Pennsylvania's Largest Irish Festival Runs Through Sunday
Want to experience the best of the Emerald Isle without a long flight? Head to the Pittsburgh Irish Festival.
PHOTO COURTESY PITTSBURGH IRISH FESTIVAL FACEBOOK PAGE
BECAUSE ONE ST. PATRICK’S DAY PER YEAR SIMPLY IS NOT ENOUGH
There’s no need to be embarrassed if you haven’t yet visited Ireland. (And don’t sweat it if you have made the journey but certain evenings are a little hazy.) If you are looking to experience the best of the Emerald Isle without a long flight, join the largest Irish festival in Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Irish Festival, all weekend for food, festivities and fun for all ages. Eateries will be serving traditional specialties, and daily whiskey and cider tastings will provide brag-worthy drinks. The 2015 schedule of live entertainment features bands such as Gaelic Storm and Red Hot Chili Pipers, Irish step dancing and join-in jam sessions. Want to learn more about Irish history and culture? Family-friendly, educational and fun-loving activities such as arts and crafts, sing-a-longs, storytelling and an Irish Dog Tent are included, too.
(Riverplex at Sandcastle, 1000 Sandcastle Drive, West Homestead. 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Fri., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. Click here for info)
— Lauralei Kraski, PM Editorial Intern
THE INAUGURAL WIZARD WORLD PITTSBURGH OFFERS CRIME FIGHTERS, PRO WRESTLERS AND A GHOSTBUSTER
In 1997, Wizard Entertainment, a publisher of pop culture and toy magazines, decided to buy the rights to Chicago’s annual comic convention. In the years since, the company has built a touring road show of all things pop, collectable and slightly nerdy — and for the first time, it’s bringing the festivities to Pittsburgh. The first Wizard World Pittsburgh will feature appearances by “X-Files” stars David Duchovny and Mitch Pileggi, “Star Trek” titan William Shatner, Ghostbuster Ernie Hudson, superheroes Dean Cain (“Lois and Clark”) and Lou Ferrigno (“The Incredible Hulk”), WWE performers Dean Ambrose and Paige and many more. This week’s edition of After Dark will run down the highlights of the weekend, including where and when you can ask Agent Mulder and A.D. Skinner to finally tell you what the “X-Files” mythology was all about.
FAMILY HOUSE POLO IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL TRIP TO THE GAME
We can understand if you never have any intention of traveling to the Kentucky Derby. Though the allure of the world’s greatest horse race — and lots of fancy hats — is tempting, it’s understandable if you’re unwilling to take a six-hour drive or indirect flight to watch a sporting event that’ll end before you can finish your mint julep. Fortunately, there’s a similarly fancy sporting tradition right here in town, and it’s for a good cause. (You even can wear your fancy hat.)
The 32nd annual Family House Polo Match, set for Saturday at Hartwood Acres, pits the Howard Hanna Real Estate Services Foxlease Polo Club against the #1 Cochran Potomac Polo Club. The annual event benefits Family House, which provides accommodations for patients and their family members who travel to Pittsburgh for medical treatment. If the horses-and-mallets sport isn’t enough of a draw (side note: it should be, because how often do you get to watch live polo?), the event boasts a silent auction, food trucks including Franktuary and the Pittsburgh Pierogi Truck, the “Sip & Shop” tent of cocktails and boutique shopping, a halftime parade of hounds and, yes, a fanciest hat contest. To be honest, they had us at “parade of hounds.”
(200 Hartwood Acres, Allison Park; events begin at 11 a.m., polo match at 1:30 p.m.; click here for tickets and info)
— Sean Collier, PM Associate Editor
IN THEATERS: The late-summer cinema doldrums continue unabated this weekend, as M. Night Shyamalan's attempt at a comeback vehicle, the horror (?) flick “The Visit,” and domestic drama “The Perfect Guy” are the only area debuts this weekend.
Motown Legend Diana Ross brings a parade of hits to the Benedum Center this Saturday night. — S.C.
Head to Carnegie (very) hungry this Friday and Saturday for the annual Ukrainian Food Festival at St. Peter and St. Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church. — S.C.
