Sitemap“If you build it, they will come,” a famous line from the 1989 “Field of Dreams” film starring Kevin Costner, might apply to Saturday’s inaugural Fall Fest along Mahoning Avenue on Youngstown’s West Side.
West Siders and other folks from near and far strolled along both sides of Mahoning between Steel Street and Milton Avenue wearing short sleeves soaking up the sunshine and friendly atmosphere, looking at the wares of a couple of dozen vendors and meeting neighbors and former West Siders.
The event included family-friendly activities, including an art sale, a dog-costume contest and mini pumpkins to paint, courtesy of the Garden District Neighborhood Association and other children’s activities sponsored by Lit Youngstown.
“This is a positive thing for the West Side,” said resident Elena Hanuschak, who was enjoying the day with friends, Carol Reed of Austintown, formerly of the West Side, and Gloria De Los Santos, a West Side resident.
“It’s nice to see the community do something like this,” Reed said.
“It’s a very nice event. I got to see several people I know,” De Los Santos added.
“It proves the stigma wrong. We want to be able to walk the streets. We want this type of event. It’s nice to have it in our neighborhood. This proves that as long as there is something to come to, they’ll come,” Hanuschak said.
The Fall Fest, which ran from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., was organized to show people the area’s social and business potential, said Councilman Mike Ray, D-4th, in whose ward the event took place.
Ray said the anchors of the area are the Sons of Italy Lodge, Kelly’s Bar and Grille, Casa Ramirez Mexican Restaurant and the Garden District Neighborhood Association.
“There are lots of hidden treasures here where people can get a burger or a taco or a beer,” he said, noting the day’s great weather and strong turnout.
Among the vendors were Fresh Prints, a custom silk-screening and vinyl-cutting business at 2903 Mahoning; Ashley’s Creative Crafting, featuring a lot of handmade Hallo- ween items made by Ashley Brumert, who can be contacted via email at AshleysCreativeCrafting@gmail.com; and Sally & Lorraine, owned by artist Sarah Fenton, who handcrafts wire-wrapped jewelry that she describes as “earthy.” She can be reached via email at SLFenton@gmail.com.
“We love the event,” said Katie Smith, a West Side resident who was looking at Fenton’s creations with her husband, Jim, and daughter, Iliana.
“I like it. We love it,” Jim said of the event.
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