It’s the weekend and it’s going to be a hot one with temperatures near or in the 90s. Here are some ways to spend it.
Deutschtown Music Festival
Three days of music at 40 venues on the North Side — including near PNC Park — begins Friday and goes through Sunday. There will be close to 400 bands, and 20,000 people are expected to attend over the course of the weekend. There was no festival in 2020 because of the pandemic, and last year’s event was a scaled-down version.
This will be the 10th year. Most of the groups will play 45 minutes to an hour. Music will include pretty much all genres.
Pittsburgh’s Joe Grushecky and the House Rockers will perform Saturday night. Two main stages will be in Allegheny Commons Park and on Foreland Street.
There will be an artists’ market, children’s activities and food trucks. Allegheny City Alliance Church will host a Gospel brunch at 10 a.m. Sunday.
The event is free. There is a $5 fee to enter the beer garden.
Details: deutschtownmusicfestival.com
— DeutschtownMusicFest (@DMusicFest) July 17, 2022
Liberty Mile
The Fleet Feet Liberty Mile is happening Friday, Downtown. The evening road race, hosted by P3R, welcomes more than 1,300 runners who will run 1 mile and compete for $27,600 in prizes.
Named “one of America’s most iconic races” by Runners World, the event starts at 7 p.m. Professional runners will compete starting about 8 p.m.
The starting line is at Penn Avenue between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Street. The finish line is at Sixth Street and Liberty Avenue.
Cost starts at $35.
Details: libertymile.org
Jam on Walnut
Jam on Walnut is a free block party happening from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday on Walnut Street in Shadyside.
The event features live music, food trucks and beer tents, and the proceeds benefit Animal Friends and the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation. Pittsburgh native and country artist Justin Fabus will perform. He is known for hits such as “Remedy,” “Run,” “Lay Me Down” and “Somebody Like You,” which he co-wrote with Grammy award-winner Richard Marx.
Details: thinkingoutsidethecage.org
Tekko
Tekko, an anime, gaming, music and Japanese pop culture convention, is this weekend at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown.
Musical guests include Acme, Nano and Vgr and Pittsburgh’s Nancy Kepner, as well as “Study of Anime” founder Charles Dunbar.
There will be vendors, an artists’ alley, panels, a fashion show, cosplay contest, dance party, gaming and Tekko Gakkou — a school series.
Tekko is presented by the nonprofit Pittsburgh Japanese Culture Society. Organizers expect 12,000 people.
New will be a giant robot to protect the city of Pittsburgh called Tekkobot, which will be the event’s permanent mascot. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets start at $65.
Proof of covid-19 vaccination or a negative PCR test is required.
Details: tekko.us
‘Love Letters’
Meredith Baxter and Michael Gross star in A.R. Gurney’s “Love Letters” for Pittsburgh Public Theater this weekend at the O’Reilly Theater, Downtown.
It is a story about love and friendship told through the art of letter writing. Baxter and Gross are known for portraying Elyse and Steven Keaton in the sitcom “Family Ties.”
Characters Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III have been writing to each other since childhood. For more than 50 years, they’ve confided their hopes, dreams, triumphs and disappointments in one another.
Shows are at 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets start at $32.
Facemasks are required.
Details: ppt.org
