BY RUTH RICE

RRICE@TRIBDEM.COM

A free Independence Day celebration presented by Johnstown Symphony Orchestra will be held at 8 p.m. Saturday at Point Stadium, downtown Johnstown.

The concert will feature patriotic tunes, big band selections, polkas and songs by members of the Aubrey Singers.

A barrage of cannon fire from the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in Johnstown will accompany the orchestra’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” and as fireworks burst in the sky, the symphony will play marches by John Philip Sousa.

In case of rain, the concert will be moved to the Cambria County War Memorial Arena.

Other fireworks displays in the region are:

-- The Galleria, Richland Township, 9:30 tonight.

-- Idlewild Park, Ligonier, 10 p.m. Saturday.

-- Lakemont Park, Altoona, at dusk tonight and Saturday.

-- DelGrosso Amusement Park, Tipton, at dusk Saturday.

-- Berlin Community Grove, at dusk Saturday.

-- Indiana County Fairgrounds, Mack Park, Indiana, 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

-- Central Pennsylvania Fourth Fest, Bryce Jordan Center, State College, at dusk Saturday.

-- Kennywood Park, West Mifflin, at dusk tonight through Sunday.

-- Rock the Country 4th of July Celebration, Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, gates open at 2 p.m. Saturday, fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

Short subjects

The fourth annual Johnstown Film and Wine Festival will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday through July 10 at Johnstown Flood Museum, 304 Washington St., downtown Johnstown, and at 7:30 p.m. July 11 at Heritage Discovery Center, 201 Sixth Ave. in the Cambria City section of Johnstown.

“So You Wanna Make Pictures,” a panel discussion on the filmmaking process, will be held at 4:30 p.m. July 11 in the discovery center’s education center.

After a wine tasting, the festival will culminate on July 11, when the top entries and winners’ films are shown in the courtyard at the discovery center, beginning at dusk.

Tickets are $5 at the door for Wednesday through July 10. On July 11, tickets will be $15 for adults and $10 for students.

Tickets will be available in the flood museum and discovery center gift shops.

Information: 539-1889, ext. 308 or www.jaha.org.

Family fun

The family comedy “Over the Tavern” will be onstage through July 12 at Mountain Playhouse, Jennerstown.

The PG-rated show harkens back to the Eisenhower era in the 1950s. It centers on a family that lives above the bar it owns.

Curtain times are 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays and 3 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets are $15 to $28 for matinee performances, and $20 to $32 for evening performances.

Information: 629-9021, option 1.

High energy classes

“High School Musical 2” will be in session through July 11 at Cresson Lake Playhouse, 279 Shapiro Road, Loretto.

The Wildcats are out of school and spending the summer at a country club in this sequel to the Disney hit.

Curtain times 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets are $17 for adults and $10 for children younger than 12.

Information: 472-4333.

The beat goes on

A monthly drum circle will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center, 411 Third Ave. in the Cambria City section of Johnstown.

Local musicians Rachel Allen and Reggie Harris host the drum circle, which is open to the public.

A donation of $5 is requested.

Information: 536-5399.

Recycled art

“Performance Art, Traditional Materials and Recycling,” featuring the artwork of Norman Ed and Barry Poglein, will be on display through Sept. 6 at Artworks in Johnstown, 413 Third Ave. in the Cambria City section of Johnstown.

Poglein’s sculpture utilizes construction paper and an antique marble, while Ed’s work is constructed from used wood.

The public is invited to observe Poglein adding to his sculpture from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays during the summer.

Poglein also will hold hands-on workshops for artists ages 10 to 15 and ages 15 and older.

Information: 535-2020.

Bandshell blast

Corkey Christy will continue the summer concert series at 5 p.m. Sunday at Roxbury Bandshell on Franklin Street in Johnstown.

Christy plays drums in a jazz combo that also features John Pencola on piano, Bill Scileny on trombone, Mike Stefanick on saxophone and vocals and Larry McGibboney on trumpet.

Going green

Walter Churchey will perform his own blend of pop, rock and country music for the 30th annual free Concerts-on-the-Green from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday on the grounds of the Community Arts Center, 1217 Menoher Blvd., Westmont.

Churchey is a self-taught artist who has been performing his original songs and cover tunes in area clubs for more than 30 years.

Those who attend should bring a blanket or chair for seating.

Living large

“Artists at Large: Selections from the Permanent Collection” will be on display through Sept. 18 at Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Johnstown in the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, Richland Township.

