👻 Spooky Season Highlights
Three off the beaten path picks worth building your weekend around, all three local and all three leaning hard into the season.
📍 1825 N Leavitt Rd NW · Warren, OH · 🕰️ Fri, Oct 2 · 5 PM
A full horror convention right in Warren: vendors, makeup artists, and horror celebrities under one roof. If you have ever wanted to meet the people behind your favorite slasher movie, this is the weekend.
📍 860 Niles Rd SE · Warren, OH · 🕰️ Sat, Oct 3 · 10 AM
A guided walk through one of the Valley's most historic cemeteries, telling the stories behind the Valley's most notable headstones. Genuinely one of the best cheap dates of the whole season.
📍 13 E. Park Ave · Columbiana, OH · 🕰️ Sat, Oct 3 · 10 AM
Downtown Columbiana fills with witches, vendors, and small town fall charm for a morning. Easily the most on-the-nose event name in this entire newsletter, and we mean that as a compliment.
GOOD NEWS Around Youngstown
Canfield dedicated four brand new pickleball courts. Canfield Township cut the ribbon on new courts at Community Park on Herbert Rd. in August, a roughly $145,000 project funded by the county, community donations, the Canfield Rotary Club, and the township, with another $20,000 going toward accessibility features like sidewalks, railings, and benches.
A local entrepreneur opened her first standalone salon. Jessica Montes de Oca opened Phoenix Nail Lounge on Mahoning Ave. in Austintown this summer, moving out of a rented suite in Girard into her own full service space after years of building her client base.
The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley awarded $6.6 million. Its latest annual report shows $6.6 million in grants and scholarships went to local nonprofits and students, with an expanded emergency grant program to help organizations facing rising costs.
East Palestine is getting a new brewery and restaurant. Black Diamond Brewery and Distillery announced plans to open in the historic freight depot on West Taggart Street, bringing craft beer and a full service restaurant to the downtown by spring 2027.
This Week's Edition
Spooky Season Highlights
Good News Around the Valley
Youngstown's Spooky Season Is Here: Your Weekend Game Plan
Good Dog Roll Call
Local Eats Spotlight: Penguin City Brewing Company
Batwings?
Halloween Head Spa
Nothing About Your Coverage Should Be Scary
Not Every Dog Loves a Good Scare
The Jump Scare You Don't Want This Season
A Home With Zero Skeletons in the Closet
Outrun the Spooky Season Crowds
More Scoop: Join the Conversation
Want Your Business in the Scoop?
The Full Weekend Event Guide (Thu-Sun)
P.S.
🎃 Youngstown’s Spooky Season Is Here:
Your Weekend Game Plan
Thursday is opening night. Fear Forest turns its lights on in Lordstown at 7, the first haunted house and hayride of the season. If ghosts are not your thing tonight, there is a Practical Magic inspired mixology class on Market Street at 6:30, all the witchy atmosphere with none of the jump scares. Or go classic rock instead with .38 Special at Powers Auditorium at 7:30.
Friday is stacked. The Archangel Michael Greek Food Festival opens in Campbell at noon, free admission, gyros and souvlaki and Greek wine under a tent. Fear Forest runs again at 7. And if you want the spookiest sounding event on the whole calendar, the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra performs Symphonic Sorcery at Stambaugh Auditorium at 7:30, a concert built exactly for this week. Downtown, Penguin City Brewing hosts the Magic Hunks Australian Takeover at its Night Market starting at 8, and the Youngstown Phantoms open a two game series against Fargo Force at Covelli Centre at 7.
Saturday keeps the Greek Festival and Fear Forest both going, the Phantoms host Fargo Force again at 6, and over in Warren the Baldassarre Orchestra brings a classic rock revue to Robins Theatre, doors at 6:30. This is also peak season for the Valley's pumpkin patches and hayrides, most run right through the weekend, so check your favorite's page before you load up the car.
Sunday is the big one. Boardman Rotary Oktoberfest turns 50 at Boardman Township Park, 9 AM to 5 PM, five decades of steins and Bavarian spirit in one park. The Greek Festival wraps its final day, noon to 9, and Fear Forest runs its shorter Sunday hours if you want to close the weekend with one more scream.
🐾 Good Dog Roll Call
Spooky season has haunted hayrides and jump scares, but there is nothing scary about an empty kennel on a Thursday night. Somebody waiting at the Mahoning County Dog Warden on N. Meridian Rd. would rather spend this weekend curled up on a couch than anywhere near a haunted trail, and that is a perfectly reasonable way to spend spooky season together.
Not ready to adopt but want to help? The Dog Warden always welcomes volunteers, donations, and shares of its adoptable dogs on Facebook. Sometimes the share is what finds the home.
