Vintage Grand Prix Race, Hootie Top Pittsburgh Weekend Events

PITTSBURGH, PA - If you haven’t experienced vintage street racing, this signature event of the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix should be on your bucket list. Nearly 200,000 spectators fill the golf course and surrounding Schenley Park streets to experience car shows and vintage racing honoring that of the origins of sports car road racing in the 40’s and 50’s at Watkins Glen and Elkhart Lake.

The PVGP races through Schenley Park are considered by many of the hundreds of drivers to be the most challenging race course worldwide. With 22 turns, 11 elevation changes, approximately 100 telephone poles, an expanse of stone wall and numerous manhole covers, it’s no wonder the 2.3-mile circuit tests driving skills and entertains crowds.

The races start at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday and will run until approximately 5 p.m. each day. Click on the link for the complete race schedule.

Other weekend highlights:

• Alice Cooper and Halestorm, July 19, 7 p.m., 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.

• Vibes Under The Bridge, July 20, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., The Waterfront, Homestead.

This fourth annual festival under the Homestead Grays Bridge will include a Rock Bottom Brewery cookout, kids’ games, face painting and a beer garden for those 21 and older. Live entertainment includes Ruff Creek at 5 p.m. and headline act Bon Journey at 7 p.m. Bring your own chairs and blankets for seating.

• Hootie and the Blowfish, July 21, 7:30 p.m., 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.

• Pirates vs. Philadelphia Phillies, July 19 and 20, 7:05 p.m.; July 21, 1:35 p.m., PNC Park.

With the Pirates on the verge of falling out of contention for even a wild card playoff spot, this is the perfect weekend for the team to celebrate its lats World Series championship, which occurred, uh, 40 years ago. The ceremony, which will include surviving members of that great team, will occur on Saturday. The weekend giveaways include a shirt on Free Shirt Friday, a vintage bobblehead on Saturday and a kids pierogie figurine on Sunday.