Tree lighting to cap holiday fest

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The city’s annual holiday festival will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday downtown and will include a parade at 3 p.m. followed by the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree on Central Square.

Activities for children will take place from 1 to 7 p.m. at 20 Federal Plaza. Representatives from Youngstown State University’s Students Motivated by the Arts group will provide free hands-on holiday art activities for children of all ages. There also will be free indoor train rides and a Santa’s Workshop where children can shop.

Food and holiday vendors will be selling their wares, and evergreen wreaths and garland will be available for purchase.

The parade will begin at 3 p.m. at the end of east Federal Street. It will proceed down East Federal to Central Square, where the tree lighting will take place.

Afterward, children can have their photo taken with Santa.

The parade and festival is sponsored by the city, First Night Youngstown, 21 WFMJ-TV and StreetScape.

Children also can have lunch with Santa’s elves at the Youngstown Club, on the fourth floor of the Commerce Building, 201 E. Commerce St., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reservations are required, and the cost is $9.95 per child and $15.95 per adult. Call 330-744-2177.