Picklesburgh Pleasingly Promotes Pittsburgh Products; MountainFest in Morgantown; Southside Johnny at South Park (Fri., 7/26/19)

What would Picklesburgh be without a pickle juice drinking contest? Whoever drinks their quart of juice the fastest is named the Mayor of Picklesburgh. (photo: Renee Rosensteel for the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership)

1) Sauerkraut. Kimchi. Dill-flavored popcorn. Deep-fried pickles. Pickle cocktails! It’s Picklesburgh. The fifth-annual, three-day, free event is at the Roberto Clemente Bridge. If you can’t find it, look for the giant inflatable Heinz pickle, which resembles the company’s famous pickle pin. The festival recalls the city’s pickling history, which dates back to the 1800s, while also looking forward to our revitalized riverfronts and internationally recognized food scene. Enjoy free samples from area farms and restaurants, all of them offering their own take on pickled foods, before making the pickling purchase that’s right for you. Other “pickled” merchandise includes balloons and books. Chefs demonstrate how to pickle and can, and local musicians provide a pleasant soundtrack to your culinary wanderings. There’s a Lil Gherkins Activity Area for children. And, yes, the pickle juice drinking contest returns. Picklesburgh was recently voted the No. 1 Best Specialty Food Festival in America in a USA Today readers choice contest. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership organizes the event with the help of numerous sponsors including Kraft Heinz. Noon – 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Noon – 6 p.m. Sunday. Roberto Clemente Bridge, Downtown. (CM)

The concerts are a big part of MountainFest Motorcycle Rally in Morgantown, West Virginia. Montgomery Gentry is shown here performing at a previous MountainFest. (photo: MountainFest and Greater Morgantown Convention & Visitors Bureau)

2) The classic rock group Steppenwolf in its song “Born to Be Wild” sing the lyrics, “Get your motor runnin’ / Head out on the highway / Lookin’ for adventure / And whatever comes our way.” If that sounds good to you, then head south on I-79 to Morgantown, West Virginia, for the 15th Annual MountainFest Motorcycle Rally. It’s one of the nation’s premier motorcycle rallies. Some bikers are wild, and some are mild, and you don’t even need a motorcycle to enjoy the festivities. The event features several well-known bands and performers including Peter Frampton, Cheap Trick, Charlie Daniels, Jackyl, and Jason Bonham. Other activities are motorcycle rides, a blessing of the bikes, a parade of bikes, daredevil motorcycle performers, vendors, food and beverage offerings, and yes, even Mountain Man axe throwing. MountainFest is produced with the cooperation of the Greater Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau and proceeds benefit Mylan Park and its programs. Continues through Saturday.  500 Mylan Park Ln, Morgantown, WV.

Many very talented motorcycle performers will be demonstrating their skills at MountainFest. (photo: MountainFest and Greater Morgantown Convention & Visitors Bureau)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EJyo4ZU1HI

3) Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes are bringing their wall-of-sound to, very appropriately South Park. The band features a New Jersey rock sound complemented by a very talented horn section. Southside Johnny’s first three albums were arranged and produced by the co-founder of the band and Bruce Springsteen associate, Steven Van Zandt. The albums were mainly composed of songs written by Van Zandt and/or Springsteen. They are especially well known for the songs “Trapped Again,” “Without Love,” and “We’re Having A Party.” Their most recent release is 2017’s Live From E Street. 7:30 p.m. South Side Johnny & The Asbury Jukes are performing as part of the Allegheny County Summer Concert Series. 7:30 p.m. Free. 3700 Farmshow Drive, South Park Township. 

4) Breaking Benjamin return to KeyBank Pavilion. The hard rock band formed across the state in Wilkes-Barre in 1999. The Benjamin in question is singer and guitarist Benjamin Burnley. He is the sole remaining founding member of the group and also an avid gamer. No surprise then Breaking Benjamin wrote the song “Blow Me Away” specifically for the Halo 2 soundtrack in 2004. The band’s latest album is 2018’s Ember. Three Days Grace, who hold the record for most No. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart with 15, open. Chevelle, Dorothy, and Diamante also open. 5:30 p.m. 665 Rt. 18, Burgettstown. (CM)

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