The Youngstown area has 2 Christmas events for kids we could confirm for the 2026 season, from Memories of Christmas Past in Youngstown on November 14 to Downtown Youngstown Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting in Youngstown, on November 28. 1 of them is free, and every listing links straight to the host. It is one stop on our guide to Christmas events for kids in Ohio, part of our guide for every state.
The short version
- 2 kids’ Christmas events confirmed in Youngstown for 2026, in Youngstown
- First: Memories of Christmas Past, Youngstown, November 14. Runs latest: Memories of Christmas Past, Youngstown, through December 31
- Free: Downtown Youngstown Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting
- Checked on each host’s own page; each listing links straight to it
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Christmas events for kids in Youngstown
2 confirmed events for kids in Youngstown, soonest first.
Santa visit
Memories of Christmas Past
- When: Saturday, November 14, 2026 to Thursday, December 31, 2026 (Tue to Sun noon to 4 pm; December Saturdays noon to 7 pm), noon to 4 pm
- Where: Arms Family Museum of Local History, Youngstown
- Cost: $8 children ages 3 to 18, $10 adults, free under 3
- Ages: All ages
Details, tips and host
Memories of Christmas Past is the Mahoning Valley Historical Society's holiday exhibition at the Arms Family Museum, running November 14 through December 31, 2026. This is the 18th season, and the 2026 centerpiece is White Christmas: The Exhibition, with costumes and artifacts from the films White Christmas and Holiday Inn.
Younger visitors can explore Santa's Village and Workshop, nativities from around the world, a Jack Frost winter scene, a 19th century Christmas and the Crystal Tree. The Hands-On-History Room is also decorated for Christmas. Children ages 3 to 18 pay $8, adults $10, and children under 3 are free. Admission is $1 with a SNAP EBT card.
Parent tip: Bring one canned good between Nov 14 and 22 for $1 off admission. December Saturdays have extended hours until 7 pm.
- Host
- Mahoning Valley Historical Society (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Arms Family Museum of Local History, 648 Wick Ave, Youngstown, OH 44502
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Holiday paradeFree
Downtown Youngstown Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting
- When: Saturday, November 28, 2026
- Where: Downtown Youngstown, Youngstown
- Cost: Free
- Ages: All ages
Details, tips and host
Explore Mahoning's 2026 holiday guide says the Downtown Youngstown Holiday Parade and community tree lighting now take place on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which is November 28. The page does not list a start time, so check the organizers before you go.
The night includes floats, marching bands and performers, followed by the tree lighting. Nearby, the Flea on Phelps offers shopping and food, and Santa's Workshop at OH WOW! Children's Center offers children's activities and free photos with Santa. In 2025 the parade began at 6 pm and ended with Santa, and the tree lighting followed at about 7:15 pm.
Parent tip: Times were not posted when we checked. Last year OH WOW! offered free admission from 3 to 6 pm on parade day.
- Host
- Youngstown CityScape and Downtown Youngstown Partnership (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Downtown Youngstown, Federal Plaza, Youngstown, OH 44503
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Look inside the book
Story time with Santa in Youngstown? Bring Rally home.
Rally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. It makes a cozy bedtime story after a big day with Santa. Turn a few pages here.
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Every event above was confirmed on the host’s own page, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (sign-ups, ages, what is included). Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our Ohio Christmas train rides page.
Youngstown Christmas events for kids at a glance
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 2 confirmed for 2026
- Cities
- Youngstown
- Season
- November 14 to December 31, 2026
- Free events
- 1
- Kinds of events
- Santa visit and holiday parade
- Last checked
See every event on a December calendar
Plan your December
When each Youngstown Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Memories of Christmas Past in Youngstown on November 14; the last runs to November 28. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Memories of Christmas PastYoungstown · Nov 14 to Dec 31
- Downtown Youngstown Holiday Parade and Tree LightingYoungstown · Nov 28
Looking further afield? Our Ohio Christmas events for kids guide lists every confirmed event in the state, and we have city guides for Cincinnati, Columbus, OH, Cleveland, Dayton, Akron, Toledo, Canton and Hamilton. The national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first ride on a California train, hand-painted in watercolor. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon2026 Christmas events are coming in late November
More Christmas events arrive in late November: unlock the list and we'll email you as soon as we confirm them.
