Fall sneaks up fast—one minute you’re eating ice cream at Handel’s and having a spritz at Aqua Pazzo, the next you’re asking if it’s socially acceptable to wear a scarf indoors. The city wears the season like it’s built for it: brick streets, old theaters, corner cafés, and bars that have been pouring the same beer for decades. Some corners are unexpectedly cinematic—vintage arcades, quiet libraries, Poland Village—and here’s how to catch it while it’s here.
Morning: Start at Studio Oxygen with a friend or two for the 10:30 AM Power Yoga Basics class. Wear a matching workout set in maroon or brown—we’re leaning in with fall colors. Then head straight to the Mahoning Avenue Fall Fest (11 AM – 4 PM), right outside Trek Coffee House, where you can grab whatever autumn drink suits you best while wandering the fest in search of your next fall crewneck or a piece of vintage jewelry you didn’t know you needed. Since you’re already nearby, finish the morning with a lap through Mill Creek.
Afternoon into Evening: Head down to Noble Creature to catch their OkTrollberfest (12–10 PM). If you didn’t know, it’s a renovated church turned beer hall. The stained glass and high ceilings give it a touch of the dramatic—like Oktoberfest in a haunted chapel. They’ll have German beers, bratwurst, a stein-hoisting contest, and live music.
Morning: Start your day at Branch Street Coffee, where Youngstown’s most devoted caffeine drinkers will tell you it’s the finest cup in town. Order something autumnal—maybe a maple latte—and let it be a quiet ritual before heading into work.
Afternoon/Early Evening: As the workday winds down, slam your laptop shut and step away early—tonight deserves a proper start. Your first stop: Yosteria. Book an early reservation in advance—the backyard fills quickly on nights like this. Share the quattro formaggi pizza and order a round of Negronis (they’re some of the best). The energy here is warm and unpretentious, the perfect backdrop for a little pre-show revelry.
Evening: Then it’s off to the concert: John Mayer. Because if anyone’s voice feels like the soundtrack to the start of autumn, it’s his. The $75 lawn tickets are the move—bring a blanket or your chicest foldable lawn chairs (yes, they’re permitted). Sprawl out with friends and wait for the moment when Slow Dancing in a Burning Room begins to play.
Afternoon: Start at White House Fruit Farm around noon for the Fall Harvest Weekend. Live music on the lawn with James Marigotta, who will add a soundtrack to pumpkin-picking, gourds, and whatever else you can carry. Stroll the Fall Gift Barn, sip a cider or seasonal latte, make your own flower bouquet, and wander the seasonal vendors set up outside. Stand next to a pumpkin long enough to wonder if it’s auditioning for Carved: The Sequel (a killer pumpkin movie worth adding to your watchlist for a good laugh)—that’s enough autumn for one stroll.
Evening: Transition into night at Westside Bowl, where the whole place feels vintage. It’s like the set of a fall coming-of-age movie in the ’80s. The mid-century lanes, retro arcade, and neon signage make it feel like stepping back in time. Grab a couple of friends, order classic cocktails or a seasonal beer, and let the bowling pins fall. Whether you’re competing or cheering, the place has a warmth that feels perfectly in tune with fall—soooo nostalgic.
Morning: Wake up. Take a Barre class with Missy at 8:30 AM at Mega Barre in Poland to set the tone for the day. Then head home and throw on your best vintage crewneck, slouchy jeans, and Sambas or retro New Balances—because it is game day.
Early Afternoon: We’re headed downtown. On your way, stop at Culture Coffee House to grab your coffee and head to the Youngstown Flea (9 AM–3 PM).
Afterwards, head to either Varsity Club downtown—you’re already dressed warm enough to be outside on the lawn—or, if you want to head back to the suburbs, go to Steel Valley. Either way, get there before kickoff, order a pumpkin beer and something fried, and watch the men scream at the screen—it’s just general ambiance at this point.
Morning: Start with breakfast at one of your favorite diners—Thanos, What’s Cookin’, Frank’s Café, etc.—then step outside for the Pumpkin Spice Festival at The Freightyard (11 AM–4 PM), right outside Trek Coffee House. Check out the seasonal vendors, stroll the booths. Then Head to Mr. Darby’s after to round out the shopping day.
Evening: Dinner at Casa Di Canzonetta, ending with a round of espresso martinis. If you’re still in the mood, pop into V2 to close out the night.
Morning: Start your day in Mill Creek Park. Bring something from home—chai, coffee—and take an early walk along the trails. With the leaves at peak color this time, it’s the perfect start to the day.
Afternoon: Spend a few hours at the Arms Family Museum. If you didn’t know, it’s a 1905 Arts & Crafts–style mansion, now preserved as a museum. Walking through the stained glass windows, carved woodwork, and rooms lined with portraits from another century feels like stepping into a storybook. It has just enough grandeur—and just enough mystery—to be the perfect prelude to Halloween. You half-expect a velvet-draped figure from a gothic novel to appear at the top of the stairs.
Evening: Head to the Elm Road Triple Drive-In, where they are hosting their 11th annual Wicked Weekend at the Drive-In. Watching cult horror classics outdoors—framed by the neon marquee and the cooler October night—is a ritual that feels both retro and timeless, a little spooky and completely cinematic.
🍁🍂 THE BEST OF YOUNGSTOWN'S FALL CALENDAR 🍁🍂
Sept 6–Oct 26: Fall Harvest Weekends at White House
Sept 19–21: OkTrollberfest, Noble Creature
Sept 20: Fall Market on the Green
Sept 20: Mahoning Avenue Fall Fest
Sept 26: Autumn dinner at Fodor Tree Farms
Sept 26: John Mayer Concert
Sept 27–Oct 26: Fall Weekends at Molnar Farms
Oct 4: Youngstown Flea
Oct 11: Pumpkin Spice Festival, The Freightyard
Oct 12: Pumpkin Walk at Twilight, Fellows Riverside Gardens
Oct 17–18: Horror Wicked Weekend, Elm Road Triple Drive-In
Oct 24: Penguin City, Rocky Horror Picture Showing
Oct 25: Youngstown State Football Homecoming Parade & Game
This is Youngstown in fall—streets, bars, and corners that actually feel like the season. Go see it for yourself.