YOUNGSTOWN — Local author Thomas G. Welsh will discuss the history of local brewing with the Rotary Club of Youngstown at noon Wednesday at the Wick Park Pavilion, 260 Park Ave.

Welsh also will field questions during the club’s seventh annual Groundhog Craft Beerfest on Saturday at Stambaugh Auditorium, 1000 Fifth Ave. He will be stationed near a display of brewing-related artifacts in the Stambaugh ballroom.

The tri-county area experienced a wealth of local brewing before the Prohibition era began in 1920 and a dearth after Prohibition ended in 1933. The revival of craft brewing is the result of a “spirit of cooperation” among local brewers, Welsh said.

A professional writer and editor, Welsh completed his doctorate degree at Kent State University. His latest book is “The Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown: Serving the Mahoning Valley Since 1874,” which was released in 2024 during the Ursulines’ 150th anniversary. He also has written five other books, including “Classic Restaurants of Youngstown.”

Twenty-two area brewers and winemakers will offer tastings o during two sessions — 1 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. Food vendors and musical entertainment also will be featured.

General admission is $50. Preferred tickets are $100 and include access to an exclusive area featuring unique beers, charcuterie and special mugs from Steelite International.

Tickets can be purchased through the Stambaugh Auditorium box office by calling 330-259-0555 or visiting www.stambaughauditorium.com. The box office is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Tickets also are available from Youngstown Rotarians.

The Groundhog Craft Beerfest is the club’s largest annual fundraiser. Beerfest proceeds support a wide range of causes that strengthen the community and improve lives. Since the event’s inception in 2019, sponsors have enabled Rotary to award more than $130,000 in grants supporting education, social services and capital improvements.

The Rotary Club of Youngstown meets at noon Wednesdays at the Wick Park Pavilion. Prospective members are encouraged to attend and learn about the club, which will observe its 110th anniversary in February.

Founded in 1905, Rotary International is an organization of 33,000 worldwide clubs located in 200 countries. Rotary International is a global service organization whose purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. There are more than 1.2 million Rotarians worldwide.