PITTSBURGH PRIDE PARADE JUNE 2019 | PHOTO BY JULIA MENOSKY

It’s a celebration — and the city’s most joyful block party.

Pittsburgh Pride Revolution will turn the North Side into a boisterous, endlessly positive riot of music, community and performance this weekend. Dozens of performers are scheduled at stages in Allegheny Commons Park (with a satellite location in Bloomfield’s Trace Brewing) in what will be a delightful, three-day variety show. A folk artist will cede the stage to a drag king; a vogue dancer will give the microphone over to a rock band. The lineup is more diverse (deliberately so) than any you’ll find in the city.

Headliners include MkX, a pop powerhouse with a distinctly early-’10s sound; “The Voice” veteran and Broadway performer Frenchie Davis, known for her reinventions of iconic dance hits; and the hip-hop performer Sevndeep, whose alluringly smooth flow is complemented by infectious beats.

While those shows are sure to be irresistible, this is not an event where you should only focus on the headliners. Unexpected and surprising gems can be found throughout the lineup — and, of course, at the massive collection of vendors, artists and community groups that will spread throughout the North Side in advance of Saturday’s Pride March & Parade, marking the 50th anniversary of Pride in Pittsburgh.

And, because Pride is an endlessly multifaceted affair, here’s a bonus event: On Sunday, the Three Rivers Business Alliance will present “True Colors: The Fashions of Pride” at Phipps Conservatory. The brunch and fashion show will highlight the collision of floral creations and haute fashion spotlit in Phipps’ current show, curated by Billy Porter.

More This Weekend
Few local bands can match Chip & The Charge Ups for sheer exuberance. Perhaps best known for “The Old Two-Niner,” the anthem celebrating Penguins great Phil Bourque used on WDVE, the band blends hard-charging rock with playful pop-punk (and does so in great matching outfits). The group, led by father/daughter pair Chip and Maleena Dominick, will celebrate the release of their album, “Whatever Happened to the Boy Next Door?” with a Saturday-night show at Hard Rock Cafe.

As if Pride didn’t offer enough reasons for al fresco music and artistry, this weekend is also the kickoff for the annual Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival. (Before you ask: The weather looks hot and clear.) This weekend’s main-stage headliners are KT Tunstall (Friday), Galactic (Saturday) and Rising Appalachia (Sunday); make time for the new play “12:52: The Mike Webster Story,” about the ill-fated Steelers great, from Pittsburgh Playwrights Theater. And if you want a somewhat under-the-radar good time: Head to the backyard at 8th and Penn at 1 p.m. Saturday for the annual TRAF Dance Battle.

Rock legends Kansas will kick off their 50th-anniversary tour at the Benedum Center. As Joe Pinchot explained in this month’s print edition, the Downtown theater was important in the band’s ascendance, beginning with a 1974 gig opening for Queen: “Kansas’ first show in Pittsburgh is now the stuff of legend. About an hour before the doors were to open at the old movie house then known as the Stanley Theatre — now the Benedum Center — Queen’s manager called [promoter Rich] Engler and said singer Freddie Mercury had had “a quarrel” … Kansas was already on stage and would start playing on a quick cue. It didn’t take long for the crowd to forget about Queen.” Head Downtown this Saturday night to hear hits such as “Carry On Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind.”

Writer (and frequent Pittsburgh Magazine contributor) Mark Houser has spent years uncovering the stories and secrets of iconic Downtown buildings. Now, he’ll take you up to the roof to show you what he’s discovered. The Antique Skyscrapers Rooftop Views tours take place Saturday and Sunday; some sessions are already sold out, so get your tickets now.

What happens when a woman is jealous of her husband’s … new dog? If that dog can talk to the audience, comedy ensues. The hit play “Sylvia” opens this Thursday at the lovely South Park Theatre; get tickets for this heartwarming favorite to watch man’s best friend learn about healthy boundaries.

Watch Sean Collier discuss this weekend’s events on KDKA’s “Pittsburgh Today Live” here:

Looking for more things to do. Check out our complete list of events in Pittsburgh for today, tomorrow and the weeks ahead.