Celebrate America 250: Many Days, Many Ways (And Not Just the 4th)

Looking to get the most out of our country’s 250th birthday? Then worry not; our insightful recommendations follow. Once Americans—young, old or scholarly—can agree if this is our sestercentennial, bisesquicentennial, semiquincentennial, quarter-millennial or bicenquinquagenary year, you’ll find there’s better things to debate and so little time to celebrate  it all. Besides, it’s mostly free. So pursue your happiness and enjoy the liberties of a weekend filled with fun.

Heed Our Regions History

USA Today’s #1 History Museum in America, our very own Heinz History Center, will mark the U.S. Semiquincentennial (their choice) with special exhibitions, public programs, military reenactments, flag furling (and folding), family games and “after-hours” adult fun. There’s so much planned, it’s hardly fair where to start. 

On Thursday, June 25, five floors of exhibits will open for a special 21+ birthday bash to celebrate 250 years of American independence, History after Hours: America 250. Raise a glass of Cherry Bounce (claimed to be George Washington’s favorite elixir), then challenge your friends in an All-American Trivia Throwdown. There’ll be an art salon in which to have your “ presidential” portrait drawn, a vintage flea market, and a Wish Wall to mark your hopes for the next 250 years.

Consider a quiet escape to Avella, home to one of the earliest habitations of humans in America. On the Fourth, kids can play wholesome games like potato sack races, toss an atlatl, trade with pioneer re-enactors, and learn that America’s culture was founded—not on comic books, rock concerts or cable TV—but whenever and wherever people gathered to communicate and care. The evidence of humans at Meadowcroft Rockshelter is 19,000 years old. (To date, only a set of footprints discovered in New Mexico predates Western Pennsylvania’s discovery by a mere 3,000 years.) 

At the Fort Pitt Museum, tucked to one side of Point State Park, celebrate the day with colonial re-enactors, march to fife and drums, and then help raise a 36-foot flag to fly high over this singular acre that served so prominently in the French and Indian War, a favored site regularly visited by George Washington long before the first fort was built. And that makes Pittsburgh—fun fact—the only U.S. city ever sited and situated by an American President! All outdoor events are free, but so, too, is admission to the museum for anyone 17 and under.

Fly High on a Ferris Wheel

133 years ago, Pittsburgher George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. designed for the Columbian Exposition in Chicago an amusement ride which would rival the Eiffel Tower for height and grandeur. The Chicago wheel was 264 feet in diameter, decorated with then new-fangled electrical light bulbs (and powered by generators designed by another local hero, George Westinghouse). Pittsburgh’s temporary wheel will be 90 feet tall, but will offer no less excitement from its perch on Art Rooney Avenue, looking almost directly at the Point. The wheel begins spinning on July 1 and stops on the 5th. To ease long waiting lines, prescheduled rides may be booked on line. General admission is $11.20 per person. Sponsored by the Piatt Companies, half of all proceeds will benefit the Veterans Leadership Program.

Swell Your Pride With the Pittsburgh Symphony 

The internationally-acclaimed Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will be on a steady march north, south and in between for America’s big weekend. Starting on July 2 in Oakland, enjoy a free “Americana Concert, In Honor of Service” at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall. Of course, the program will open with the Star-Spangled Banner and continue with symphonic favorites from the likes of Morton Gould, John Williams, Aaron Copland, John Philip Sousa, and Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky. Admission—the concert begins at 7:00 pm—is free with prior registration.

On Friday, July 3 at South Park, the symphony takes center stage with substantial works from a varied slate of composers and American patriots. Beginning with Glinka’s “Overture to Ruslan and Ludmila,” the concert includes works from Williams, Copland, Sousa, and Pittsburgh’s own Henry Mancini. PSO violinist Ilkhom Mukhiddinov will be featured on two pieces by Ponce and Sarasate. And the concert will conclude with Sousa’s rousing march, “Stars and Stripes Forever.” It’s all free to the public, but check out Allegheny County’s park rules for bringing lawn chairs, blankets, and food, then get settled by 8:15 pm. 