The story of Christmas in Youngstown
In Youngstown, Christmas begins with a parade that ends with Santa and a downtown tree lighting. Across town, an old museum has hosted its Memories of Christmas Past exhibit for 18 seasons, with a Crystal Tree and a Santa's Village.
How Youngstown celebrates
Youngstown's Christmas season starts downtown with a holiday parade and community tree lighting, organized by the City of Youngstown, Youngstown CityScape and the Downtown Youngstown Partnership. Santa closes the parade, and nearby the OH WOW! Children's Center opens Santa's Workshop with free photos. Indoors, the Arms Family Museum has hosted Memories of Christmas Past for 18 seasons, with nativities, a Crystal Tree and a Santa's Village for young visitors. In 2026 the parade and tree lighting are listed for the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Christmas last year in Youngstown
The 2025 holiday kickoff ran from December 4 to 7. On Friday, December 5, the parade started at 6 pm and ended with Santa, and the community tree lighting followed at about 7:15 pm. Santa's Workshop at the Children's Center ran from 3 to 8 pm with free photos with Santa until 6, and admission to OH WOW! was free from 3 to 6. The Flea on Phelps had more than 75 vendors. On Saturday the 14th annual Santa Shuffle ran from the Draught House, and the Ward Beecher Planetarium held a matinee with Mr. Freep.
Fun facts about Christmas in Youngstown
Memories of Christmas Past puts a Crystal Tree, a Jack Frost winter scene and a Hands-On-History Room dressed for Christmas inside the Arms Family Museum. Its 2026 exhibit features costumes from the films White Christmas and Holiday Inn. Mill Creek MetroParks hosts a Winter Celebration with decorated trees at Fellows Riverside Gardens, and a past schedule listed more than 75 decorated trees at its Festival of Trees. Ballet Western Reserve performs The Nutcracker each December, and Lanterman's Mill hosts a free Christmas at the Mill with handcrafted gifts.
Trains and Christmas near Youngstown
Youngstown's holiday traditions are mostly downtown and in its museums, but trains are an easy day trip. Jefferson Depot Village centers on an 1872 Lake Shore and Michigan Southern depot saved by volunteers two weeks before demolition. The Conneaut Railroad Museum sits in a 1900 depot with a climb-in caboose, an HO model railroad and more than 50 CSX trains passing each day, though it runs in summer. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad offers a holiday North Pole Adventure.
- Jefferson Depot Village: An 1872 depot anchors a village of restored buildings where costumed guides lead tours.
- Conneaut Railroad Museum: A climb-in caboose and an HO model railroad, with more than 50 CSX trains passing daily.
- Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad: Vintage trains through Cuyahoga Valley National Park, with a holiday North Pole Adventure.
Traditions today
- Downtown Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting: Floats, bands and Santa, followed by the community tree lighting in downtown Youngstown.
- Santa's Workshop at OH WOW!: The Children's Center offers Santa's Workshop with free photos with Santa on parade night.
- Memories of Christmas Past: The Arms Family Museum's holiday exhibit, now in its 18th year, with Santa's Village and a Crystal Tree.
- Winter Celebration at Fellows Riverside Gardens: Decorated trees and festive displays inside Mill Creek MetroParks.
- The Nutcracker: Ballet Western Reserve brings Clara's Christmas Eve adventure to the stage each December.
A fact for kids
In Youngstown, a museum has a tree made of crystal. The Crystal Tree is part of Memories of Christmas Past at the Arms Family Museum, which has been decorating for Christmas for 18 seasons.
Questions about Christmas in Youngstown
How does Youngstown start its Christmas season?
