‘The Color Purple’ (Through Sunday)

Pittsburgh CLO is at the Benedum Center, Downtown, with the musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and the 1985 film that chronicles 40 years in the life of a Southern Black woman surviving bigotry and abuse. Playing Celie, the role popularized by Whoopi Goldberg, is Kayla Davion, whose Broadway credits include “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.” It also stars Tamyra Gray, most recently seen at Pittsburgh CLO in “Sister Act,” and Maiesha McQueen in her CLO debut.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $35; pittsburghclo.org.

Cinema in the Park (Thursday-Sunday)

“Wonka,” the 2023 prequel depicting Roald Dahl’s character in his early days as a chocolatier, screens at Arsenal Park in Lawrenceville on Friday and at Grandview Park, Mount Washington, on Saturday.

At Riverview Park, Saturday is set to be a pink night with a screening of the smash hit “Barbie.

“Pete’s Dragon,” the 2016 fantasy adventure about a boy and his dragon, will play at Schenley Plaza in Schenley Park on Sunday.

Each film begins at dusk; pittsburghpa.gov.

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (Friday)

The PSO, having wrapped its subscription season at Heinz Hall, takes the stage at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum in Oakland with a salute to American music in tribute to military personnel and veterans. The orchestra will perform  music from “The Patriot” by John Williams, George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess,” Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story” and songs of the armed forces.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. and is free to the public, though registration is required; pittsburghsymphony.org.

Oliver Anthony (Friday)

His out-of-the-blue hit “Rich Men North of Richmond” wasn’t just a one-off. The populist country-folk singer from Farmville, Va. followed it with more viral singles and now this sold-out Out of the Woods Tour. Levi Foster opens.

Doors open at 6 p.m.; axs.com.

Pete Davidson (Friday)

The former “Saturday Night Live” cast member (2014-2022) presents an evening of standup-comedy at the Byham Theater, Downtown. The actor-comedian, who began his stage career in 2013 and released his first standup special for Comedy Central in 2016, is known for touching on sensitive topics, from sex to relationships to the death of his firefighting father during 9/11.

Shows begin at 7 (sold out) and 9:30 p.m. Tickets start at $45; trustarts.org.

Big Butler Fair (Friday-Sunday)

The 168th fair opens Friday and will run through July 6 with midway carnival rides and games, grandstand events, live music and fireworks. The daily attractions include Aim High Canines, a blacksmith show, comedy hypnotist Brad Matchett, an exotic petting zoo and chainsaw woodcarvings. At the grandstands, there will be a truck & tractor pull on Friday, Bull Ride Mania on Saturday and a school bus demolition derby on Sunday. Each begins at 7 p.m.

Gates open at 9 a.m. at 1127 New Castle Road, Prospect. Carnival begins at 3 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets start at $9 (online) and $10 at the gates. Details are available at bigbutlerfair.com.

Ligonier Valley Bluegrass (Friday-Sunday)

The annual festival at Ligonier Township Volunteer Fire Department #1 begins with a free Friday night session with String Fighter and South Penn Crossing beginning at 7 p.m. The Saturday activities begin with a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. ($13; $7 kids) followed at 10 a.m. with music by Border Ride, Blue Diggity, Muddy Branch Boys, Tussey Mountain Moonshiners and Mo Taters (most of them playing multiple sets). The Sunday lineup begins at noon and consists of Sweaty Already String Band, Midnight Drive and Well Strung.

Tickets are $20; $30 for two-day admission. Info at ligtwpvfd1.org.

Free concerts (Friday-Sunday)

Friday: Pittsburgh artists Low Gap and Nick Guckert play the Music on the Lawn series at Southside Works at 7 p.m.; southsideworks.com/events.

Saturday: The Allegheny County Concert Series at South Park Amphitheater continues with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at 8:15 p.m.; alleghenycounty.us.

Saturday: Stars at Riverview Jazz Series at Riverview Park, Observatory Hill, features Lee Robinson and ISKA at 7 p.m.; pittsburghpa.gov/events/riverviewseries.

Sunday: The Bach, Beethoven & Brunch series at Mellon Park, Fifth Avenue and Shady Avenue in Point Breeze/Squirrel Hill features the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh at 10:30 a.m.; pittsburghpa.gov/events.

Sunday: The Allegheny County’s Hartwood Acres show features the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at 8:15 p.m.; alleghenycounty.us.

WYEP Summer Music Festival (Saturday)

Middle Kids, the female-fronted indie-rock band from Sydney, Australia, headlines the 25th installment of WYEP’s free music festival. Touring behind its third album, “Faith Crisis Pt 1,” Middle Kids is joined by Washington D.C.-based rock ’n’ soul band Oh He Dead, British singer-songwriter Jade Bird and Pittsburgh artists Ames Harding & The Mirage, Chariot Fade and Mani Bahia.

The festival begins at 3 p.m. More info is available at WYEP.org.

Babesburgh Bash (Saturday)

The debut of this festival for women at Allegheny Landing Park, North Side, offers a female-owned marketplace, a farmers market, fitness classes, wellness and self-care exhibits, artists and musicians, and local craft beer, wine and spirits.

The stage schedule consists of Music Therapy with Alysha Suley (3 p.m.), Sound Bowl Healing with Emily Colligan (3:20 p.m.), Drum Circle with Haley Jane (3:40 p.m.), Gabrielle (4 p.m.), DJ Madame Trio (4:40 p.m.), Drum Circle (6:15 p.m.), DJ Femi (6:30 p.m.).

The festival runs from 3 to 8 p.m. Admission is $20; $39 with souvenir glass; babesburgh.com.

Squirrel Night Market (Saturday)

The pop-up market on Murray Avenue, between Forbes Avenue and Beacon Street, will feature 75-plus “I Made It!” Market artists selling handmade wares, live local music, food trucks and offerings from Squirrel Hill restaurants.

It runs from 6 to 10 p.m.

Hootie & the Blowfish (Saturday)

Darius Rucker and company return for the first time since 2019 with “Hold My Hand,” “Only Wanna Be With You” and other hits from their ‘90s heyday. They’ll play The Pavilion at Star Lake with openers Collective Soul and Edwin McCain.

The show begins at 7 p.m. Remaining tickets start at $41.55; concerts.livenation.com.

Tyler Childers (Sunday)

The country/folk-rocker played one of the last shows in Pittsburgh before the COVID-19 pandemic, opening for Sturgill Simpson at Petersen Events Center on March 4, 2020. He returns, this time to play the Pavilion at Star Lake, having added two new albums, “Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven?” and “Rustin' in the Rain” to the catalog. S.G. Goodman and Adeem the Artist open. 

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Remaining tickets start at $186.98; concerts.livenation.com.

The Beach Boys (Sunday)

Stage AE doesn’t host classic-rock bands much anymore, but it makes an exception for this Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band, featuring singer Mike Love and Bruce Johnston from the ‘60s lineup, bringing a boatload of splashy, summer hits. The set lists for the current tour have them playing up to 36 songs.

Doors open at 3 p.m. Remaining tickets are $49.50; axs.com.

First Published: June 25, 2024, 9:30 a.m.
Updated: June 25, 2024, 7:18 p.m.