The “Festival of Trees” began today as a part of the Frost & Lights holiday season at Fellows Riverside Gardens inside the Mill Creek MetroParks in Youngstown.
The festival includes 88 uniquely decorated trees created by local nonprofit organizations to help bring the excitement indoors for the winter season.
“So we’ve brought the beauty of the gardens inside to give the community something to do over the next month,” Jessica Jablonski, services manager at Fellows Riverside Gardens, said. “It’s a great family tradition, there’s lots of people who come back year after year.”
Festival of Trees is open December 7, 2025, to January 4, 2026
Tuesday through Friday: 10 a.m.to 5 p.m.
Saturdays & Sundays: until 7 p.m.
Closed: December 24, December 25 and January 1
The holiday season at Mill Creek also includes Holiday Nights at Lanterman’s Mill, a one-weekend-only event starting on Dec. 13 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The weekend will include Lanternman’s Mill decorated in garland as well as festive music and a visit from Santa Claus.
Also starting on Dec. 13 is a weekend of Festive Finds from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the park. Over 35 local vendors will fill the Davis Center with gift options, handmade items and seasonal treats.
On select Saturday and Sunday evenings—December 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28—Fellows Riverside Gardens will present Winter Nights, a free outdoor light experience from 5 to 7 p.m.
Winter Nights includes character appearances from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Character appearance schedule:
Elsa and Olaf on Sunday, December 7
Santa and The Grinch on Sunday, December 14
Bluey and Bingo on Sunday, December 21
https://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.png00Mill Creek MetroParks Staffhttps://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.pngMill Creek MetroParks Staff2025-12-09 13:39:072025-12-09 13:39:07‘Festival of Trees’ spruces up Fellows Riverside Gardens
Fellows Riverside Gardens is bringing back a 25-year-old tradition, kicking off the annual Frost and Lights event.
The holiday festivities run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
It includes nearly 100 trees displayed in the indoor galleries, each decorated by a different local business or organization.
“Everybody’s favorite thing is each one of the trees is live, and it’s hard to believe we can get that many live trees in the building. So I think everybody’s just amazed at the actual size of everything. You know, we’ve seen some other tree walks with smaller counts of trees, but to see 88 live trees is actually a lot,” said visitor service manager Jessia Jablonski.
They’ve also added some extra events on a few key dates, including character appearances, a craft market and a scavenger hunt in the gallery.
For those willing to brave the cold, event organizers say this year they’ve added more lights to their outdoor gardens than ever before.
The Frost and Lights event is open from now until Jan. 4.
https://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.png00Mill Creek MetroParks Staffhttps://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.pngMill Creek MetroParks Staff2025-12-09 13:37:372025-12-09 13:37:37Fellows Riverside Garden brings back Frost and Lights event
Mill Creek MetroParks is looking back at the capital improvements of the 2025 fiscal year and looking ahead at future endeavors.
Justin Rogers, Director of Planning and Operations at Mill Creek MetroParks, presented the year’s review during a Board of Park Commissioners meeting on Monday, December 8.
Some items of note in the presentation were improvements to the Slippery Rock Bridge, George L. Fordyce Park and the Lanterman’s Mill site.
The improvements to the Slippery Rock Bridge included work such as historic preservation, vehicle and pedestrian traffic and improved stormwater management. Additionally, several proposed improvements were discussed, including rehabilitated concrete sidewalks, waterproofing and decking.
For the year, the budget for annual improvements was $480,000, which was funded approximately 80% through a federal Transportation Alternatives Program grant.
Improvements made to the Lanterman’s Mill site included entrance and deck repair, temporary improvements to the upper dam and repairs to the East Gorge Boardwalk and Canfield Road steps.
The budget that was allotted for the improvements came to $10,000, which was 100% funded through Mill endowment funds.
Budgeted in the 2025 improvement plan for $220,000 were improvements to the George L. Fordyce Park, which Youngstown State University (YSU) students and volunteers recently planted trees within.
Accessibility and habitat improvements were outlined in the presentation, featuring an improved entry drive and parking lot with better accessibility and connectivity to the hiking trail network.
A Clean Ohio Conservation Fund grant helped pay for $155,000 of the project.
Overall, Rogers says that the year was a success, helping them achieve their goal of enhancing the parks.
