By Christine Wells
Art
Mt. Lebanon Artist Market Saturday and Sunday, September 21-22, 10 am – 9 pm, Academy Avenue. Over 60 artist will sell their creations in this juried arts market open from 10 am to 5 pm. Following the market, the “pARTy” will be held from 6 pm to 9 pm, featuring live music and tastings by Grey Goose, Country Hammer Moonshine and Hitchhiker Brewing Co. and food trucks offerings.
5th Annual Etna Art Tour, Saturday, September 21, 6 pm – 9 pm, Butler Street between Bridge and Freeport streets. Before next week’s Downtown Cultural District Gallery Crawl (Sept. 27), check out this art crawl in Etna. This open street festival will allow participants to get a more intimate look at the studios of several artists and three art galleries. Street activities will also give you the chance to get your own creative juices flowing with opportunities to screenprint posters, paint your own creation and more. Four bands will fill the street with music, too.
Performance
Steel City Improv Festival, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 19 -22, 2 stages, 150+ performers from Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, Boston and more will descend on the ‘Burgh for four days of hilarity. Friday and Saturday nights’ performances will be held at the Bricolage Theater (937 Liberty Ave., $15 night pass). and Sunday you can give your funny bone a workout at the Improv Theater (5950 Ellsworth Ave., $10 night pass.)
Highmark Blues & Heritage Festival, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 20 – 21, August Wilson African American Cultural Center, 980 Liberty Avenue. Join this great night of the blues! Outdoor concerts with Grammy-nominated performers shine in Downtown Pittsburgh with food trucks, craft beer garden, and outdoor bar. Cece Winans (Sat. 8pm) and harmonica player/singer Charlie Musselwhite (Sun., 8 pm) headline with a host of eight other outstanding performers.
Broadway Musical Bingo, Friday, September 20, 7 pm – 9 pm, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Trust Arts Education Center, 807 Liberty Avenue, $20. Think “Name that Tune” meets Bingo meets Broadway! This game of bingo is sure to be fun and entertaining with drag queen hostesses Amneeja Schnackernmuff and Dixie Surewood. Bingo cards will have the titles of songs in the blocks, and instead of calling bingo numbers, 10 second clips of Broadway songs will be played. Live performances, drinks, food and bingo bragging rights will make it a night unlike your grandma’s bingo nights.
Brews and Bites
Aspinwall Craft Beer Crawl, Saturday, September 21, 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm,, tickets $35 -$40 Stroll and sip your way through the quaint neighborhood of Aspinwall in this brew crawl’s inaugariual year. Thirteen breweries will be offering participants tastes of their brews at various merchant locations throughout the Aspinwall business district. Check in at the Aspinwall Borough Building (217 Commercial Ave.), where participants can get their wristbands, crawl map and event glassware. Cheers!
Brews in the Park, Saturday, September 21, 3 pm – 7 pm, Kennywood, 4800 Kennywood Drive, West Mifflin, Tickets: $37.99 – $40.99 (21+ event). 100 beers from brewers such as Troeg’s, Magic Hat, Great Lakes and many, many more will be available for sampling at the historic amusement park. Food trucks will add to the traditional Kennywood food offerings. Arrive early and take advantage of the “Before The Pours” bonus ride time and jump on a couple of coasters from 1 pm to 3 pm before the taps start flowing. Better to ride before the belly gets full!!
Pittsburgh Mac and Cheese Festival, Saturday, September 21, 12 pm – 8:30 pm, Highmark Stadium, 510 W. Station Square Drive. The ultimate comfort food will take center stage at this festival, featuring food trucks, craft beer, wine, cider and vendors. Two sessions are offered one for lunch at 12:30 pm and the other at 5:30 pm for the dinner crowd. Over 30 varieties of the cheesy deliciousness will be offered and tickets also include a complimentary drink from a beer, wine and cider vendor to wash it all down. Elias Khouri, as well as acoustic trio Right Turn Clyde will provide the musical backdrop. Tickets $20 -$40.
Fall Festivities
Oktoberfest at Federal Galley, Saturday, September 21, 11 am – 4 pm, 200 Children’s Way, Northside, Tickets: $15. Grab your liederhousen and take part in a traditional German Oktoberfest. Festivities will include live traditional German music and beer steins. Costumes are encouraged! Raise a glass and toast the autumn splendor!
Hartwood Acres Hay Day and Family Green Fest, Saturday, September 21, 12 pm – 4 pm, Hartwood Acres Amphitheater, 4070 Middle Road, Allison Park . Spend the day at Hartwood Acres for some family-friendly, fall fun! Free hay rides, maze, petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, bounce houses and more will provide plenty of fun for the kiddos; while food trucks and Hop Farm Brewery will help keep adults content. Woodchuckers Axe Throwing will also be on hand for adults interested in taking a try at axe throwing for a nominal fee. In addition, over 20 organizations and vendors, including BikePGH and Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse, will help educate and inform festival goers on how to be friendlier to our environment this fall and throughout the year.