Mahoning County Dog Warden & Adoption Center
🍽️ Local Drinks Spotlight: Penguin City
Spooky season calls for something dark, local, and poured with a little atmosphere, and downtown's Penguin City Brewing Company delivers all three. Housed on East Federal Street in the heart of downtown, they rotate through a genuinely wide lineup of ales, lagers, and specialty beers, and their taproom doubles as one of downtown's better hangout spots on a cool October night.
This Friday they are hosting the Magic Hunks Australian Takeover as part of their Night Market, so grab dinner somewhere nearby first and make it a full downtown night before or after Fear Forest. The taproom itself is built for drinking, not dining.
Hours run Thursday 4 PM to 1 AM, Friday 2 PM to midnight, and Saturday noon to midnight. Closed Sunday through Wednesday, so plan your visit for the front half of the weekend.
🌐 penguincity.beer
📞 330-755-0709
📍 460 E. Federal St, Youngstown, OH
📅 Thu 4 PM-1 AM · Fri 2 PM-Midnight · Sat Noon-Midnight · Closed Sun-Wed
Not Every Dog Loves a Good Scare
Canine Cove Pet Resort
Here is a weekend built almost entirely around things dogs do not enjoy. Strangers jumping out of the dark at a haunted hayride. A packed Oktoberfest tent full of unfamiliar legs to weave through. Two hockey crowds worth of noise downtown. Even the bravest dog in the house is allowed to sit this one out.
Canine Cove in Austintown does overnight boarding the way you would want it done yourself, real attention, real play, real rest, on fenced property built for actual dogs who love to be loved. Go enjoy every haunted hayride and golden anniversary stein on the calendar, and pick up a dog who had a much calmer weekend than you did.
Call to book overnight boarding before fall weekends fill up.
Don't Let Batwings Haunt You
Got scary arms? You're not alone, and this is the month to do something about it. Our Batwing Special tightens and tones the exact spot that makes waving hello feel like a Halloween costume you didn't sign up for. Starting at just $399, we'll help you sculpt those arms before the trick or treaters show up.
Book now and send those batwings back to the belfry where they belong. Call or text 330-977-5788 to grab your spot, spooky season special pricing won't stick around past October.
Schedule a FREE consultation. Call or text and we will find you a time this week.
How Scary is Your Scalp?
Be honest. Between the dry shampoo, the stress, and the season change, your scalp has probably seen better days. That tightness, flakiness, or just plain exhausted feeling isn't something a regular wash is going to fix. It's time to call in backup.
The Signature Head Spa Experience at Youngstown Head Spa is the treatment your scalp has been begging for. A deep detox and exfoliation, a steamy scalp massage, aromatherapy, and a neck and shoulder release that will have you questioning whether you fell asleep mid-appointment. No tricks, just a genuinely relaxing treat.
Don't let a scary scalp haunt you through spooky season. Book your Halloween Head Spa appointment today, weekend slots go fast. Call 330-967-1709 or visit youngstownheadspa.com.
Nothing About Your Coverage Should Be Scary
Moore Family Insurance
Spooky season has plenty of good, fun scares built in on purpose, a haunted hayride is supposed to make your heart race. What should never catch you off guard is your own coverage. Preston Moore and his team believe in a different feeling entirely: knowing exactly what you have and why it fits, so there are no surprises waiting when you actually need it. They sit right on North Broad in Canfield and will walk through auto, home, renters, motorcycle, business, and life coverage with you in plain language, start to finish. No confusion, no fine print ambushes, just straight answers from people who live here too.
Call for a coverage review and head into fall with real peace of mind.
The Jump Scare You Don’t Want This Season
1-800-Plumber +Air Youngstown
Fear Forest has jump scares on purpose, and you paid for the privilege. Your furnace going out at 11 PM on the first truly cold night of the year is a jump scare nobody signs up for, and it has a nasty habit of happening right when every HVAC phone in the county starts ringing at once. Run it for ten minutes this week while the stakes are still low. If it smells off, cycles strangely, or makes a sound you do not recognize, get ahead of it now. 1-800-Plumber +Air Youngstown covers heating and cooling plus the full plumbing side, drains, leaks, water heaters, and emergencies, with real people who show up when they say they will.
Call and save the number before you actually need it.
A Home With Zero Skeletons in the Closet
Hailey Ditullio, Howard Hanna
Spooky season loves a good haunted house story, but that is the one thing you do not want when you are actually buying a home. Fall is a genuinely smart window to shop right now, the frantic summer rush has cleared out, serious sellers are still on the market, and you can get a Saturday showing without fighting six other families for the slot. Hailey Ditullio knows Poland, Boardman, and Canfield block by block, which streets back up to the good parks, and which listings are worth an afternoon of your time. No hidden surprises, no skeletons, just the truth about a house before you fall for it.
Call Hailey and let’s go look at some houses this weekend.