“When we have a drive improvement project, or parking lots or trails, or managing stormwater in a different way, those impacts show to all of our park patrons [and] all of our park users and create a better, safer experience,” said Rogers.
https://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.png00Mill Creek MetroParks Staffhttps://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.pngMill Creek MetroParks Staff2025-12-09 13:34:522025-12-09 13:34:52Mill Creek MetroParks reflects on 2025 capital improvements
‘Festival of Trees’ spruces up Fellows Riverside Gardens
/in Media Coverage/by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffThe “Festival of Trees” began today as a part of the Frost & Lights holiday season at Fellows Riverside Gardens inside the Mill Creek MetroParks in Youngstown.
The festival includes 88 uniquely decorated trees created by local nonprofit organizations to help bring the excitement indoors for the winter season.
“So we’ve brought the beauty of the gardens inside to give the community something to do over the next month,” Jessica Jablonski, services manager at Fellows Riverside Gardens, said. “It’s a great family tradition, there’s lots of people who come back year after year.”
Festival of Trees is open December 7, 2025, to January 4, 2026
Tuesday through Friday: 10 a.m.to 5 p.m.
Saturdays & Sundays: until 7 p.m.
Closed: December 24, December 25 and January 1
The holiday season at Mill Creek also includes Holiday Nights at Lanterman’s Mill, a one-weekend-only event starting on Dec. 13 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The weekend will include Lanternman’s Mill decorated in garland as well as festive music and a visit from Santa Claus.
Also starting on Dec. 13 is a weekend of Festive Finds from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the park. Over 35 local vendors will fill the Davis Center with gift options, handmade items and seasonal treats.
On select Saturday and Sunday evenings—December 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28—Fellows Riverside Gardens will present Winter Nights, a free outdoor light experience from 5 to 7 p.m.
Winter Nights includes character appearances from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Character appearance schedule:
Elsa and Olaf on Sunday, December 7
Santa and The Grinch on Sunday, December 14
Bluey and Bingo on Sunday, December 21
Read the original article at WFMJ.
Fellows Riverside Garden brings back Frost and Lights event
/in Media Coverage/by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffFellows Riverside Gardens is bringing back a 25-year-old tradition, kicking off the annual Frost and Lights event.
The holiday festivities run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
It includes nearly 100 trees displayed in the indoor galleries, each decorated by a different local business or organization.
“Everybody’s favorite thing is each one of the trees is live, and it’s hard to believe we can get that many live trees in the building. So I think everybody’s just amazed at the actual size of everything. You know, we’ve seen some other tree walks with smaller counts of trees, but to see 88 live trees is actually a lot,” said visitor service manager Jessia Jablonski.
They’ve also added some extra events on a few key dates, including character appearances, a craft market and a scavenger hunt in the gallery.
For those willing to brave the cold, event organizers say this year they’ve added more lights to their outdoor gardens than ever before.
The Frost and Lights event is open from now until Jan. 4.
Read the original article at WKBN.
Mill Creek MetroParks reflects on 2025 capital improvements
/in Media Coverage/by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffMill Creek MetroParks is looking back at the capital improvements of the 2025 fiscal year and looking ahead at future endeavors.
Justin Rogers, Director of Planning and Operations at Mill Creek MetroParks, presented the year’s review during a Board of Park Commissioners meeting on Monday, December 8.
Some items of note in the presentation were improvements to the Slippery Rock Bridge, George L. Fordyce Park and the Lanterman’s Mill site.
The improvements to the Slippery Rock Bridge included work such as historic preservation, vehicle and pedestrian traffic and improved stormwater management. Additionally, several proposed improvements were discussed, including rehabilitated concrete sidewalks, waterproofing and decking.
For the year, the budget for annual improvements was $480,000, which was funded approximately 80% through a federal Transportation Alternatives Program grant.
Improvements made to the Lanterman’s Mill site included entrance and deck repair, temporary improvements to the upper dam and repairs to the East Gorge Boardwalk and Canfield Road steps.
The budget that was allotted for the improvements came to $10,000, which was 100% funded through Mill endowment funds.
Budgeted in the 2025 improvement plan for $220,000 were improvements to the George L. Fordyce Park, which Youngstown State University (YSU) students and volunteers recently planted trees within.
Accessibility and habitat improvements were outlined in the presentation, featuring an improved entry drive and parking lot with better accessibility and connectivity to the hiking trail network.
A Clean Ohio Conservation Fund grant helped pay for $155,000 of the project.
Overall, Rogers says that the year was a success, helping them achieve their goal of enhancing the parks.
“When we have a drive improvement project, or parking lots or trails, or managing stormwater in a different way, those impacts show to all of our park patrons [and] all of our park users and create a better, safer experience,” said Rogers.
Read the original article at WFMJ.