First Fridays Youngstown dances into 2026

“For the Love of Dance” is the theme for the First Fridays Youngstown’s first event of 2026.

Activities planned at Ballet Western Reserve, 218 W. Boardman St., and Concept Studio, 217 W. Federal St., include open houses, mini performances and classes, curated winter vendors and organizations and food and drink, including a hot chocolate bar.

A live music initiative funded by the Youngstown Foundation will support live music Friday at The Avalon, The Draft House and Penguin City Brewing Company as part of First Fridays Youngstown. Admission is free.

Model train show comes to Youngstown on Saturday

The Iron and Steel Winter Blizzard Train Show runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Mary’s Assumption Social Center, 356 S. Belle Vista Ave., Youngstown.

The all-gauge model train show and expo will feature train sets, locomotives, rolling stock and accessories.

Admission is $7 with children ages 16 and younger admitted free. For more information, call 330-503-5510.

Lit Youngstown director part of Torch Club program

Karen Schubert, co-founder and executive director of Lit Youngstown, will talk about the positive impact of the arts on the Mahoning Valley for a Youngstown Torch Club program.

Schubert is the author of six books of poetry and founding organizer of LOOP Youngstown, a non-profit dedicated to the creation of a local arts and culture center. She will discuss the impact of the arts on the local economy and its contributions to the region’s quality of life.

The program starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Davidson’s Restaurant, 3636 Canfield Road, Cornersburg. Those planning on ordering dinner first should arrive by 6 p.m. For more information, go to torch.org or call 234-308-3149.