BEST BETS
FRANKLIN TWP — The Big Butler Fair begins Friday at the fairgrounds on Route 422 and continues through July 5.
Grandstand events include tractor pulls, square dancing and a school bus demolition derby.
The Clarks will give a concert at 7 p.m. June 27.
Butler native Bret Michaels will perform live in concert at 8 p.m. July 2. A bike night also is planned.
Fourth of July fireworks will begin at dusk.
The Freedom Fest on July 5 is free with fair admission. Gates open at 6 p.m. The country music festival will feature Joe Diffie and Worthington native Charee White.
Gate admission excluding carnival rides is $7 before 4 p.m. and $9 after 4 p.m. Children younger than 2 are admitted free.
An all-day ride band is $20. Single ride tickets are four for $5.
Call 724-865-2400.
The Musical Theatre Guild will present the musical comedy “I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change” July 11, 12, 18, 19 and 20 at the MTG William A. Lehnerd Production Center in Memorial Park.Tickets are $17, available at May's Music Shoppe.
ALLEGHENY TWP, Westmoreland County — Freeport Theatre Festival, celebrating its 25th season, presents a historical drama written and directed by Rennick Steele, “The Red Coats Are Coming!” at 7 p.m. July 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27.Tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 for senior citizens and $10 for students.Shows take place on the Steele Farm, two miles south of Freeport off Route 356 in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County.Call 724-295-1934 or visit freeporttheatrefestival.org.
The third annual AABC Invitational Show opens July 9 with a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Cranberry Township Municipal Center.Beverages and hors d'oeuvres with the artists will be served in the library. Cost is $20 in advance or $22 at the door. An original painting will be given away. Visit CTCChest.org and click on “Martinis with Monet” for more information.The exhibit will be on display through July 18 in Cranberry after which time the work will be transferred to The Art Center in Butler where the show will continue through Aug. 2. The artists' reception in Butler will be from 7 to 9 p.m. July 25. Admission to the Butler reception is free.In Butler, the member galleries will be displaying the works of Sally Jones Rodgers and Patricia Young from July 2 through Aug. 2. Both women will be present at the invitational reception and opening on July 25.The band Harmony Hot Haus will be performing at the Butler reception.For more information, call 724-283-6922 or visit butlerartcenter.org.
GROVE CITY — TLC Rocks,” a community motorcycle and car cruise, is set 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Quality Life Services' Trinity Living Center at 400 Hillcrest Ave.There will be activities for children, crafts and food vendors and door prizes throughout the day.The band American Pie will play lively oldies music from 1 to 4 p.m.For more information, call 724-458-9501 or visit www.qualitylifeservices.com
BRADY TWP — Pennsylvania State Park staff will conduct a guided backpacking trip for beginners along the North Country Trail from 9 a.m. Aug. 23 to 3 p.m. Aug. 24.The adventure will begin at Jennings Environmental Education Center, Route 528, Brady Township, with the basics of planning and packing for a trip, then will get on the trail at Moraine and include tips on navigation and selecting gear, back-country cooking, water filtration and purification, plus an overnight in a trailside shelter.The pace and terrain will be easy to moderate, but participants should be able to hike up to 8 miles or for at least four hours. Instruction, overnight accommodation in trailside shelters, all meals and snacks, and all backpacking gear (sleeping bags, backpacks, etc.) are included.Participants must be at least 16. All minors must be accompanied the entire time by an adult.Registration is $50 and is limited. Registration begins Monday and closes Aug. 4.To register, call 724-7984-6011 or e-mail jenningssp@pa.gov.
PITTSBURGH — On select Sunday mornings this summer, Carnegie Science Center will offer visitors the chance to go behind the scenes of the USS Requin, a Cold War-era submarine docked along the Ohio River, and tour areas rarely seen by the public.Requin “Tech Tours” will take place 9 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday as well as July 13 and 27, Aug. 10 and 31, and Sept. 14.Participants must be age 15 or older. Cost is $20 for nonmembers. Advanced registration is required. Call 412-237-1637.Visitors wishing to go on a self-guided tour of USS Requin are welcome to do so daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Self-guided tours are included with general admission to the Science Center.
