Miller Minutes
This column is brought to you in September, but guess what this weekend is full of? Octoberfests!
Fall has encroached upon every surface and entity in the county ... except the leaves. The stores, the restaurants and even my mother’s mantel have been enveloped in orange, pine cones and pumpkins.
If you’re still mourning the passing of summer, these weekend events are sure to move your spirits forward into fall.
Zelienople’s library is having SeussMania, where Karen Cramer will share her experiences visiting Dr. Seuss landmarks and her Seuss collection. Stop by Zelienople Area Public Library, 227 S. High St., at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29.
Butler Area Public Library’s fall book sale will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 1. Drop in on 218 N. McKean St. to browse used books and other entertainment.
The Beacon Haunted House & Corn Maze kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 and will continue every Friday and Saturday until Oct. 30. Tickets are $25. For family fun, come out and experience No Scare Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. for $10.
Butler Little Theatre, 1 Howard St., will begin its 81st season at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 with “Social Security” by Andrew Bergman. Tickets are on sale now at https://butlerlittletheatre.com.
The Cranberry Artists Network’s next Back Hall Gallery show at 2525 Rochester Road will feature black-and-white photographer Martha Hopkins Skarlinski and jewelry maker and sculptor Mary Mason. The exhibit runs Oct. 1 through 30 with a reception from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 15.
The Portersville Steam Show Fall Fling will have a vintage apple cider press alongside the gas and steam engines, oil field equipment, farm animals, train rides, flea market, and more at 1512 Perry Highway starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 and Sunday, Oct. 2.
The fifth annual Garrett Fifield Memorial Mutt Strut is being held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Rotary Shelter at Butler Memorial Park. Mutts and their human friends will strut their stuff in memory of loved ones gone too soon. Costume and peanut butter eating contests will abound!
At Pittsburgh and Grand avenues in Mars, Applefest will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. Live entertainment, arts and crafts, food vendors and more will take over the streets while apple flavors will take over your taste buds.
The Butler Fall Festival begins on Main Street at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. A car show, kid zone, live music, food and more will be available rain or shine!
Slippery Rock’s Oktoberfest is back for the third-straight year from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at 320 N. Main St. Admission is free to the breweries, wineries and distilleries from all over the region, and proceeds benefit Slippery Rock Parks and Recreation.
Meridian Fall Fest is brought to you by Meridian Veterans Club, 125 Meridian Road, Butler Township, as well as a chance to try Amish doughnuts, apple butter stuffed cabbage, and haluski. Come taste everything starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1.
Concordia Oktoberfest runs from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 at Concordia at Cabot: Haven 1, 112 Marwood Road, Cabot. Pumpkin decorating, crafts, a hayride for children, live entertainment, a bake sale and more will make for a fun evening.
The Butler County Symphony Orchestra’s first show will feature two performers from the Great White Way in New York City. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 in the Butler Intermediate High School’s auditorium, 551 Fairground Hill Road. Purchase tickets for “Bravo Broadway” at https://butlersymphony.org.
The Tuff Tornado Run lasts from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. in Alameda Park, 184 Alameda Park Road, Butler Township. For information or to sign up, visit https://www.runsignup.com/Race/PA/Butler/TuffTornadoRun.
Booktoberfest is a fundraiser for South Butler Community Library happening from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2 at Cooper Hall in Roebling Park, 199 N. Rebecca St., Saxonburg. German-inspired dinner, music and brews will be available. Purchase tickets at https://allevents.in/saxonburg/library.
On Sunday, Oct. 2 from 1 to 4 p.m., the Armstrong County Historical Museum and Genealogical Society will have Kenneth Serfass as Gen. Ulysses S. Grant for a presentation about Grant's 1864 Overland Campaign. Members of the 62nd PA Volunteer Infantry Living History Family also will be present, and the museum will be open for tours. Take a blanket and lawn chair to 300 N. McKean St., Kittanning, to step back in time!
Sweat Pink! is a fitness event dedicated to helping the PA Breast Cancer Coalition. Doors to the Butler Intermediate High School, 551 Fairground Hill Road, open at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, for the event. Once inside, be sure to purchase raffle tickets and get “pinked out” with glitter and face paint!
