Bethel Park held its annual Community Day on Sept. 20, with the traditional parade kicking off the event at 9 a.m. followed by festivities at Bethel Park High School. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., families and friends enjoyed more than 60 booths of games, refreshments and local vendors, along with music from a deejay, inflatable obstacle courses, airbrush tattoos, and more. PHOTOS BY RALPH LOVUOLO

Where the season sparkles—your ultimate guide to holiday happenings. Welcoming the Season Bethel Park Tree Lighting & Holiday Market When: December 6 Where: Recreation Community Center, 5151 Park Avenue, Bethel Park For more info: bethelparkpa.gov This annual tree lighting celebration will feature a visit from Santa, a whimsical gingerbread neighborhood, holiday activities, and a seasonal indoor market. Deck the Barns When: December 19–21 Where: Washington County Fairgrounds,

Where the season sparkles—your ultimate guide to holiday happenings. Welcoming the Season Butler’s Spirit of Christmas Parade When: November 29 Where: Main Street, Downtown Butler For more info: butlerradio.com/spirit-of-christmas-parade Enjoy a variety of fun activities to kick off the holiday season! This year’s theme is “Christmas Through the Decades.” Enjoy floats, marching bands, dance groups, and much more. Fun Fore All Holiday Lights Mini Golf When: November 21 through

This year’s Community Day took place on Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Ross Township Community Center. From 3 to 8 p.m., families and neighbors gathered to enjoy a full afternoon and evening of activities including food, live music, touch-a-truck, balloon art, local vendors and entertainment. PHOTOS BY RALPH LOVUOLO

Families gathered behind the Fox Chapel Borough building on Saturday, Sept. 27, for the police department’s annual Touch-a-Truck day. The increasingly popular event was held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., beginning with a sensory-friendly hour. Children enjoyed exploring, climbing and honking horns in a variety of vehicles. Highlights also included the K9 for a Day and his official “swearing in,” plus a fire department demonstration. Attendees were encouraged to contribute monetary

This year’s Mars Applefest took place Oct. 4 in downtown Mars, with residents and friends enjoying a full day of food, crafts, music, and other fun activities for families. The free event featured more than 150 vendors offering everything from local foods to handmade art. PHOTOS BY RALPH LOVUOLO

In recent years, several talented young players from Allegheny County, known as mibsters, have found national success at the annual National Marbles Tournament in Wildwood, New Jersey (left photo). Some of these champions even come from right here in Shaler Township. Since the tournament began in 1922, Allegheny County has produced more than 30 national champions, with many of those victories occurring in just the past two decades. The term “mibster” refers to young marble pl

Where the season sparkles—your ultimate guide to holiday happenings. Welcoming the Season Butler’s Spirit of Christmas Parade When: November 29 Where: Main Street, Downtown Butler For more info: butlerradio.com/spirit-of-christmas-parade Enjoy a variety of fun activities to kick off the holiday season! This year’s theme is “Christmas Through the Decades.” Enjoy floats, marching bands, dance groups, and much more. Fun Fore All Holiday Lights Mini Golf When: November 21 through

A place to find unique gifts for Christmas or any occasion since 1943. The Trading post is a wonderful place to find unique items for Christmas gifts and other occasions that cannot be found in stores. Some of the treasures are vintage, and will no doubt bring a smile to the faces of recipients as they remember Christmases past with a gift from long ago. The Trading Post began during World War II, when many items were rationed for the public. This caused a shortage of childre

Where the season sparkles—your ultimate guide to holiday happenings. Welcoming the Season Delmont Borough Light-Up Night When: November 28 Where: Rose Wigfield Parklet, 27 Greensburg Street, Delmont For more info: delmontboro.com Join your friends and neighbors for the tree lighting and some holiday spirit. Light Up Ligonier When: November 28 Where: Town Hall, 120 East Main Street, Ligonier For more info: business.ligonier.com/events Count down to light up the Diamond, enjoy

