5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Sept. 15-17
We’ve made it to the middle of September. Here are some ways to spend this weekend.
Rocktoberfest
Beers of the Burgh and Zero Fossil Energy are teaming up for Rocktoberfest from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Town Square in SouthSide Works.
The music festival features live music on two stages, craft beer, cocktails, food and dancing.
Participating breweries include Old Thunder, Fermata, Levity and Inner Groove. Other beverage options are Wild Basin hard seltzer and Captain Morgan cocktails.
Admission is free, but guests can purchase a sampling pass for $10 that will get them one 5-ounce pour from each of the breweries and a sample of Wild Basin hard seltzer.
Details: beersoftheburgh.com
Drag concert
Pittsburgh’s drag concert series “Be Gay [Do Crime]: RUSH WEEK” is happening Friday at Mr. Smalls Theatre in Millvale.
Be Gay [Do Crime] is a charitable production company whose mission is to create safe, fun spaces for 18+ queer collegiate youth in Pittsburgh. It is focused on creating an LGBTQIA+ inclusive college nightlife.
Presented by Pittsburgh-based drag performer Miss Demeanor and the venue, the pyro-technicolor house party follows Miss Demeanor as she kicks off her final year of college by enlisting the help of her fellow drag entertainers to throw the frat part of the century.
Doors open at 8 p.m., the band plays at 9 p.m. and the drag show starts at 10 p.m.
Must be over 18 to enter. There is no cover charge.
Details: begaydocrime.net
Pittsburgh County Fair
The inaugural Pittsburgh County Fair will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Allegheny Commons Park West on the North Side.
The event celebrates urban agriculture and all things homemade and handmade in the Pittsburgh. There will be hands-on demonstrations, workshops, contests, local farms, vendors, live music, farm animals, plus local food and beer.
It is being presented by Ferment Pittsburgh in partnership with Grow Pittsburgh, and with support from the City of Pittsburgh.
Amirah Mitchell of Sistah Seeds from outside of Philadelphia will be teaching a workshop on seed-saving, as well as holding seed-saving demonstrations. Additional workshops include topics on fermented foods and mushroom cultivation.
Demonstrations throughout the day include fiber-making, composting, and bean threshing — a take on an old tradition where people danced on top of beans to free them from their pods.
Attendees can enter the Best Tomato in Pittsburgh Contest. Throughout the day there will be pony rides, games, sustainability-focused vendors, bands, food including The Pickled Chefs’ grilled cheese sandwiches, beer from Grist House Craft Brewery, and plenty of silliness like pumpkin sail boats.
Admission is free.
Details: fermentpittsburgh.com
Jazz festival
The 13th annual Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival will run from Friday through Sunday. The event’s mission is to preserve the legacy of jazz and elevate and amplify the creativity of artists sharing their stories through music.
Friday’s 8 p.m. concert with vocalist Ledisi is sold out. The Taste of Jazz Party at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, Downtown, begins at 9 p.m. It will feature a variety of jazz styles, food, dancing and craft cocktails. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, Selecta will be spinning hip-hop and jazz classic collaborations.
General admission tickets are $53.
Saturday and Sunday’s events begin at 1 p.m. both days at Highmark Stadium on the South Side. There will be seven performances, including Orrin Evans and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra on Saturday.
On Sunday, the schedule includes Chelsea Baratz and Gregory Porter. Tickets are $60 each day or $100 for a two-day pass.
Details: awaacc.org
Back to back
PPG Paints Arena, Uptown, will host Old Dominion and its “No Bad Vibes Tour” at 7 p.m. Friday and $uicideboy$ with Ghostmane, City Morgue, Sematary and Ramirez at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Country band Old Dominion has surpassed 1 billion on-demand streams and earned several platinum and gold single certifications. The band has been named Academy of Country Music New Group of the Year.
$uicideboy$ are a hip-hop duo from New Orleans. Their first full-length studio debut was “I Want to Die in New Orleans,” in 2018. Their third studio album includes the song “Sing Me a Lullaby, My Sweet Temptation,” was released in July 2022.
Tickets start at $29 for Old Dominion and $68 for $uicideBoy$.
Details: ppgpaintsarena.com
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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