Preparations are well underway for a historic festival in downtown Youngstown, OH. The 23rd annual Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival kicks off Thursday and will feature many vendors, great Italian food and entertainment every day. You’ll enjoy all of the things at the festival you’re used to, but this year, they’ve added some new things...

Comedian Anthony Rodia will come to Stambaugh Auditorium on Sept. 15. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show range from $69 to $49 (plus applicable fees) and will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, March 31, at the box office and at stambaughauditorium.com. A limited number of VIP packages are also available. A first-generation Italian American raised in Westch...

In the fall of 1872, nationwide orders for cast iron fell sharply, forcing cutbacks in coal mining. As a result, Ohio coal operators announced a large cut in miners' pay, effective January 1, 1873. Refusing the wage reduction the miners struck, and within weeks over 7,000 men had deserted Ohio's coal pits. Among the companies paralyzed by the walko...

The Brier Hill Italian Festival is back and celebrating its 30th anniversary! Organizers said the festival once started as a one-time event and was originally meant to be a reunion. After the first weekend in Sept. of 1991, the community decided to bring it back for another year. The weekend has always revolved around family, friends, authentic foo...

The Greater Youngstown Italian Festival will take place Friday through Sunday, Aug. 5-7, along four blocks of Federal Street, downtown. The event typically draws approximately 50,000 people over its three days. It will feature food from over 30 Italian restaurants and food vendors, continuous entertainment on two stages, retail vendors, a morra tou...

For the first time since 2019, the Mount Carmel Italian Festival has returned to Youngstown. The festival was canceled for the last two years due to the pandemic. Chairman of the festival Scott Schulick said this is one of the biggest fundraisers for the church. They did lose some of their older volunteers because of fear of COVID but this year, th...

Lent begins next Wednesday but the Italian community of Youngstown celebrated their own Mardi Gras Friday night called Carnivale. At the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel social hall Friday night, guests indulged in traditional Italian dishes and drinks. Their goal was to try to persuade Youngstown State University to change its decision to end its Italian St...

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica has set its annual Carnevale di Venezia, or Italian Mardi Gras, for 6 p.m. Friday at the church’s social hall, 343 Via Mt. Carmel, Youngstown. “The event promotes the support and study of Italian language and culture in the Mahoning Valley,” reads a news release. Festival-goers can enjoy Italian cuisine and “specia...

In case you're unaware, Youngstown State University just dropped one of the most fundamental majors contributing to the education of our culture and heritage: Italian and Italian Education. I cannot begin to fathom that they would cut this when Youngstown was once thriving with 20-30,000 Italian immigrants in Briar Hill. Italians contributed to mak...

Bocce players throughout northeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania know about Cassese’s MVR in Youngstown. The landmark restaurant, with its covered outdoor courts and bar, is a glorious setting for the bowling game. Tournaments there draw players from several states. On the local side, The MVR’s 86-team league has matches every night. It’s likely...