Guests at Art on Tap: Rocktober Fest at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art on Friday, Oct. 10, enjoyed a high-energy evening packed with light bites, drinks, and live music. The event also featured the world premiere of a music video for a collaboration involving more than a dozen local musicians, including Frzy, Tarra Layne, Victor Mollov, Sophia Mintas, and The Damaged Pies. Art on Tap is a regular series at the museum. The 21+ “happy hour” style events feature differe

On Saturday, Aug. 9, Murrysville Community Park was filled with food, games and live music as families gathered for an evening of fun at the annual Concert in the Park. Guests enjoyed performances by Landline Bluegrass, Louie Castle & Unleashed, and The Nied’s Hotel Band before the night closed with a dazzling fireworks display. PHOTOS BY RALPH LOVUOLO

Where the season sparkles—your ultimate guide to holiday happenings. Welcoming the Season Bethel Park Tree Lighting & Holiday Market When: December 6 Where: Recreation Community Center, 5151 Park Avenue, Bethel Park For more info: bethelparkpa.gov This annual tree lighting celebration will feature a visit from Santa, a whimsical gingerbread neighborhood, holiday activities, and a seasonal indoor market. Deck the Barns When: December 19–21 Where: Washington County Fairgrounds,

This beloved ballet is the ultimate family holiday experience! Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) will present the beloved holiday classic, “The Nutcracker,” Dec. 5–28 at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District. Set in turn-of-the-century Pittsburgh, PBT’s dazzling version was conceived and choreographed by the legendary Terrence S. Orr. It includes hundreds of colorful characters on an unforgettable adventure through sparkling snow into the dreamy Land of Enchantme

7th grader and Makerleader Inara Caswell points to the project that her and fellow Makerleader, Sutra Lateef (8th grade) are creating on the Glow Forge. Middle school students are stepping into the future inside the newly renovated library, now transformed into a vibrant makerspace. With access to an indoor miniature robotics field, a 3D printer, and glow forge printers and cutters, students are gaining hands-on experiences that bring learning to life. These tools spark innov

On Saturday, Aug. 2, Delmont celebrated Salem Crossroads with its annual Delmont Daze festival. The day kicked off at 11 a.m. with food trucks, live entertainment, booth activities, a basket auction and more. Families also enjoyed meeting K9 Officer Dirk. The highlight of the day was the parade, which began at 1 p.m. and featured local Jeeps, Shriners, the Delmont VFD, businesses, Scouts and community leaders including State Rep. Jill Cooper and Mayor Alyce Urban. PHOTOS BY R

Your guide to some of the most dazzling holiday light shows and displays in the area. Allegheny County Holiday Laser Show at North Park When: Check the website for updated details. Where: North Park Pool, Hemlock Drive, Allison Park For more info: alleghenycounty.us/special-events This one-of-a-kind drive-in laser show is held in the North Park Pool parking lot. Guests can watch the 40-minute holiday light show from the comfort of their vehicles. Don’t forget to bring the pop

Where the season sparkles—your ultimate guide to holiday happenings. Welcoming the Season Carols & Lights – Carnegie Celebrates the Season When: December 5 Where: Main Street, Carnegie For more info: carnegieborough.com Enjoy the annual tree lighting and so much more! Celebration of Lights When: December 6 Where: 117 West Steuben Street, Crafton For more info: craftonborough.gov/events Welcome the holiday season with crafts, music, Santa, and lights at Crafton’s annual celebr

Adrianne Arena-Jacobs has been dancing in the spotlight since she was a child. Decades later, she still derives joy from her lifelong passion. Adrianne Arena-Jacobs may be a familiar name to those who have participated in Moon Area High School theater productions. She has choreographed more than 20 productions for the school’s spring musicals, which are noted for their high-caliber performances. Her dance journey began when she was just 3 years old. Her mother, hoping to expe

The Monroeville Foundation presented the annual Monroeville Jazz Festival on Saturday, Aug. 30, at Tall Trees Amphitheater. From noon until 8 p.m., more than 2,000 attendees enjoyed performances by talented musicians in a beautiful outdoor setting. This free family-friendly tradition, now spanning over two decades, brought the community together for another memorable evening. PHOTOS BY PRIMETIME SHOTS