Things to do this Holiday with the Kids
CREATE!
From acrylics and watercolor paint to wooden signs and ceramic painting, Party Art Café & Studio on Main Street in Niles offers art classes for all ages. You can stop in during the studio’s open paint or ceramics nights, catch a storytime event for the little ones, or schedule a private class. You can even book a private event with a group of eight or more.
You can also check out Trumbull Art Gallery on Courthouse Square in Warren for classes like stained glass and pottery. Classes are typically geared toward adults but are also designed for beginners, so they can be perfect for older kids.
The main attraction at Busy Bees Pottery & Arts Studio at the Eastwood Mall is pottery painting. You can pick from a wide variety of figurines, mugs, plates, and more and paint with glazes of all colors of the rainbow. Busy Bees will fire the pottery for you – all you have to do is come back to pick it up! The art studio has plenty more to offer, too, including candle-making, glass painting, and mosaics.
LEARN!
Just because the kids are out of school doesn’t mean they need to take a break from learning. There are plenty affordable fun things to do at the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library. The library has locations in Brookfield, Cortland, Howland, Liberty, and Lordstown. The main branch on Mahoning Avenue in Warren recently underwent a stunning renovation and expansion – so there are practically endless books to read and plenty of space in which to read them! Each library has a children’s section and a teen space with computers. Check the library’s website for a list of activities, from story time to Lego club and teen parties!
The McKinley Memorial Library on North Main Street in Niles also has a great reading space and programs for kids and teens. Teen Scene Thursdays are from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., and children’s story times are on Tuesdays from 2 to 3 p.m.
OH WOW! I’m not just excited – it’s the name of the Mahoning Valley’s interactive STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) museum. Located on Central Square in Youngstown, OH, WOW’s team of edutainers and expanse of hands-on exhibits will keep the kids entertained for hours – and they’ll be having so much fun that kids won’t even realize they’re learning, too! Some exhibits include the Sound & Light Zone, Brain Power Zone, Earth & Weather Zone, MicroElectronics Lab, and the Sensory Sensitive Room.
WATCH!
Sure, everything is streaming these days, but there’s still something special about going out to the movies and getting one of those big buckets of buttery of popcorn. There’s no better place to do that than at Regal Boulevard Center at the Eastwood Mall. With more than a dozen screens, there’s plenty of movies to choose from.
If you’re raising a theatre kid – or are one yourself – Trumbull County’s local theatres, have you covered. Check out what’s on at the Kent Trumbull Theatre in Champion, and the Robins Theatre in downtown Warren. Not all shows are appropriate for kids – but plenty are!
MOVE!
Need to burn some energy? Or have you just always wondered what it’s like to (attempt to) flip into a giant pit of foam? Extreme Air trampoline park at the Eastwood Mall has that foam pit you’re looking for, plus two basketball lanes, two dodgeball courts, and plenty of room to jump on the main trampoline court. There’s even a “kids’ corner” for the little ones. It’s all indoors, so you’ll stay nice and warm, and adults can jump, too! Tip from a veteran bouncer: hold on to those trampoline socks so you can use them again when you come back to jump some more.
Trumbull County has some classic, affordable fun that the family won’t forget roller skating. Located on High Street, Cortland Skate is a fully renovated roller-skating rink with a 180-by-80-foot hardwood maple floor that’s perfect for doing laps and having lots of laughs! You can rent roller skates there and enjoy the DJ and party lights. Or, if your ankles aren’t what they used to be (mine sure aren’t) you can grab a bite from the snack bar and check out the retro arcade games – including my favorite game, skee ball.
This next one is a little weather-dependent, but nothing says winter fun like sled riding. Eastlake MetroPark on Mecca Street in Cortland is a designated sled hill with a great incline and plenty of room to keep on going…and going…and going. Another less official but popular sledding spot is Packard Park in Warren.
The Turkey Run Trail in Cortland offers wonderful opportunities for kids to explore the beauty of nature during the holidays. The trail is perfect for all ages and skill levels and offers a great outdoor experience for the whole family. Kids can enjoy hiking, observing wildlife, and taking photographs. All for free!