5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Sept. 8-10
We’ve made it to the weekend. Here are some ways to spend it.
Irish Festival
The 32nd annual Pittsburgh Irish Festival is from 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday at the Carrie Blast Furnaces in Rankin and Swissvale.
The event features live music and dance, a marketplace, virtual reality tours of Ireland, Carrie Furnace mini-tours, axe throwing, Irish dogs, children’s activities, cultural displays and demonstrations as well as food and drink.
On Saturday, the Pittsburgh Pennywhistle Project debuts. There will be giveaways on a first-come basis of Feadóg brand pennywhistles during the 3:30 p.m. basics of Irish pennywhistle workshop by L.E. McCullough, who performs with the band Devilish Merry.
The pennywhistle is a conical or cylindrical tube, typically 10-12 inches in length, with six finger holes in front and a mouthpiece at the top.
Tickets are $20-$25.
Details: pghirishfest.org
A Fair in the Park
The 54th annual A Fair in the Park is happening from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday at Mellon Park in Shadyside.
Hosted by the Craftsmen’s Guild of Pittsburgh, the event features 85 artisans and skilled craftsmen, locally and across the U.S. They will be selling glass, metal, ceramics, fiber, mixed media, wood, leather and jewelry.
There will be live music on Friday by Calliope House Pittsburgh musicians. Creative Citizens Studio will be offering hands-on activities. A scavenger hunt for kids features landmarks around Mellon Park. There will also be food trucks.
Admission is free.
Details: craftsmensguild.org/a-fair-in-the-park
Britsburgh
The ninth annual Britsburgh Festival concludes this weekend. “The Story of Windrush” is the topic for the Commonwealth Dinner from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Gianna Via’s Restaurant in Whitehall. It tells the tale of the people who emigrated from the Caribbean to Britain on the British ship the Empire Windrush in 1948. There will also be a talk by John Mitcham, chair of Duquesne University’s Department of History, on the cultural and social contributions of the Windrush generation to the United Kingdom.
Tickets are $53.
On Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m., Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks presents “Cleopatra & Antony,” followed by a talkback after the performance, in Highland Park (near the Super Playground). Tickets are free.
Also on Saturday is the 40th annual Family House Polo Match at 1:30 p.m. at Hartwood Acres in Hampton and Indiana Townships — polo is a popular sport in England.
Family House provides affordable lodging to patients and caregivers who travel to Pittsburgh for medical care. The event features a professional polo match, tailgating, boutique shopping, a vintage car display from the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, food and live music.
Polo general admission tickets are $50. VIP tickets are $150. Children under 12 are free.
On Sunday, there will be pub quiz at The Leaning Cask Brewing Co. in Springdale, which specializes in English brewing methods. Admission is free.
Details: Britsburgh.com or familyhouse.org/polo
Sacred spaces
In partnership with Preservation Pittsburgh, Center for Civic Arts — a Wilkinsburg-based non-profit whose mission is to preserve the neighborhood — is hosting the 2023 Music in Sacred Spaces Tour from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday. The event will include tours of architectural spaces, stained glass and organ music. Shana Simmons Dancers will perform improvisational dance.
Photographers can enter a contest of images from the tour.
Churches include Covenant Fellowship Presbyterian Church, Ethnan Temple Seventh-day Adventist, Mulberry Community Church, South Avenue United Methodist, St. Mark AME, St. James (part of St. Mary Magdalene Parish) and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. The Center for Civic Arts is located in the former Mulberry Presbyterian Church, which is open for the tour. Donations will be accepted for an emergency repair fund.
A closing ceremony will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Center for Civic Arts, 710 Mulberry St.
Details: facebook.com
Piano Day
The ninth annual Piano Day Pittsburgh is from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday at Schenley Plaza in Oakland. The goal of Piano Day is to showcase love for the instrument and use it to build community throughout the city with free performances open to the public.
Former Piano Day Pittsburgh events have taken place on Mount Washington, PPG Plaza, the Crawford Grille, and even floating on Pittsburgh’s rivers.
This year, Pittsburgh Symphony pianist Rodrigo Ojeda and pianist, composer and native Pittsburgher Martin Spitznagel will perform. Other performers include jazz singer and pianist Jessica Lee, Craig Zinger, the David Gurwin duo, as well as Carnegie Mellon University teachers Sung Im, Jack Kurutz and their students, and students from CAPA.
Modern Piano of Pine is supplying the Shigeru Kawai SK-3 piano.
Details: facebook.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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