Ten Events To Guarantee A Jumpin' July Around Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH, PA - If you think Independence Day fireworks is the only explosive event occurring around Pittsburgh in July, you’re in for an awakening. As summer shifts into full swing, hopefully with more summer-like weather than the region saw in June, there are a variety of festivals, concerts and other events that will carry you right up until the back to school sales arrive in full force at month’s end.

Still, it is appropriate that this Patch list of 10 July events you shouldn’t miss does indeed begin with fireworks, no?

• EQT Celebrate America PGH, July 4, Point State Park.

Of the various Independence Day celebrations occurring in southwestern Pennsylvania, this one is by far the largest and loudest. From military performances to activities in the kids zone to the thrilling fireworks finale, there is fun to be had all day at the EQT Celebrate America festivities. For the the entertainment schedule, click here. For the food options, click here. The Flashes of Freedom fireworks display will begin at 9:35 p.m

• Anthrocon 2019, July 4-7, David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown.

Yes, its furry time again in Pittsburgh. Some 8,000 anthropomorphic devotees will descend upon Pittsburgh dressed as foxes, wolves, lions, and, ph, probably turtles as well. Doesn’t matter if you plan on attending, if you’re in the Downtown Cultural District during Anthrocon, you’ll probably be exposed to the folks running around in animal costumes.

• Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, July 7-21, various locations.

The nation’s largest vintage street race brings with car shows, parties, parades and motorsport events. This year, the Grand Prix celebrates its 37th annual race through the streets of Schenley Park on July 21. The charity event also raises significant money for autistic and intellectually-developmentally disabled individuals in the Pittsburgh area.

• Deutschtown Music Festival, July 12-13, various locations, North Side.

This year’s festival will showcase more than 300 bands on 30 indoor and outdoor stages and include more than two dozen food trucks, artists market and a beer garden on Foreland Street near the main stage.

• Pittsburgh Beer Fest, July 12-13, Stage AE, North Shore.

This event will bring together more than 125 breweries and thousands of beer enthusiasts from across the region for an unlimited sampling of hundreds of fresh craft beers of all styles and tastes. The event helps to raise money for Animal Rescue Partner.

• Alice Cooper and Halestorm, July 19, KeyBank Pavilion.

Rock legend Alice Cooper is teaming up with Halestorm for a co-headlining tour that also includes the opening act Motionless in White. Cooper is introducing some new songs on the tour and has a new stage show he calls "Ol' Black Eyes is Back." Halestorm is touring in support of the "Vicious" album released last year, which garnered the band a Grammy nomination for best rock performance for "Uncomfortable." The band is fronted by singer Lizzy Hale.

• Picklesburgh, July 26-28, Downtown.

Where's there's a dill there's a way. Picklesburgh needed the appropriate space worthy of an event recently voted the top specialty food festival in America by USA Today readers and it found it The three-day festival, which features the 35-foot inflatable pickle balloon along with various pickle products, live music and demonstrations, wont just take up the entire Roberto Clemente Bridge. It will extend to the riverside lanes of Fort Duquesne Boulevard between Stanwix and Seventh streets to allow for additional vendors.

• Hootie and the Blowfish, July 26, KeyBank Pavilion

You'll have a chance to revisit some of the most popular music of the 1990s at this show, as Hootie and the Blowfish have reunited after an extended hiatus.Barenaked Ladies, another band that reached the zenith of its popularity in the '90s, will be the opening act.
Hootie and company are getting back together a quarter of a century after they debuted with "Cracked Rear View" album. Rucker has gone on to have a successful solo career as a country act.

• VineRewind, July 27-28, 2700 block of Penn Avenue, Strip District.

Now in its fourth year, this two-day free music festival and block party celebrates the diversity of Pittsburgh’s music scene past and present. It’s worth attending just to see the reunion of one of Patch’s all-time favorite local bands, New Invisible Joy, but there will be more than 30 other acts on multiple stages. Oh, and there will be food trucks and vino aplenty, no surprise given this event’s name.

• Queen with Adam Lambert, July 31, PPG Paints Arena

Following the blockbuster success of the biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody," Queen is on the road for a summer tour that will include a stop in Pittsburgh.
Queen co-founders Brian May and Roger Taylor will tour with former "American Idol" performer Adam Lambert, who has performed with the band in place of late lead singer Freddie Mercury since 2009. The band's lineup will also feature keyboardist Spike Edney, bassist Neil Fairclough and percussionist Tyler Warren.