You can also enjoy Pittsburgh’s newest outdoor space downtown with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. On Saturday, July 4 at Arts Landing, a second concert will begin at 6:00 pm, and feature nearly the same program as the night before, BUT you may find yourself better seated to enjoy the spectacle of fireworks for which Pittsburgh is world famous. (Hey, just like our world-class symphony is!) Bring your hand-held flag and don’t miss a single fife, flute or fiddle in this fanfare to freedom, which, of course, is family-friendly and free.

Finally, on July 5 at North Park’s Hartwood Acres, the PSO’s musicians and conductors each  may rest their laurels after another full program of patriotic pride. The program will replicate the compositions by Williams, Copland, Sousa, and Mancini heard in earlier performances of this great weekend, while also including Dvorak’s Music from Symphony No. 9, “From the New World,” as well as Mukhiddinov’s virtuosity on violin. Yet, as any musician will surely attest, no two performances are ever the same. Again, bring your blanket or lawn chair and find your spot on Hartwood Acre’s great lawn by 8:15 pm.

Stand for Truth and Justice (or Maybe Just a Better View)

What would the Fourth be without great music followed by fireworks? The City of Pittsburgh has gone all out this special year to appeal to all tastes and tempers. There’s line dancing, hot air balloon rides, DJ sets, a “Made Here” market, food trucks, and the ubiquitous family fun zone. But really, there’s so much more to consider that we direct you to a downtown map and the City’s schedule of events here. Do allow us, however, to give you the concert highlights of each of four performance stages, downtown and on Mt. Washington:

BNY MELLON STAGE 

4 – 5 pm Kahone Concept

6 – 7 pm  Eternal Boy

8 – 9:15 pm Plain White T’s

CELEBRATE THE USA STAGE

5 – 6:30 pm Cello Fury

7:30 – 9 pm Allegheny Brass Band

SARGENT ELECTRIC SOLAR STAGE

5 – 6:30 pm Louis Castle

7 – 8:30 pm M.E.L.T.

GRANDVIEW PARK BANDSTAND

4 pm Shari Richards & The Lenny Smith Project

6 pm Nied’s Hotel Band

8 pm Billy Price Band

FIREWORKS DISPLAY BEGINS AT 9:35 pm

Declare Your Independence Aloud

Homewood’s own singer-songwriter-producer, INEZ, will lead a free concert, presented by Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Chamber Music Pittsburgh, on July 4 at Arts Landing. The concert, A Hip Hop 250, will feature a collaboration of the solo artist with the Guardians of Sound’s Hip Hop Orchestra. Known for their acoustic instrumentations, this septet of musicians will be joined by dozens of younger artists to marry the traditional beats of hip-hop with fresh voices (and lyrics) conducted by INEZ.  The free program begins at 4 pm on the Dollar Bank Stage at Arts Landing.

Say Bye, Bye to Drinking Whiskey and Rye

That’s what them good ol’ boys were singing before they realized “This’ll be the day that I die.” But they didn’t. Western Pennsylvania’s famed Whiskey Rebellion was laid to rest when the local resistance relinquished their arms in the face of Alexander Hamilton and his militia who were marching westward to enforce federal law. To commemorate the peace, if not the spirit that started it all, Washington, PA, will host a Whiskey Rebellion Festival on July 10 and 11. On Main Street where stands the former home of David Bradford, leader of the rebellion, visitors from far and wide will celebrate the history of 1794 with tastings, street food, street theater, and two main stage concerts featuring the Washington Symphony Orchestra on Friday and The Clarks on Saturday. Check out the full schedule of free performances, whiskey tastings, parades and much more. There will also be a free screening (with registration) of a WPSU film: The Whiskey Rebellion on Sunday, June 28 at W&J’s Ballroom at Rossin Centre at 2 p.m.

C. Prentiss Orr is a Pittsburgh-based writer who covers film, live theater, and other topics for Entertainment Central. He is the author of the books The Surveyor and the Silversmith and Pittsburgh Born, Pittsburgh Bred.

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