The exhibit will feature 19 larger-than-life paintings.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Information: 269-7234.

Dance rhythms

West African dance classes, taught by Becky Bickford, will be offered again at Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center, 411 Third Ave. in the Cambria City section of Johnstown.

Classes for children and adults will be held Wednesdays through Aug. 12. There will be no classes on July 15.

Youth classes, which are for participants ages 5 through 12, will be held from 6 to 7 p.m., and the adult classes, for those ages 13 and older, will be held from 7:30 to 8:30.

Live drummers will provide music for both classes.

The cost is $75 per person for the 10-week class session or $8 per class.

Scholarships are available for eligible schoolchildren.

Classes will conclude with an optional performance during Cambria City Ethnic Festival.

Information: 536-5399.

Historical images

“The Somerset Sesquicentennial: 55 Years Later,” a collection of photographs from the 1954 sesquicentennial anniversary of Somerset Borough, will be on display through Oct. 11 at the Somerset Historical Center, 10649 Somerset Pike.

In addition to images by local photographer Walt Bowen, there will be souvenir items and archival memorabilia from the summer of 1954 on display.

Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Information: 445-6077.

Band played on

Scottdale Area Concert Band will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday on the Diamond in Ligonier as part of the summer band concert series sponsored by Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Donations will be used to offset the cost of the bands during the concerts.

In case of inclement weather, concerts will be held in the Ligonier Town Hall auditorium.

Information: (724) 238-4200 or www.ligonier.com.

Sasquatch alert

Eric Altman, director of the Pennsylvania Bigfoot Society, will man a special booth from 8 a.m. until noon Saturday at Ligonier Country Market in downtown Ligonier.

Altman will share information on the group’s mission and research as well as his experiences in the field in search of Bigfoot.

He is co-host and producer of Beyond the Edge Radio, an Internet paranormal radio show.

In addition to locally grown produce, the market will feature vendors and artists selling goods related to the Fourth of July holiday.

Upcoming

Jazz in the park

Jazz in Your Face will perform from 7 to 9 p.m. July 11 in Central Park, downtown Johnstown, as part of the Concerts in the Park series.

Music lovers should bring a blanket or lawn chair or sit on one of the park’s benches.

Southern steel

Auditions for Cresson Lake Playhouse’s production of “Steel Magnolias” will be held at 4 p.m. July 15 at the theater’s rehearsal hall, 526 W. Ogle St., Ebensburg.

Scripts are available for review at the business office, also located at 526 W. Ogle St.

The show will be performed Sept. 3-12 at the barn theater at 279 Shapiro Road, Loretto.

Information: 472-4333.

Go to the hop

The second of a series of sock hops sponsored by Windber Area Visioning Experience will be held July 19 in the ballroom at Windber Recreation Park.

A car and motorcycle cruise-in will be held at 3 p.m., with an oldies dance from 5 to 9.

Admission to the dance is $5, and hamburgers, hot dogs, soda and snacks will be available for purchase.

Magic moment

Jay and the Americans – Rock & Roll DooWop will be in concert at 8 p.m. July 18 at Arcadia Theater, 1418 Graham Ave., Windber.

The group features three members of the original answer to the British invasion.

Hit songs to be performed will include “Only in America,” “Come A Little Bit Closer” and “This Magic Moment.”

Tickets are $35, $37 and $39.

Information: 467-9070.

Garden party

Aran, the Johnstown-based traditional Irish band, will perform at 4 p.m. July 19 at Dillweed Bed & Breakfast, Route 403, Dilltown, as part of the Garden Concert Series.

Band members enjoy playing lively instrumentals, slow aires, traditional ballads, drinking songs and shanties.

Admission is free, and food and refreshments will be available for purchase.

Information: 446-6465.

Outdoor painting

A plein air painting class will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 25 at Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley, One Boucher Lane and Route 711 South, Ligonier.

Reservations are required by July 21.

The class will be taught by Ron Donoughe, whose artwork is featured in the museum’s current exhibition, “A Changing Landscape: From the City to the Countryside.”

Participants will meet at the museum before class, then travel to a location in the Ligonier Valley to paint.

The cost is $100 per person. A $40 deposit is required.

Information: (724) 238-6015.

Nifty ’50s

Band of Brothers Shakespeare Company will present “Merry Wives of Windsor” with a classic 1950s television-sitcom twist at 7 p.m. July 17-18 and 22-25 at Elk Creek in Stackhouse Park, Westmont entrance.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for seniors and students.

Information: www.bandofbrothersshakespeare.org or 539-9500.