5 things to do in Westmoreland County: Aug. 19-21
Search for meaning
“American Idiot,” a musical based on the 2004 concept album by pop-punk band Green Day, will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the Geyer Performing Arts Center, 111 Pittsburgh St., Scottdale.
The sung-through musical follows Johnny, Will and Tunny — three young friends disillusioned with their suburban lifestyle and parental restrictions — as they take different paths to find meaning in a post-9/11 world. The show contains mature themes and strong language and is intended for adult audiences.
A ticket is $15. To reserve, call 724-887-0887 or visit geyerpac.com.
Medieval merrymaking
The Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival opens at 10:30 a.m. Saturday for a six-weekend run on the festival grounds at 112 Renaissance Lane, South Huntingdon.
Festival-goers are treated to the experience of a medieval 16th-century revel, complete with authentically costumed merrymakers, period artisans creating original works, food, a marketplace, jousting and entertainment. Visitors are invited to come dressed in costume; costumes also are available for rental.
Each weekend has a separate special theme. King Henry and his court will be present for opening weekend.
Hours are 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 25 and Labor Day, Sept. 5. Tickets are $15, or $12 for ages 5-12, available at pittsburghrenfest.com.
Exhibition opening
An opening reception for the new exhibition, “Color, Light, and the Outdoors,” is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley, off Route 711 south of the borough.
The exhibition features works by noted artists Kevin Kutz, Sandra Jackson, Eddie Mitchell and William Pfahl capturing subtleties of color, light and texture in depictions of houses, fields, flowers and trees. It will run through Oct. 30.
Fee for the reception is $5. To register, call 724-238-6015 or visit sama-art.org.
Coming clean
DIY History, featuring hands-on historical activities, is set for noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at West Overton Village, 109 West Overton Road, East Huntingdon.
The laundry-themed session will allow visitors to try washboards and wash bats from the early 1800s before moving on to a hand-operated washing machine. They also will see early electric washing machines in action, ending with an iconic wringer washer from the 1950s.
Admission is $12, or $10 for students, military personnel and those 65 and older, and includes a tour of the historic site, which was the the birthplace of industrialist Henry Clay Frick and the original site of a distillery founded by his great-grandfather Henry Overholt and grandfather Abraham Overholt, which produced Old Overholt rye whiskey.
For information, visit westovertonvillage.org.
Last hurrah
Ligonier’s summer band concert series concludes with a performance by the Wally Gingers Orchestra at 7 p.m. Sunday on the Ligonier Diamond.
Founded in 1937, the orchestra was revived in 2010 after a 20-year hiatus. The ensemble plays music from the heyday of the big bands, including arrangements by Glenn Miller, Woody Herman, the Dorsey Brothers, Count Basie and Benny Goodman.
The free summer concerts are sponsored by the Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce. Donations are accepted to support the series. In case of inclement weather, the concert moves to the Ligonier Town Hall auditorium.
For information, visit ligonier.com.
Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley by email at smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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