Staff report

After years of Christmas merchandise and music creeping earlier and earlier into autumn, the fall revelers are fighting back.

This weekend at Penguin City Brewing Company, 460 E. Federal St., Youngstown, will be the first Holiday Haunt with the brewery working in partnership with Nightmare in Niles, Dead Ink Apparel and Rebel Rescue Ranch.

The Pollock Ballroom at Penguin City will be transformed into a chillingly festive maze of holiday horror with eerie holiday decor, sinister surprises and spine-tingling encounters that blend Halloween chills with Christmas cheer.

According to Penguin City co-owner Aspasia Lyras Bernacki, “In recent years, Halloween has been slowly creeping into Christmas, creating a growing fanbase for spooky holiday mashups. With a large-scale Holiday Haunt already drawing crowds in Columbus, we wanted to bring that same eerie festive fun right here to Youngstown.”

In addition to the maze, the event will feature local vendors, dark holiday vibes and a special appearance by Krampus.

Vendor hours are 7 p.m. to midnight today and Saturday.

Admission to the Pollock Ballroom maze is $5, and proceeds will benefit Rebel Rescue Ranch.

A kid-friend maze experience with no scare actors will be available during Sunday brunch. For more information, go to penguincity.beer.