Outrun the Spooky Season Crowds
While the rest of the Valley is standing in line for a haunted hayride or a stein at Oktoberfest, Mill Creek Park is quietly putting on the best show in town, and almost nobody is out there to see it. Peak color is closing in fast. An e-bike is the easiest way to actually catch it, the hills that make a regular bike ride feel like a workout stop being a factor entirely, so you can cover the covered bridge, the lakes, and the long gold tree tunnels in one ride instead of choosing just one. Cruise the Creek rents e-bikes and runs guided rides right through the park, flat and paved for beginners or wooded and hilly if you want more of a challenge.
Text to reserve your bikes, or follow on Facebook for rental hours and guided ride dates.
📣 Want Your Business in the Scoop?
Thousands of your Valley neighbors read this newsletter every week, and they love supporting local. Get your business a themed spotlight just like the ones above, written fresh every week and tied to whatever the whole town is already talking about.
Reply to this email and let us get you featured.
📅 The Full Weekend Event Guide
TONS of ways to spend the next four days within about 45 minutes of Youngstown, grouped by day and distance (see our Worth the Drive section).
Click any event for details and tickets.
All Weekend Long
Archangel Michael Greek Food Festival
📍 Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church, 401 12th St - Campbell, OH
🕰️ Fri-Sat Noon-10 PM, Sun Noon-9 PM
Free admission, gyros, souvlaki, wine and live Greek music.
Mom's Basement Fest 2026
📍 Westside Bowl - Youngstown, OH
🕰️ Fri, Oct 2 to Sat, Oct 3
Two nights of local bands in the Trophy Room.
Fall Fest at Sweet Memories & Golden Age Vintage Marketplace
📍 1282 Trumbull Ave, Suite A1 - Girard, OH
🕰️ Sat, Oct 3 to Sun, Oct 4 · 10 AM
A fall vendor and vintage marketplace both weekend days.
Duke's IDS Halloween Howl
📍 6948 State Route 303 - Windham, OH
🕰️ Sat, Oct 3 to Sun, Oct 4
A costumed dog sports competition, fun to just watch too.
Ohio Home Show
📍 Canfield Fairgrounds - Canfield, OH
🕰️ Sat, Oct 3 to Sun, Oct 4
Remodeling and home improvement vendors under one roof.
Thursday, October 1
.38 Special
📍 Edward W. Powers Auditorium at DeYor PAC - Youngstown, OH
🕰️ Thu, Oct 1 · 7:30 PM-9:30 PM
Southern rock legends play their classic hits live.
Waking the Witch: Practical Magic Mixology Class
📍 6217 Market St - Youngstown, OH
🕰️ Thu, Oct 1 · 6:30 PM-8:30 PM
Practical Magic inspired cocktail class and movie homage.
Annual Wine & Cider Event
📍 Maze Craze, 14070 Woodworth Rd - New Springfield, OH
🕰️ Thu, Oct 1 · 6 PM
A 21-and-up wine and cider tasting at the corn maze.
Rodney Atkins
📍 Robins Theatre, 160 E. Market St - Warren, OH
🕰️ Thu, Oct 1 · 7:30 PM
Country hitmaker plays Warren's historic downtown theatre.
Friday, October 2
Sinister Horror Fest 4
📍 1825 N Leavitt Rd NW - Warren, OH
🕰️ Fri, Oct 2 · 5 PM
See Spooky Season Highlights above.
Flashlight Maze Night
📍 Kuchta Farms, 4785 State Route 82 - Newton Falls, OH
🕰️ Fri, Oct 2 · 7 PM
Navigate the corn maze by flashlight after dark.
The Chadd
📍 The New Manhattan Bar & Grill - Hubbard, OH
🕰️ Fri, Oct 2 · 8 PM
Live music at a Hubbard neighborhood bar.
Cardinal Mooney vs. Benedictine
📍 Cardinal Mooney High School, 2545 Erie St - Youngstown, OH
🕰️ Fri, Oct 2 · 7 PM
Varsity football under the lights on the East Side.
Saturday, October 3
Witchwalk on Main
📍 13 E. Park Ave - Columbiana, OH
🕰️ Sat, Oct 3 · 10 AM
See Spooky Season Highlights above.
Pop-Up Skatepark
📍 Glenwood Community Park, 2538 Glenwood Ave - Youngstown, OH
🕰️ Sat, Oct 3 · 1 PM
A traveling skatepark sets up on the South Side.
Jeep Jam at Kuchta Farms
📍 Kuchta Farms, 4785 State Route 82 - Newton Falls, OH
🕰️ Sat, Oct 3 · 3 PM
Jeeps take over the farm for an afternoon meetup.
Ben Chapman
📍 13021 State Route 170 - East Liverpool, OH
🕰️ Sat, Oct 3 · 6 PM
Live music in East Liverpool.
