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Sinister Fest features horror films, vendors

Things get sinister at Skyway Drive-In to start October. The third Sinister Fest runs Friday and Saturday with more than 30 Halloween and horror-themed vendors. The event was started by Justin Haines, owner of Dead Ink Apparel, to celebrate the spooky season. The movie lineup includes a mix of studio releases and low-budget, independent horror fare. Friday’s lineup includes “The Devil’s Rejects,” “Rob Zombie’s Halloween” and the original “Night of the Living Dead” on screen one and “Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil,” “Army of Darkness” and “Trivial” on screen ...

Butler accepting AAA submissions

The Butler Institute of American Art is seeking submissions for its 86th Area Artist Annual exhibition. The juried show is open to artists living within a 75-mile radius of the Youngstown museum. Eligible media includes oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, photography, ceramics, sculpture, drawing / illustration, mixed media, works on paper and printmaking. This year’s juror is Nils P. Johnson, an attorney, artist and musician who is a member of such national artist organizations including the Allied Artists of America, the Connecticut Academy of Fine Art and the Copley Society of ...

Theater serves up ‘Arsenic & Old Lace’

Youngstown State University President Bill Johnson becomes actor Bill Johnson for University Theatre’s production of “Arsenic & Old Lace.” Johnson is part of the cast for the classic stage comedy by Joseph Kesselring, which opens Friday for a two-weekend run. Theater critic Mortimer Brewster announces to his spinster aunts that he’s going to marry the woman who lives next door, but he discovers the aunts have a bigger surprise — they poison lonely old men as acts of mercy. Further complications arise as Mortimer must deal with a brother who thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt and ...

‘Foreigner’ finds home at Trinity Playhouse

Stage Left Players will stage the comedy “The Foreigner” for a three-weekend run. Larry Shue’s play tells the story of Charlie, a painfully shy Englishman seeking peace and quiet at a fishing lodge in rural Georgia. To avoid social interactions, his friend concocts a scheme: let the locals believe Charlie doesn’t understand English. The plan works a little too well, as the lodge’s colorful residents begin revealing their deepest secrets and wildest schemes right in front of him — leading to hilarious misunderstandings and unexpected twists. Shue also is the playwright ...

Bert Kreischer coming to Covelli Centre

Comedian Bert Kreischer returns to the Covelli Centre on March 8, 2026. The bare-chested comedian sold out the Youngstown arena in 2022 on his The Bertie Boy Relapse Tour. Kreischer’s sixth Netflix special, “Lucky” in 2025, was one of the streaming service’s most-watched shows the month it was released. He also hosts two podcasts, “2 Bears, 1 Cave” and “Bertcast,” and the YouTube series “Something’s Burning.” Kreischer had the sixth highest-grossing comedy tour of 2024 despite touring for only half of the year. Tickets range from $25 to $125 and go on ...

Mayer brings summer vibes to YLIVE

YOUNGSTOWN — John Mayer is a man of many guitars and many genres. There’s the sensitive singer-songwriter, the guy who’s had more than 20 adult contemporary hits. There’s the blues guitar wizard who attracts fellow musicians more likely to be wearing T-shirts repping their favorite gear than their favorite band. And there are the Deadheads, who (mostly) have embraced Mayer as part of Dead and Company for the past decade. Which one headlined YLIVE on Friday at Wean Park? Mostly the first one, but all three were represented. Friday’s concert was Mayer’s first public ...