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More than a month of free arts and cultural programming kicks off with the return of RADical Days — but that’s not all that’s going on this weekend in the Pittsburgh area.

RADical Days 2022 begins Friday and continues through Oct. 16, with more than 75 free events and experiences at more than 65 Allegheny County entities that receive Regional Asset District funding. Offerings include free admissions and free performances.

Opening day will include streaming of short films from the ReelAbilities Pittsburgh festival; tours of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center; “Alphabet Trail and Tales” family fun at the Frick Park Blue Slide Playground in Squirrel Hill; and two performances of the Pittsburgh CLO musical, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” at The Backyard at 8th & Penn downtown.

For a complete RADical Days schedule, visit radworkshere.org. Tribune-Review Free tours of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh are planned Sept. 10, the opening of 2022 RADical Days.  

A Fair in the Park, the annual contemporary fine art and fine craft festival, will take place this weekend in Mellon Park in Shadyside. Hours are 1-7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

The event will showcase about 85 regional and national artists working in mediums such as clay, fiber, wood, jewelry, glass, leather, metal, mixed media and two-dimensional art. About 60% of the artists are members of The Craftsmen’s Guild of Pittsburgh, with the rest selected by a jury from a pool of national and international applicants.

The festival also includes food, music by a DJ, artist demonstrations, children’s activities and a scavenger hunt.

For information, visit craftsmensguild.org.

The 31st Pittsburgh Irish Festival has a three-day weekend run at Carrie Blast Furnaces, 801 Carrie Furnace Blvd., Rankin. Hours will be 4-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

Festival features include Irish step and ceili dance, music, storytelling, sports demonstrations, cultural demonstrations, genealogy pavilion, dogs, marketplace, adult beverage tasting area and food vendors.

The Leprechaun’s Landing will offer children’s arts, crafts, music and games. An Irish Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Sunday.

Advance ticket purchase is recommended at pghirishfest.org, where more information also is available. Online ticket price is $17; children 12 and under enter free. A weekend pass is $50.

MCG Jazz and Kente Arts Alliance have teamed up for Jazz Weekend on the North Side, featuring these performers:

• Brian Simpson and Jackiem Joyner, 7:30 p.m. Friday in the MCG Jazz Concert Hall. Simpson is a keyboardist and composer who has toured with Janet Jackson. Saxophonist Joyner’s career spans more than 20 years. Reserved tickets are $49.50 at mcgjazz.org.

• Catherine Russell, 7:30 p.m. Saturday at New Hazlett Theater. Vocalist Russell’s repertoire spans American popular songs from the 1920s to the present. She has performed at the Monterey and Newport jazz festivals and the Kennedy and Lincoln centers. General admission tickets are $34 at newhazletttheater.org. Courtesy of Sarah Kim “Suki’s Honda,” 2022, by Sarah Kim, a piece featured in “Plain Silk, Uncarved Wood,” an exhibition running Sept. 10-Nov. 5 at the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh.  

“Plain Silk, Uncarved Wood,” an exhibition by Asian American artists living and working in Pittsburgh, will open with a reception from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, 100 43rd St., Unit 10, Lawrenceville.

Featured artists include Anny Chen, Eriko Hattori, Sarah Kim, Julie Lee, Karen Lue, Brent Nakamoto, Paul Peng, and Imin Yeh. Nakamoto is also the curator.

The reception will celebrate the Asian diaspora in Pittsburgh with performances by Caroline Yoo and exhibiting artist Anny Chen, food by AmBoy Urban Collective’s Rafael Vencio, and music by DJ Formosa.

The exhibition runs through Nov. 5. For information on viewing hours and related programming, visit aapgh.org.

Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley by email at smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .

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