Youngstown starts its season downtown with a holiday parade and community tree lighting. The City of Youngstown, Youngstown CityScape and the Downtown Youngstown Partnership organize it. In 2025 it kicked off on Friday, December 5, with the Flea on Phelps and Santa's Workshop nearby. For this year's schedule, see our Youngstown Christmas events guide on this page.
When is the Youngstown holiday parade in 2026?
Explore Mahoning's 2026 holiday guide says the downtown parade and tree lighting move to the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which is November 28, though it gave no time. In 2025 the parade started at 6 pm on a Friday. Our Youngstown Christmas events guide on this page lists the confirmed details for this season.
Does Santa appear in the Youngstown parade?
Yes, the 2025 parade ended with a Santa Claus appearance, and the community tree lighting followed at about 7:15 pm. Families could also visit Santa's Workshop at the OH WOW! Children's Center, which had free photos with Santa until 6 pm, so kids who missed him on the street could still say hello.
What is OH WOW! in downtown Youngstown?
OH WOW! is the Children's Center at 15 Central Square in downtown Youngstown. On parade night in 2025 it hosted Santa's Workshop from 3 to 8 pm, with free photos with Santa until 6 pm, and admission was free from 3 to 6 pm. It is a good warm stop before the parade starts.
What is the Flea on Phelps?
The Flea on Phelps is a shopping and food market held near the downtown parade. In 2025 more than 75 vendors took part on parade night, Friday, December 5. A separate Holiday Flea at 365 E. Boardman St. ran on Saturday and Sunday that weekend, so families had more to browse after the parade.
What is Memories of Christmas Past?
Memories of Christmas Past is the Mahoning Valley Historical Society's holiday exhibition at the Arms Family Museum, 648 Wick Ave. The 2026 season is the 18th and runs November 14 through December 31. It turns the historic museum into a celebration of Christmas sights, stories and traditions, including a Santa's Village and Workshop for younger visitors.
What can kids see at the Arms Family Museum at Christmas?
Kids can visit Santa's Village and Workshop, see nativities from around the world, spot a Jack Frost winter scene and look at the Crystal Tree. A 19th century Christmas display shows how families celebrated long ago, and the Hands-On-History Room is transformed into a Christmas-themed space for younger visitors.
What is the 2026 theme of Memories of Christmas Past?
The 2026 centerpiece is White Christmas: The Exhibition, with original costumes and artifacts connected to Irving Berlin's song and the films Holiday Inn and White Christmas. The display includes pieces linked to Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney. Younger visitors still have Santa's Village and the hands-on room to explore.
How much does Memories of Christmas Past cost?
In 2026 admission is $8 for children ages 3 to 18, $10 for adults and $9 for seniors and college students with ID, while toddlers under 3 are free. Visitors with a SNAP EBT card pay $1. Bringing a canned good between November 14 and 22 takes $1 off admission.
What is the Santa Shuffle in Youngstown?
The Santa Shuffle is a Saturday downtown holiday event that reached its 14th year in 2025. It ran from 10 am to 5 pm from the Draught House and cost $10, benefiting a local charity. The holiday weekend around it has other family stops, from the planetarium to the museum.
Is there a planetarium holiday show in Youngstown?
Yes. The Ward Beecher Planetarium has held holiday sky shows in December. In 2025 a family matinee at 2 pm on Saturday, December 6, toured the winter sky with Mr. Freep, and Santa made an appearance there. A past schedule also listed shows named Let It Snow! and The Alien Who Stole Christmas.
Where can kids see Christmas lights in Youngstown?
Mill Creek MetroParks hosts Winter Celebration at Fellows Riverside Gardens, with decorated trees and festive displays, and a past schedule listed Winter Nights with light displays. Boardman Park offers Holiday Lights viewed from your vehicle. Our Youngstown Christmas events guide on this page has the confirmed dates for this season.
What is the Winter Celebration Festival of Trees?
