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They say there’s no place like home for the holidays – and it’s true. With extended families scattered across the country, the holidays are a time when friends and family come home to Trumbull County, and you need to be prepared with ideas!
Here is your guide to the holidays in Trumbull County for visiting friends and family…from a local!
The first thing that comes to mind, of course, is food. The kind of food you can only find in Trumbull County. Some classics include a sub from Sub Stop in Newton Falls, Sunrise Inn’s pizza and peppers, and The Hot Dog Shoppe (with the cheese fries, duh).
But there are plenty more good eats in the county. You’ll have to track down some pepperoni rolls, Italian and Greek pastries, wedding soup, and local sauce while you’re in town. (If you’re flying, check a bag – some of these are NOT carry-on items – believe me, I know!)
“Where do we go to look at some pretty holiday lights?!”
The next thing? Check out the holiday lights! Warren’s Courthouse Square twinkles all through December and into the new year thanks to the efforts of the community and local non-profits. And it’s not the only spot in the county to find great holiday displays. Most Trumbull County communities have started holding tree lightings.
If you’re looking for a true Hallmark moment, you might just find it in Newton Falls! The downtown shopping area has truly united to create the most beautiful, holiday district you could imagine. And no day highlights their efforts better than their annual Christmas in the Falls event!
“All eighteen of my visiting cousins want to go out for drinks with me…where should we go?”
Modern Methods Brewing Company in downtown Warren (located in Dave Grohl Alley) is a favorite watering hole for locals and often has live bands and other fun, themed events thanks to their creative team. Other bars where you’ll likely discover familiar faces include Barrel 33 and Leon’s in Howland; Buena Vista Cafe, The Darlene Lounge and Urban Tap in Warren; Station Square or Shakers in Liberty; The 1547 Project in Cortland; and The Five 4’s Distillery in Newton Falls – just to name a few.
But for many, The Grand Resort is an ideal hangout spot between their many bars, wine cellar, cigar lounge, and excellent Christmas decorations. Visiting friends and family will love every room! The longer anyone is away, the more they tend to realize there are some things in our small towns of Trumbull that truly cannot be replaced.
“The holidays are for shopping! Where should we spend and shop local?”
If you’re visitors miss having Amish Country in their backyard, they’ll love going for a wintery drive to visit End of the Commons General Store in Mesopotamia. Heading north from Warren, you can swing past Mosquito Lake State Park, which looks lovely in the winter and will ice over for ice fishers if it gets cold enough! Enjoy the charm of passing by horse-and-buggies along the way to the store and, when you get to End of the Commons, two items are on the must-buy list: Amish fry pies and saltwater taffy.
For those who grew up in the midwest, malls are a staple for shopping and social interaction. And lucky for us, we have the largest mall complex in the country! The Eastwood Mall Complex covers over 3.4 million square feet in Niles, OH, and is home to more than 200 retailers, restaurants, hotels and more. Shop local at Coral Rose, grab some sweets from Daffins, or just mall walk with your friends like the good old days!
Looking to shop local all across the county? Check out our shop local list here!
“It’s been a while! What’s new in Trumbull County?”
Change is a good thing, and we’ve seen a lot of it! One awesome new business that opened just in time for the holidays is Pearl Street Market. A Cortland home featuring a curated mix from local artisans, vintage collectors, and creative vendors. All sharing a passion for timeless treasures and handcrafted finds. Other band new neighbors in the county include The Dink Yard in the Eastwood Mall, Frank’s Cafe and Sweet Melissa’s in Howland, and Whiskey & Wool in Kinsman.
Along with all of these fun, new businesses, we’ve also seen some amazing economic growth in the county. Kimberly-Clark Corporation has purchased land in Warren to build an $800M paper manufacturing facility as well as a $160M distribution center over the next few years. We’ve also seen the start of an Amazon warehouse being built on a 61-acre parcel of land in Bazetta and the finishing touches placed on the new diverging diamond interchange along State Route 46 in Howland. And that’s just to name a few!
So, if you’re coming back to Trumbull County after time away or you’re looking for a new holiday destination for your visiting family and friends, trust us locals…there’s plenty to do this winter in Trumbull County!
