quick sprints.
Summer Festival of the Arts
Saturday and Sunday
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday: Located on the YSU main campus, the festival features dozens of artists demonstrating and selling their wares, an ethnic festival, live performances and children’s activities.
Youngstown Jazz Festival
Saturday 4 p.m.: Festival begins at Central Square downtown with headliners Spryo Gyra and David Benoit. Tickets are $15 (children under 12 are free when with a parent) and can be purchased at the Summer Festival of the Arts or by calling the Regional Chamber at 330-744-2131, ext. 12; or Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000.
Other Youngstown institutions, such as the Mahoning Valley Historical Society and churches along Wick Avenue will have festivals or special events this weekend.
Photo
Sculptor Tony Armeni adjusts a sundial prototype in his studio on Mahoning Avenue. Armeni is one of more than 40 artists taking part in the Summer Festival of the Arts at Youngstown State University this weekend. The Youngstown Jazz Festival and the Tour of the Valley also are downtown this weekend.which has been dubbed the “Biggest Weekend of the Summer.”
By Ashley Luthern
YOUNGSTOWN
Downtown businesses and local leaders are expecting an economic boost this weekend as the city hosts the Summer Festival of the Arts, the Youngstown Jazz Festival and the Tour of the Valley.
“We have [music] shows Friday and Saturday, but I would expect we get a lot of walk-in business during the day, too,” said Josh Cretella, general manager for The Lemon Grove, 122 W. Federal St.
The cafe/bar also is going to have an open stage of musical and dance performances at the arts festival on the campus of Youngstown State University, Cretella added.
This weekend is dubbed “The Biggest Weekend” and is a joint effort by the city of Youngstown, the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, the visitors bureau and YSU, which sponsors the Summer Festival of the Arts.
“It’s a great weekend for all types of people, families, younger college students,” said Lyndsey Hughes, director of downtown events. “People are going to go downtown for lunch or to grab dinner before an event.”
Hughes said that 1,200 tickets already have been sold for the jazz festival, featuring national acts Spyro Gyra and David Benoit.
“Having three events around the same time is going to really create quite a stir and have a positive effect on that downtown area,” said Tony Paglia, vice president of government affairs for the Regional Chamber.
The 12th annual Summer Festival of the Arts also represents a business opportunity for local artists.
“You hope it’s a good show,” said Lynn Cardwell, a Youngstown potter who has been a festival participant for more than 10 years.
Many artists return to the festival year after year.
“It’s a great showcase. That’s obvious. But it’s good to come out and see your artist friends,” said Tony Armeni, a Youngstown sculptor who works primarily in metal.
The arts and jazz festivals are sharing the weekend with the Tour of the Valley, a bicycle race featuring professional and amateur riders from eight states.
“With everything going on, it just makes more of a buzz,” Caldwell said. “It becomes a destination weekend.”