It is a holiday display at the Davis Education and Visitor Center at Fellows Riverside Gardens in Mill Creek MetroParks. A past schedule listed over 75 decorated trees, with hours that varied by date. It is a bright, indoor way to see Christmas trees without the cold, and kids can look for their favorites.
Is there a Nutcracker in Youngstown?
Yes. Ballet Western Reserve performs The Nutcracker each December in Youngstown, and in 2025 the weekend included performances on Saturday evening and a Sunday matinee at 2:30 pm. The ballet follows Clara's Christmas Eve adventure; a full ballet is a long show, so it may suit children who can sit still for a while.
What is Christmas at the Mill?
Christmas at the Mill takes place at Lanterman's Mill in Mill Creek Park. Explore Mahoning lists it as free, with handcrafted gifts, seasonal entertainment and fire-roasted chestnuts, and says Santa may be spotted. It is a stop for families who like a historic setting.
Where can kids meet Santa in the Youngstown area?
Kids can meet Santa at the downtown parade and at Santa's Workshop at OH WOW!, where photos with Santa were free until 6 pm in 2025. Santa also visits Southern Park Mall in Boardman, according to Explore Mahoning. Check our Youngstown Christmas events guide on this page for this year's confirmed times.
How can I explain Memories of Christmas Past to a young child?
Tell your child that the old Arms Family Museum puts on its Christmas clothes every year. It has a Santa's Village, a sparkly Crystal Tree, nativities from around the world and a hands-on room, so they can see how Christmas looked in the past. Pointing out the Jack Frost scene is a fun game.
Are there train museums near Youngstown?
Yes. Jefferson Depot Village is anchored by an 1872 Lake Shore and Michigan Southern depot, and the Conneaut Railroad Museum has a 1900 depot with a climb-in caboose. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad runs vintage trains through the national park. Check each website for winter hours before you go.
Is there a holiday train near Youngstown?
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, a nonprofit excursion railroad running vintage trains through Cuyahoga Valley National Park, offers a holiday North Pole Adventure. It is a drive from Youngstown, between Independence and Akron, so check dates and tickets before planning. Confirm availability early.
What are the main family stops for Christmas in Youngstown?
Families can start downtown with the parade and tree lighting, where the OH WOW! Children's Center opens Santa's Workshop on parade night. The Arms Family Museum has staged Memories of Christmas Past for 18 seasons, and Mill Creek MetroParks offers Winter Celebration and Christmas at the Mill. Together they give families both city and park traditions.
Sources
- The Best Holiday Events in the Youngstown Area, Explore Mahoning
- Downtown Youngstown Set for a Full Weekend of Holiday Events, Regional Chamber
- Memories of Christmas Past, Mahoning Valley Historical Society
- Holiday-themed shows, activities for Youngstown, Warren, Metro Monthly
- Jefferson Depot Village, Rally Takes the Train
- Conneaut Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Rally Takes the Train
Youngstown Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What are the best Christmas events for kids in Youngstown this year?
We confirmed 2 for the 2026 season, and 1 of them are free. Good places to start: Memories of Christmas Past (Nov 14 to Dec 31) and Downtown Youngstown Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting (Nov 28). Every event on this page has the times, the cost and a link to the host.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in Youngstown?
Yes, 1 of the 2. Some free events still need a reservation, so check the listing before you go.
Where can kids meet Santa in Youngstown?
2 events here include a visit with Santa. Bring your own camera; most visits allow photos.
Is anything on for kids in Youngstown on Christmas Eve or after Christmas?
Yes. Memories of Christmas Past runs through Dec 31.
Do we need tickets or reservations?
For 1 of the 2 events, yes: they sell tickets or ask you to sign up ahead. Meals with Santa and ticketed shows fill up first. Most library and park events are walk-in, and each listing says which is which.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids in Youngstown?
Yes, but they have their own guide. Santa trains and holiday train rides are listed in our Youngstown Christmas train rides guide, so this page sticks to story times, Santa visits and other events off the rails.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 4, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.