Youngstown State University’s Penguin Productions is moving Federal Frenzy from Federal Street to Facebook.

Saturday’s daylong music and arts festival, which drew 6,000 people last year, was one of the many casualties of the COVID-19 virus and YSU’s decision to close the campus and move classes online. Instead of scrapping the event entirely, Penguin Productions decided to move as many aspects of the event as they could online to create a virtual Frenzy.

“This wasn’t our intent for the event,” Operations Lead Sarah Dubos said. “We’ve been planning since October having it on Federal Street. Obviously, that can’t happen, so we’re trying to celebrate it, make do the best we can … All of these people were going to be involved to be part of something and advertise themselves and bring the community together.”

The virtual Frenzy runs today through Sunday. YSU Penguin Productions will be posting to all of its social media accounts, but Facebook will be the primary site.

Details still were being confirmed earlier this week, but at least four acts — Shelby Olive, 8 p.m. Friday; Dave Buker & the Historians, 9 p.m. Friday; Nick Adduci, 8 p.m. Saturday; and Frank Toncar, 9 p.m. Saturday– will be doing Facebook Live performances.

“Throughout the day we’ll be posting links to videos that bands have sent us,” Dubos said. “It won’t be live, but it will still be an opportunity to showcase their talents.”

Those acts include Big Blitz, Candace Campana, Fifth & Aurora, GRIZZZLY, Northern Whale, Ohio Weather Band, Shultz & the IC, Where’s Winona Now and the YSU Contemporary Ensemble.

Sponsors, vendors and others involved with the event will be spotlighted throughout the weekend.

Dubos, a senior, admitted this isn’t how she envisioned her last hurrah with Penguin Productions. She told someone the only thing that would make it better is if the weather was lousy on Saturday. She may get her wish. The current forecast calls for a 40 percent chance of showers during the day and 60 percent chance Saturday night.

“It definitely is sad and frustrating,” she said. “It’s comforting, I guess, to know we’re not the only people going through this. I’m glad we have the opportunity to use some of the work we’ve put in.

“I hope that it’s able to accomplish what the actual event would have — bringing people together to celebrate Youngstown and the businesses and talent we have here and just send out something positive. We need it now more than we ever have.”

agray@tribtoday.com