Festivals brim with apples, whiskey, wine, chestnuts
Festivals
Apple Festival Along Strawberry Way: Apple dumplings, Dutch apple pies, apple crisp, lunch items. 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Smithfield United Church of Christ, Downtown. smithfield church.
Walkabout Apple Whiskey Weekend: Activities unveiling Wigle’s new Walkabout Apple Whiskey. 5 to 9:30 p.m. Friday at Wigle Whiskey Barrelhouse, North Side: whiskey release party with two apple whiskey cocktails, familyfriendly apple activities, food truck and live music for $15. 5 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday at the Barrelhouse: banh mi from Blue Sparrow Food Truck, apple whiskey cocktails, live music, free admission. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Wigle Whiskey Distillery, Strip District: apple whiskey cocktails, apple cinnamon frozen yogurt, live music, family-friendly apple activities, free admission. wiglewhiskey.com/event-tickets.
Hometown-Homegrown: Food samples from more than 40 local vendors, cooking demos, live music, cookbook exchange, spirits samples. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Heinz History Center, Strip District. Free with History Center admission. heinzhistorycenter.
Harvest Moon Wine Festival: Wine, live music, vendors, food, bonfire and more. 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Millvale Riverfront Park. $50; $25 for designated drivers; $80 for VIPs (includes early admission, wine tote, admittance to a special food and wine tent and more). millvalepa.com.
Rivers Brew Craft Beer Fest: Food trucks, live music, craft beer tastings, retro arcade games. 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Rivers Casino, North Shore. $30; $15 for designated drivers; ages 21 and up only. showclix.com/ event/RiversBrew.
Mt. Oliver Fall Fest: Chili cook-off, vendors, food, music, kids’ activities, pieeating contest. Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday in Transverse Park, Mt. Oliver. Facebook.com (search for Fall Fest Mt. Oliver in Events).
West Virginia Chestnut Festival: Chestnut samples and sales, craft vendors, chestnut tree sapling sales, scientific presentations, chestnut dinner banquet. 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Rowlesburg, W.Va. Festival admission is free; for banquet ticket sales, contact 1-304-329-1240. Information: wvchestnutfestival.
Smoketoberfest IV: Smoked cuisine from local vendors, live music and Roundabout beers, including smoked varieties. 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday on 49th Street outside Roundabout Brewery, Lawrenceville. $25. roundaboutbeer.com/ events/.
World flavors
Oktoberfest 2017: Beer, cider, bratwurst, lemonade and hot dogs for kids, pig roast and more. 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Koenig Field, Edgewood. $30 in advance; $35 at the door; free for ages 20 and under. edgewoodfoundation.org.
Oktoberfest: Renew the “I Do” Foundation presents Oktoberfest with mass, square dancing, German dinner and beer. 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Victory Church and Syria Shriners Pavilion, Cheswick. $68 per couple. renewtheido.org.
The Greek Grille:com Outdoor party with gyros, chicken and pork souvlaki, salad, Greek desserts and more. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Oct. 13, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Oakland. facebook. (search for The Greek Grille).
Classes/demos
FoodBytes: Open-forum chat for food startup founders and aspiring entrepreneurs, featuring the founders of Coop Chicken & Waffles food truck and Pittsburgh Sweet Treats. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Alloy26, North Side. Free. RSVP: 412-281-0101.
Una Serata Italiana: Learn to make homemade pasta and three pasta sauces; enjoy live music and dancing afterward. 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Wilkins School Community Center, Regent Square. $30; $65 for a family of two adults and two children. Bring wine and a side dish if desired. facebook. (search for Una Serata Italiana).
Cabbage Ferment Party: Make sauerkraut, kimchi and pickles; Ferment Pittsburgh provides the cabbage and sells containers to fill. Experts will be on hand to provide guidance, and demos are scheduled throughout the afternoon. Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at Garden Dreams Urban Farm & Nursery, Wilkinsburg. $12. eventbrite.com (search for Cabbage Ferment Party).
Taste of Home LIVE: Stage show featuring “Taste of Home” magazine recipe demos, food decorating and entertaining tips and other holiday food themes. 7 p.m. Monday at Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh, Moon. $25; $85 for VIPs (includes catered meal, preferred show seating, gift bag and cookbook). tasteofhome.com/live.
Dinners
HarvestFest Dinner: Buffet-style dinner featuring locally sourced meats, fruits and vegetables. 6 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Mt. Lebanon. $15; $5 for ages 5 to 12; free for ages 4 and under. stpaulspgh.org/ blog/annual-harvestfestdinner/.
Italian Food and Wine Dinner: Chef Matt Stover crafts a six-course Italian menu with wine pairings. Menu includes maple-glazed pork belly with butternut squash risotto, lemon sole roulade with gnocchi, duck breast with wild mushrooms, rib-eye filet and panna cotta with berry coulis. 6:30 p.m. Monday at Il Pizzaiolo, Hampton. $135. Reservations required: 412767-0700.