Miller Minutes
This Saturday, April 29, is one of the best days of the year.
It’s not Independence Day; it’s not Christmas Day. No ... it’s Independent Bookstore Day!
As an avid reader, I’ll take any excuse to visit a local bookshop and explore the covers. Luckily, Butler County is showing up and showing out with events and promotions to celebrate the day. You should be sure to check if your local shops are participating in something fun.
If not, the Butler County BookFest is packing thousands of books plus lots of events into this weekend at the exhibit halls of the Butler Farm Show, 625 Evans City Road, Connoquenessing Township. Kicking off Friday, April 28, there’s a celebration for young children complete with story times and music programs.
On Saturday, April 29, the Local Author Showcase will offer a chance to converse with writers from the area and purchase their signed books.
For more information on the BookFest, visit the events page at southbutlerlibrary.org.
As for the rest of the weekend, here are some events for readers and nonreaders alike.
U.S. Air Force Band, Airmen of Note, are flying to Butler Intermediate High School auditorium for their free concert at 7 p.m. Friday, April 28. Register at usairforceband.com.
Butler Two Steppers are having a dance at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, at Tanglewood Center, 10 Austin Ave., Lyndora.
Experience the Bach Society’s choral performance of “The Majesty and Glory of Your Name” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, at Center Presbyterian Church in Slippery Rock, and Saturday, April 29, at Tower Presbyterian Church in Grove City. For more information, visit bachsocietycommunitychoir.com.
Grove City College orchestra will be performing, for the first time ever, David Cope’s “Symphony (After Beethoven),” which was composed using artificial intelligence based on sketches of Beethoven’s famously unfinished “10th Symphony.” The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, in Ketler Auditorium on campus. Watch the livestream performance at gcc.edu/livestream, or attend the concert for free.
Trinity Community Presbyterian Church, 107 Staley Ave., Butler, is hosting a Craft and Vendor Sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 29.
The Butler Township Volunteer Fire District is also holding a Craft and Vendor Show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at 121 Sparks Ave. All proceeds benefit the auxiliary.
Benefit the Zelienople Area Public Library by attending Comedy Night at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at the Steamfitters Event Center, 230 Wise Road, Jackson Township. Performances will be by Shannon Norman and Brittany Alexis. Tickets are $50 and available only to those age 21 or older.
The final line dance of the season at Saxonburg Fireman’s Club, 155 Pittsburgh St., starts at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 29. You must be age 21 or older to attend.
The Zelienople Rotary Club is holding a Pancake Breakfast from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, April 30, at the Glade Run Matthew Dining Hall, 30 Glade Run Drive. Proceeds benefit a Zelienople resident who lost her home and all possessions in a fire. Donations can be sent by PayPal to zelienoplerotary@gmail.com or by mailing a check payable to Rotary Club of Zelienople and mailed to P.O. Box 245, Zelienople, PA 16063.
The annual Strike Out Child Abuse Bowling Event at Family Bowlaway kicks off at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 30. General admission at the door is $25 per person for ages 10 and older. Children under 10 are admitted free. Preregistration is $150 for six team members, unlimited food and drink, special activities and T-shirt. Register at butlercountycac.org/strikeoutchildabuse.
Children ages 7 to 18 are invited to audition for “The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition” with Sing Hosanna! at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 30, or at 7 p.m. Monday, May 1. Auditions are held at 310 W. Airport Road, and materials will be provided. Shows are June 21 and 22 at the Succop Theater on the Butler County Community College campus. For more information, call 724-285-3653.
Purchase tickets for Butler Little Theatre’s production of “The Book of Will” performing May 5 to 7 and 9 to 13, via butlerlittletheatre.com.
