August Fun: 40+ cool things to do in the Beaver Valley (and a dozen more in Pittsburgh)

August brings all sorts of hot entertainment and cool activities to Beaver Valley folks.

We've got plenty of ideas for you in our August Fun Calendar:

Aug. 1

School Is Cool! a free back-to-school event 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Beaver Valley Mall. Fifty-plus vendors on site with entertainment for families and kids, complimentary haircuts, raffles and giveaways, and backpacks donated by Shell Polymers while supplies last. shopbeavervalley.com.

Aug. 2

Eclectic Acoustics performing rock classics. 6:30 p.m. Harkins Mill Wines, 564 Merchant St., Ambridge.

Concert in the Park: Kenny Sharp and Brown Liquor Music , R&B and soul music, 7 p.m. PJ Caul Park, Ambridge. Part of the Uncommon Concerts series by the Genesis Collective.

Aug. 3

Beaver Hot Summer Nights Car Cruise, 25th edition, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. downtown Beaver.

Monaca Olympics begins at 10 a.m. at John Antoline Memorial Park. Teams of six to eight players compete in a relay race/obstacle course, dodgeball, tug of war, kickball, cornhole, trivia and bubble soccer. Food trucks on site. Games will end with an awards ceremony and cookout on Aug. 4.

Jared Meyers Legacy Race, 9 a.m. 5K race with a 9:10 a.m. one-mile fun walk, Ewing Park, Ellwood City. beavercountyevents .com

Aug. 4

Singer-songwriter Eric Nassau , 5-7 p.m. Fermata Brewing, Ambridge. fermatabrewing.beer.

Purse Bingo to benefit United Way of Beaver County, 1 p.m. Monaca Turners. Win new designer purses, baskets and other items.

Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, 11 a.m. Schenley Park, Pittsburgh.

Aug. 5

Beaver Bopcats 6:30 p.m. swing jazz concert outside Alumni Hall at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, Midland. Moved inside if it rains.

Aug. 6

Healthy Eating Cooking Class with chef Patty from Crop & Kettle, 2-3:30 p.m. Beaver County YMCA.

Franklin Township Community Day/National Night Out , 6-9 p.m. Franklin Shopping Plaza, with free children’s activities such as a bounce house, slide, petting zoo, balloon twisting, face painting, games, and a variety of vendors.

"Ladies Hike – Pretty Boy Floyd," a special three-mile hike for ladies in Beaver Creek State Park, on the North Country Trail near East Liverpool, Ohio, with a short detour to where gangster Pretty Boy Floyd met his demise in 1934. After the hike, participants will enjoy cookies and lemonade. Hosted by the Wampum Chapter of the North Country Trail. northcountrytrail.org.

Aug. 7

Community Movie Night showing "Shrek," 7:30 p.m. The Falls Park, Beaver Falls.

Aug. 8

Silent Book Club , 6:30-8:30 p.m. New Brighton Public Library, with no assigned readings. Pick what you want and read at your own pace and socialize as much or as little as you want.

Beaver County Symphonic Wind Ensemble "Pops in The Park" concert, 7:30 p.m. Crafton Park, 117 W. Steuben St., Crafton.

Aug. 9

99th San Rocco Festa hosted by the San Rocco Cultural Committee begins at the Beaver Valley Auto Mall Field off Beaver Valley Mall Boulevard. The three-day event aims to preserve Italian heritage and culture in America via a weekend filled with music, food, various craft vendors and activities for kids. sanrocco.org.

The Celebration 2024 presented by the San Rocco Foundation , begins at 5 p.m. at Mary Queen of Saints Parish, Saint Frances Cabrini Campus, Center Township. sanroccofoundation.org. Celebrating the 99-year tradition of a local San Rocco Festival with a three-day event offering live music, the doll dance and a Mass and procession. sanroccofoundation.org

Liverpool Legends , a Beatles tribute, 7 p.m. Scottish Rite Cathedral, New Castle.

Steel City Con opens with celebrity appearances by "Weird" Al Yankovic, Martin Sheen, Helen Hunt, Ralph Macchio, Marissa Tomei, Jennifer Grey, Elisabeth Shue, Jared Padalecki and more, Monroeville Convention Center. Rums through Aug. 11. steelcitycon.com

"Painting Churches," a play about the relationship between an artist daughter and her aging parents, opens at Iron Horse Community Theater, Ambridge. Continues Aug. 10, 16-18, 23 -24. ironhorsetheatrecompany.ticketleap.com/painting-churches/

Movie Night with the Hills Snack Bar , 6 p.m. Economy Park, 101 Recreation Drive, Economy.

Aug. 10

The Clarks in concert at 8 p.m. at Mario's 410 Grille, Bridgewater.

More: The Clarks announce Bridgewater show... it's on a Saturday, a Saturday, a Saturday...

Artistic Therapy: A Night of Interpretive Dance & Spoken Word, led by Blossom Nicole, 6-8 p.m. Baby Bello, 2200 Ninth Ave., Beaver Falls.

Highland VFW Musicfest, 3 p.m., a music festival with seven acts including Steel Reserve and headliners The Project Band, Park Road, Chippewa Township.

