Rib Festival Among 5 Fun Pittsburgh Weekend Activities

PITTSBURGH, PA — It's the unofficial last weekend of summer and the season is going out with a bang. There is no shortage of things to do around town and the weather is expected to be near-perfect for outdoor events.

Here are some Patch suggestions for fun things to do:

• Heinz Field Kickoff and Rib Festival, Sept. 2, 4-9 p.m.; Sept. 3, 4, 12-11 p.m.; Sept. 5, 8 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sept. 6, 12-7 p.m.; Art Rooney Avenue, North Shore.

One of the country's largest rib festivals, the popular event will provide people with family-
friendly activities, music and ribs from 15 vendors from across the country. Free musical performances will be provided by acts such as The Clarks, Sun King Warriors, Billy Price, Norm Nardini and the Jimmy Adler Band.

Food and drink will be available for purchase. Fans must purchase tickets in order to enter Heinz Field for the Pitt Panthers game against the University of Massachsetts on Sept. 4 and concerts at
nearby Stage AE.

• Momento Con, Sept. 4, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sept. 5, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown.

If you always wanted to meet Curtis Armstrong (Booger from the "Revenge of the Nerds" movies) and other second-tier celebrities, the convention center is the place to be this weekend. There will be guest Q&A panels, private meet and greets and hundreds of exhibitor booths.

• Monroeville Jazz Festival, Sept. 4, 2-8 p.m., Tall Trees Amphitheatre, Monroeville.

This annual free event will be highlighted by the Pittsburgh Jazz All-Stars Extravaganza featuring some of Pittsburgh’s most notable performers including Etta Cox, Maria Sargent, Max Leak, Robbie Klein, Mike Houlis and Billy Kuhn.

• Kool & The Gang, Sept. 4, 7 p.m., Rivers Casino, North Shore.

The R&B icons of the ‘70s and ‘80s, best known for its smash hits "Celebration," "Cherish" and "Jungle Boogie" will play their funk and jazz-influenced tunes for the casino crows. You might not know this, but the band has won two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, 9 Top Ten Pop hits and recorded 31 gold and platinum albums.

• Allegheny County Music Festival, Sept. 5, 5 p.m., Hartwood Acres
  

The Allegheny County Summer Concert Series concludes with will go out with a festival featuring

Sierra Sellers, Funky Fly Project, Meeting of Important People and The Commonheart. Food trucks will be on hand for the hungry and Hop Farm beer will be available. A suggested donation of
$20 per car will benefit the Allegheny County Music Festival Fund.