RWT at White House Fruit Farms
📍 White House Fruit Farm, 9249 State Route 62 - Canfield, OH
🕰️ Sat, Oct 3 · 12 PM
A farm weekend meetup at Canfield's favorite orchard.
Sunday, October 4
Build a Bird Feeder
📍 12798 Echo Dell Rd - East Liverpool, OH
🕰️ Sun, Oct 4 · 1 PM
A hands-on family craft session, feeder included.
Create Your Own Caramel Apple
📍 400 Boardman Poland Rd - Youngstown (Boardman), OH
🕰️ Sun, Oct 4 · 12 PM
A hands-on caramel apple bar for the whole family.
Trunk or Treat Car Cruise
📍 Perkins, 804 Boardman Poland Rd - Youngstown (Boardman), OH
🕰️ Sun, Oct 4 · 4 PM
Classic cars and trunk-or-treat candy in one stop.
Worth the Drive
A little outside the usual Mahoning/Shenango Valley radius, but close enough and good enough to make the trip.
The Red Clay Strays
📍 PPG Paints Arena - Pittsburgh, PA
🕰️ Thu, Oct 1 · 6:30 PM
Southern rock and soul at a major arena show.
John Waite
📍 Northfield Park - Northfield, OH
🕰️ Thu, Oct 1 · 7:30 PM
80s hitmaker behind "Missing You" plays live.
Whose Live Anyway?
📍 Akron Civic Theatre - Akron, OH
🕰️ Thu, Oct 1 · 7:30 PM
Improv comedy from the Whose Line crew.
Wiz Khalifa
📍 Citizens Live at The Wylie - Pittsburgh, PA
🕰️ Fri, Oct 2 · 8 PM
Pittsburgh's own headlines the new venue's opening week.
2026 Ohio Plant Show
📍 77 E Mill St - Akron, OH
🕰️ Sat, Oct 3 to Sun, Oct 4
A weekend plant and garden expo downtown.
720 Market in the 'Ville
📍 Historic Downtown Hartville - Hartville, OH
🕰️ Sat, Oct 3 · 10 AM
A small town outdoor market in historic Hartville.
Grape Stomping Party
📍 154 S Main St - Zelienople, PA
🕰️ Sat, Oct 3 · 3 PM
Stomp actual grapes, actual winemaking, barefoot and all.
In the Heartland
📍 The Goodyear Theater - Akron, OH
🕰️ Sat, Oct 3 · 7:30 PM
A touring show at Akron's restored Goodyear Theater.
Worth the Wait
Outside this weekend's window, but worth marking the calendar for now.
Fall Escape to Atlantic City
📍 Tropicana Casino & Resort (bus departs Mineral Ridge, OH)
🕰️ Mon, Oct 5 to Thu, Oct 8
A multi-day bus trip to Atlantic City's casinos.
A Bucking Nightmare 2026
📍 Garwood Arena - Columbiana, OH
🕰️ Fri, Oct 9 · 9 AM
A Halloween-themed rodeo event at Garwood Arena.
Gen X Trunk and Treat
📍 224 E Maple St - Hartville, OH
🕰️ Fri, Oct 9 · 7:30 PM
A nostalgic, grown-up spin on trunk-or-treat.
LEFT END "Final Ride" Concert
📍 Powers Auditorium at DeYor PAC - Youngstown, OH
🕰️ Sat, Oct 10 · 10 PM
A local band plays its farewell show downtown.
Boyz II Men
📍 Citizens Live at The Wylie - Pittsburgh, PA
🕰️ Fri, Oct 16 · 7:30 PM
R&B legends bring the hits to Pittsburgh.
Vintage Halloween Weekend
📍 10580 West Western Reserve Rd - Canfield, OH
🕰️ Sat, Oct 17 · 11 AM
A vintage-themed Halloween weekend market.
Nightmare on Front Street 2026
📍 Cuyahoga Falls Pavilion & Amphitheater - Cuyahoga Falls, OH
🕰️ Sat, Oct 17 · 3 PM
An outdoor Halloween concert and costume event.
The Price Is Right LIVE
📍 330 University Dr NE - New Philadelphia, OH
🕰️ Sun, Oct 18 · 3 PM
The classic game show tapes a live stage version.
Warren Ghost Walk 2026
📍 First Presbyterian Church of Warren - Warren, OH
🕰️ Fri, Oct 23 to Sat, Oct 24
A guided ghost walk through historic downtown Warren.
Nelly
📍 Covelli Centre - Youngstown, OH
🕰️ Fri, Dec 11 · 7:30 PM
A December stop, filed away for later.
🎃 P.S.
Spooky season only comes around once a year, and it does not wait for you to finish your to do list. Go find a haunted trail, a stein, or a dog with a bio you cannot resist. Have fun out there, Youngstown.
The YoTown Scoop · Youngstown & the Mahoning Valley
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