Pittsburgh VegFest with vegetarian/vegan vendors and live music, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Allegheny Commons Park East on the city's North Side. pittsburghvegfest.org.

Barrel & Flow, America's best beer festival according to USA Today readers , spotlighting Black-owned breweries, The Stacks at 3 Crossings, 2875 Railroad St, Pittsburgh's Strip District. barrelandflow.com.

The Six One Five Collective , 7:30 p.m., a musical mix of country, Americana, folk and pop, the Strand Theater, Zelienople. thestrandtheater.org.

Aug. 11

Burgers, Bikers & Brats, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Living Faith Church, Marion Township. A simple gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts with a free burger or dog and an evening ride.

Aug. 12

Echo Valley bluegrass concert 6:30 p.m. outside Alumni Hall at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, Midland. Moved inside if it rains.

Aug. 13

New Brighton Night Mart, 5-9 p.m., night shopping, live music, food trucks and giveaways in the New Brighton business district. This month's theme: Back to School-Teacher Appreciation.

“Harmony Under the Stars, ” 6-9 p.m. at The Stage at Ewing Park in Ellwood City. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy live performances by the Greater Harmony Chorus and chapter quartets, as well as food trucks and raffle baskets. Donations benefit both the chorus and Glade Run Lutheran Services. information@greaterharmony.org

Aug. 14

Wander Ellwood City, 5-9 p.m. Lawrence Avenue transforms into a bustling hub, complete with live music in the Ellwood City Community Plaza and dozens of vendors (including food trucks, breweries, wineries, and local artisans & crafters) plus favorite storefronts open into the evening. ellwoodchamber.org.

Aug. 15

Free American Tango Lessons, 7-8 p.m. The Well, 1401 Sixth Ave., Beaver Falls.

Aug. 16

Friday Night Flea Market , 4-8 p.m. in the parking lot of the Bradys Run Ice Arena. visitbeavercounty.com.

Aug. 17

Family Color Blaze 1.5-mile Fun Run/Walk starting at 10 a.m. at Sippel Reservoir Park, behind Northgate Plaza on Route 19, Harmony borough. Runners, non-runners, and families all can experience a rainbow of colors. As participants journey through the course, they will be showered in a vibrant array of colored powder at different color stations. Register at runsignup.com/Race/PA/Harmony/2024HarmonyColorBlazeRunWalk.

Second annual Evan's Monumental Gifts Carnival Fundraiser, noon to 6 p.m., Ewing Park, Ellwood City with bounce houses, games. petting zoo, face painting, music and vendors. Raises money for Evan's Monumental Gifts, a nonprofit that helps local child-loss families pay for headstones.

Aliquippa American-Serbian Club car cruise , 5-9 p.m. 2619 Brodhead Road, Aliquippa.

Aug. 18

Car cruise supporting veterans , 1-5 p.m. 500 Cherrington Parkway, Moon Township. Hosted by Tapestry Senior Living.

Aug. 19

Flotsam River Circus , a troupe of musicians, circus artists and puppeteers traveling on a handmade raft, will perform for free at Monaca's Riverfront Park. Kid-friendly but meant for all ages. Performance starts at 6 p.m. and should be done by 7:30. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. rivercircus.com.

Aug. 20

Hookstown Fair opens, Hookstown Fairgrounds. 78th annual event runs through Aug. 24. hookstownfair.com.

Aug. 24

Deadfest, a tribute to the Grateful Dead, 2-10 p.m. at Big Sewickley Creek Brewing, Economy. Live music with Michael Bartlett Trio at 2 p.m. and The Cause at 7 p.m. sewickleybrewery.com.

Hero Hogs Motorcycle Run, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Koppel, benefitting the Koppel Police Department andthe Koppel Volunteer Fire Department. fatfannystoo.com

Oddities & Curiosities Expo for lovers of the strange, unusual and bizarre open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the David Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh. Continues 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 25. pittsburghcc.com/

Aug. 25

Open mic with David Granati and Jenna Shank , 3 p.m. Harkins Mill Wines, Ambridge.

Aug. 26

Music Mondays on the patio at the Laughlin Memorial Library , Ambridge featuring James Tobin & The Dewey Decimators playing roots rock originals and covers.

Project Band, classic rock, 7:30 p.m. Zooky's Sports Tavern, Fallston.

Aug. 27

82nd annual Big Knob Grange Fair opens, New Sewickley Township. Runs through Aug. 31.

Aug. 28

Women Who Rock starring Melissa Etheridge , a benefit for Magee Women's Research Institute, 7:30 p.m. Stage AE, Pittsburgh. promowestlive.com.

Aug. 29

"Young Frankenstein ," the musical comedy, 7:30 p.m. Greer Cabaret Theater, Pittsburgh. Runs through Sept. 1.

Aug. 30

Falls Friday Market, occurs 4-7 p.m. every Friday of summer at Falls Park in downtown Beaver Falls. beaverfallscdc.org.

Burst Your Bubble, 7-9 p.m. trivia magic, comedy and singing, Celebrations Bar & Grill, Findlay Township.

Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: August Fun: 40+ cool things to do in the Beaver Valley (and a dozen more in Pittsburgh)