Ribs, Croatian foods, cheese are part of the festival scene
Festivals
Rib Fest: Ribs, live music, car cruise, fireworks, vendors, kids’ activities and more. 5 to 11 p.m. July 27; noon to 11 p.m. July 28; and noon to 8 p.m. July 29 at Paradise Park in Cowansville. $6 admission; free for kids under 12. paradiseparkpa.com/content/Events/ribfest.
Festival of Cheese: Unlimited samples of more than 2,000 artisan, farmstead and specialty cheeses, plus gourmet food and drinks. 7 to 9:30 p.m. July 28 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown. $ 65. festival of cheese. This event is part of the American Cheese Society Conference, which is being held for the first time in Pittsburgh from July 2528. For conference session details and registration: cheesesociety.org/conference/
Goatfest: Food trucks, live music, Allegheny Goatscape herd. Noon to 4 p.m. July 28 at South Side Park. Free admission. showclix.com/event/goatfest
Croatian Center Picnic: Lamb, cevapi, haluski, pierogies, other food, live music, drinks, dancing. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 29 at Croatian Center Picnic Grounds, Millvale. facebook.com (search for “Annual Croatian Center Picnic hosted by Tanac and Ljeljo”).
Drink-related events
Imbibe Northside: Samples from more than 10 local breweries, wineries and distilleries, music, food trucks, art exhibitions. 6 p.m. July 28 at The Mattress Factory, North Side. $40 in advance; $50 at the door; ages 21 and up only. showclix.com/event/imbibenorthside
PGH National Sidecar Day Tour: Nine bars around Pittsburgh will serve sidecar brandy cocktails on July 30 in celebration of National Sidecar Day and the International Day of Friendship. Patrons can drop in for as much of the tour as they please. The schedule is: 3 to 4 p.m., Federal Galley, North Side; 4:15 to 5 p.m., Pork & Beans, Downtown; 5:15 to 5:45 p.m., Winghart’s, Market Square; 6 to 6:45 p.m., Merchant Oyster Co., Lawrenceville; 7 to 7:45 p.m., The Abbey on Butler Street, Lawrenceville; 8 to 8:45 p.m., Spork, Garfield; 9 to 9:45 p.m., Butterjoint, Oakland; 10 p.m. to midnight, Meat & Potatoes, Downtown; midnight to 2 a.m., after-party at The Warren, Downtown.
Dinners
Raw Vegan Dinner Series: Cold-pressed cocktails, snacks and a fourcourse raw vegan dinner with wine pairings. 7 p.m. July 26 at Heirloom Superfood Market, Strip District. $ 65. heirloommarketpgh.
Superior Motors ‘Gratitude’ 1-Year Anniversary: Christening of a new Braddock Bread Oven Courtyard with special food and drinks. 2 to 11 p.m. July 31 at Superior Motors, Braddock. eventbrite.com (search for “Superior Motors ‘Gratitude’ 1 Year Anniversary”).
For charity
Down on the Farm: Farm-to-table dinner, dancing and drinks. 6 to 10 p.m. July 28 Roselea Farm, Moon. $75; benefits The Avon Club’s charitable connections including Meals on Wheels, North Hills Community Outreach, Avonworth Club and more. squareup.com/store/avonclub
Food pantry produce: Need to get rid of that extra zucchini? North Hills Community Outreach is accepting garden produce for distribution through its three food pantries. Drop it off from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at any NHCO office (1975 Ferguson Road, Hampton; 416 Lincoln Ave., Millivale; AGH-Suburban Campus, 100 S. Jackson Ave., Floor 2 South, Bellevue) or between 9 a.m. and noon Aug. 4 at the Hampton location. Information: 412487-6316, opt. 1.
Contest
Free wings for a year: Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, which has restaurants in Cranberry, McMurray, Monroeville and Robinson, invites “loyalty guests” (people who sign up for an online rewards account with the chain) to place a dine-in or takeout order now through July 29 to be entered in a drawing to win free chicken$65. wings for a year. acfp.com.