Summer Festival of the Arts is going back to school … as in back to Youngstown State University.

The annual arts festival, now in its 27th year, started as Walk on Wick, and then its artist market, performance areas and food vendors filled the walkways of the tree-lined campus.

That’s where it returns after four years at Wean Park downtown.

Shannon Tirone, associate vice president of university relations, and Katie Merrill, coordinator of community engagement and events, said it was President Bill Johnson’s idea to bring the event back to YSU.

“He tapped two of us, myself and Katie, and said, ‘Would you be willing to explore the possibility with campus entities to bring it back, and can we do it as early as next year?’ Katie and I both said yes on the spot at that meeting, and the rest is history,” Tirone said.

Both stressed it was a desire to return to campus and showcase its assets and not dissatisfaction with the park, which is owned by the city and operated by JAC Management, that led to the move.

“We’ve got a little bit of shade now,” Merrill said. “While the space is beautiful and amazing for concerts, three days in an open space becomes a lot when you’re there for that many hours.”

As it did in the past, the festival will utilize the university’s resources. Ward Beecher Planetarium will have free programs every hour on the hour. The Melnick Medical Museum in Cushwa Hall and the Clarence R. Smith Mineral Museum in Moser Hall both will have weekend hours. Those buildings also will provide a break from the heat and indoor bathrooms.

“The Smith Minerals Museum, which I think is, no pun intended, a true gem on this campus, but not a lot of people have maybe gone to,” Tirone said. “So I think it’s going to be great to be able to do that.”

Nearby attractions like the Butler Institute of American Art and the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor will be open both days, and the McDonough Museum of Art will have Saturday hours.

Summer Festival of the Arts won’t look exactly like it did in 2019, the last time it was at YSU.

With ongoing construction at Kilcawley Center, they tweaked the layout of the event.

Attendees now will be encouraged to park in the campus lots along Fifth Avenue near Stambaugh Stadium, which will provide more direct access to the event than using the Wick Avenue parking deck.

Food trucks will be onsite to feed visitors.

“We had food trucks last year at Wean Park, and I thought it worked really well, and people really seemed to like the food aspect,” Tirone said. “We were able to take that aspect of what we were doing at Wean Park and bring it to campus.”

The Food Ave. set up behind Maag Library will feature Bartell’s Take on Tokyo House, Hoover Concessions, Kettle Korn, PaPa Gelateria, Roxbury Pizza, Sauceeino and Tra’s Gourmet Sandwiches.

More than 60 artists from several states will be selling and displaying their work. Some, like Willie Duck and Bob Barko Jr., have been a part of the event for decades, but Merrill said there are several first-time participants this year.

Two entertainment stages will feature a variety of acts, including local favorites such as JD Eicher (who has played the festival many times at both locations), Leanne Binder, Chris Higbee and the Gary Markasky Project.

“JD Eicher, the moment that the press release went out and said that it was coming back to campus, he was probably one of the first emails that came in, ‘Yeah, I want to play. I want to be back on campus,'” Tirone said.

The second stage will feature arts-oriented performances showcasing such groups as Ballet Western Reserve, Millennial Theatre Company, Hopewell Theatre and Youngstown Playhouse and Playhouse Youth Theatre.

SMARTS will have hands-on activities and art projects for children, and Youngstown CityScape will provide chalk for anyone who wants to participate in Chalk the Walk.

“Whether you’re 72 or 17 or 7, we’re going to have bags of chalk for you to create your own little masterpiece,” Tirone said.

When Tirone and Merrill took time to talk about this year’s SFA on Tuesday, there still was plenty of work to do, but they also had their sights set on the future.

“Katie and I are very excited for load-in day on Friday, but we’ve already got the short list for next year, for 2027 and beyond,” Tirone said. “We really believe that bringing this back to campus just opens it up for more and more opportunities and collaboration.”

If you go …

WHAT: Summer Festival of the Arts

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Youngstown State University. Those attending are encouraged to park in the tailgate lots off Fifth Avenue instead of the Wick Avenue parking deck due to construction around Kilcawley Center

HOW MUCH: Admission is free. For more information go to sfa.ysu.edu

SATURDAY SCHEDULE

• 10 a.m. — Indie Bob (Stage 1) and Fitch Concert Choir (Stage 2)

• 11 a.m. — Tundra Tuxedo (Stage 1) and Millennial Theatre Company (Stage 2)

• Noon — Hopewell Theatre (Stage 2)

• 1 p.m. — Gary Markasky Project (Stage 1) and Ballet Western Reserve (Stage 2)

• 2 p.m. — Youngstown Playhouse Youth Theatre (Stage 2)

• 3 p.m. — Youngstown Playhouse (Stage 2)

• 4 p.m. — Youngstown Area Community Concert Band (Stage 2)

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

• 11 a.m. — Brian Bonhomme (Stage 1)

• Noon — Leanne Binder (Stage 1) and Rachell Joy-Tupaj (Stage 2)

• 1 p.m. — Chris Higbee (Stage 1)

• 3 p.m. — JD Eicher (Stage 1)