Holiday hours at the Butler County Heritage Center will be from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 13 and 27.

Featured are an exhibit of school days in the county from 1811 into the 1940s and the William A. Lowry Family exhibit. Lowry was a prominent Butler citizen, a Civil War veteran and community leader who married Annie Zeigler, daughter of politician Jacob Zeigler.

The museum is also home of the Bantam jeep and the hand-carved and hand-painted Jay Bee Miniature Circus, which includes its own model circus train.

Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for youths ages 5 to 17, and free for children age 5 and younger. The museum is at 119 W. New Castle St. Call 724-283-8116.

The annual holiday catalog of the Butler County Historical Society is available, a highlight of which is the 2010 historic schoolhouse wall calendar.

SLIPPERY ROCK — The Butler County Symphony Association will conduct its 31st annual young artist competition on Jan. 17 in Swope Hall at Slippery Rock University.The competition is open to any high school age musician within a 25-mile radius of Butler, or any high school age musician in a PMEA District 5 school.One student will be chosen to perform as a soloist with the Butler County Symphony Orchestra at its March 13 concert.For information or an application, call 724-283-2402 or send e-mail to butlersymphony@zoominternet.net.

BRADY TWP — The Jennings Environmental Education Center will offer a day of snowshoeing for beginners Jan. 9 during Winter Trails Day.The programs will be from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3 p.m. Each session will include the history of snowshoes, an introduction to the sport and a winter activity hike.Equipment will be provided although personal equipment is welcomed. To occupy children under 8-years-old, staff will be available to conduct winter activities and crafts in concurrence with each session.Registration is required by calling the center at 724-794-6011 or by visiting the Web site, www.dcnr.state.pa.us/calendar/list.asp no later than Dec. 31.

PITTSBURGH — The legendary Chicago theater troupe Second City is celebrating 50 years of being funny. The 50th anniversary tour will be at the Pittsburgh Public Theater for four performances from Dec. 17 to 19.Internationally known for its cutting-edge satiric revues, the best sketches, songs and improvisations from group's 50-year history will be performed by five young comedians.Famous alumni include Alan Arkin, Robert Klein, Bill Murray, Mike Myers and Tina Fey.Showtimes are 8 p.m. Dec. 17 and 18 and at 5:30 and 9 p.m. Dec. 19 at the theater at 621 Penn Ave.Tickets range from $28 to $48; students and those age 26 and younger pay $15. The show is recommended for high school-aged audiences and older because of some adult humor and language.Call 412-316-1600 or visit www.ppt.org.

PITTSBURGH — All of Loretta Lynn's December concerts including her scheduled performance Saturday at the Carnegie Library Music Hall in Homestead have been canceled.Refunds are available by contacting the point of purchase.Lynn is at home and recovering since her doctor ordered her to take some additional time off due to the flu.

PITTSBURGH — The national tour of the hit musical "Dreamgirls" will make its Pittsburgh premiere Dec. 29 to Jan. 3 at Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave.The performance is part of the PNC Broadway Across America series."Dreamgirls" tells the story of an up-and-coming, 1960s singing girl group, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with fame and fortune.Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 29 to 31, at 8 p.m. Jan. 1, at 2 and 8 p.m. Jan. 2, and at 1 and 6:30 p.m. Jan. 3.Tickets range from $22 to $66 and are available by calling 412-392-4900 or online at www.pgharts.org.