Irish Festival, Lego Fest Among 5 Fun Pittsburgh Weekend Events

PITTSBURGH, PA — You can tailgate at Heinz Field Sunday to celebrate the Steelers opening their season against the Buffalo Bills. But you likely won't have nearly as much fun as you would were the Steelers playing in Pittsburgh instead of Buffalo.

While the tailgating should wait until next week when the Steelers have their home opener against the Las Vegas Raiders, there are many other ways to spend quality time around town this weekend. Patch recommends:

• Pittsburgh Irish Festival, Sept. 10, 4-11 p.m.; Sept. 11, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sept. 12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., The Lots at Sandcastle.

At the 30th festival you'll be able to participate in Celtic axe throwing, delight in music and dance performances, shop at the Irish marketplace, quench your thirst with a cultural beverage tasting and, of course, watch the Steelers game on a big-screen TV. The team is owned by a family named Rooney, after all.

• Lights On!, Sept. 9-11, various times, Pittsburgh Cultural District, Downtown.

After 18 months of pandemic-prompted darkness, the cultural district comes to life again with three days of free presentations and performances at or by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, August Wilson African American Cultural Center, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Pittsburgh CLO, Pittsburgh
Opera, Pittsburgh Public Theater and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

• Brick Fest Live, Sept. 11-12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monroeville Convention Center.

If you love Legos, the convention center is the place to be. More than a million Lego bricks will be on display and Lego fans will be able to meet Lego Masters reality TV show contestants. There also will be life-sized Lego figures on display and interactive stage shows.

• A Fair In The Park, Sept. 10, 1-7 p.m.; Sept. 11, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sept. 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Mellon Park.

The Cratfsmen's Guild of Pittsburgh's signature event typically brings together 100 artists and craftspeople from around the country. Food trucks will be on hand in case you get hungry while perusing all of the clay, fiber, wood, jewelry, glass, leather, metal, mixed media, and
two-dimensional art on display.

• Barrel & Flow Fest, Sept. 10-12, SouthSide Works.

The nation's first black beer festival has been renamed and will be held on the South Side this year. Taste the handcrafted beers that will debut at the event, while sampling the wares of food vendors and enjoying live entertainment.

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