TM/© 2011 Sesame Workshop. All Rights Reserved.
Photograph courtesy of VEE Corporation.

The perennial favorite Sesame Street Live once again returns to Johnstown—this time with “Elmo Makes Music”. As a special thank you to our readers, we’re providing you with a code to receive a $3 discount on your tickets. We’re also giving away four free tickets to one lucky winner (details on both appear later in this post).

Three shows are scheduled for Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown, PA. Showtimes are at 10:30am, 3:30pm, and 7pm.

Sesame Street Live is great fun for the whole family. Here’s what the producers have to say about the upcoming shows:

Sesame Street Live is a larger-than-life, musical touring stage production featuring Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie and more. Each performance is 90 minutes of singing, dancing and audience participation, including a 15-minute intermission. The perfect length for very young children! Don’t miss this opportunity to count along with The Count, visit Elmo’s World and do the Crumb-A-Rumba with Rosita and Cookie Monster at Sesame Street Live “Elmo Makes Music”.

Tickets may be purchased at the Cambria County War Memorial box office and at all Ticketmaster locations. To charge by phone, call 800-745-3000. There are numerous levels of tickets to fit every budget: $12, $16, $20, $25 (Gold Circle) & $50 (Sunny Seats). Group discounts are available by calling the War Memorial at 814-536-5156. The Sunny Seats Package includes a VIP Seat and a pre-show Meet & Greet photo opportunity with two Sesame Street Live friends. Additional fees/surcharges may apply for all ticket purchases.

As a courtesy to our readers, you can get $3 off each ticket by using the passcode ERNIE at ticketmaster.com. Discount excludes Gold Circle & Sunny Seats. Not valid on previously purchased tickets. Discount cannot be combined with any other offer.

Comment on this post to win four complimentary ticket vouchers. Vouchers are exchangeable for tickets while supplies last. One entry per person, please! Entries must be made by 11:59pm EST, Thursday, August 11. One winner will be drawn at random on Friday, August 12 at 9am EST and will be announced in the comments section. Please return to this post to claim your prize.

Photograph courtesy of Erika Law

The vibrant arts community of Johnstown has become more and more visible in recent years. And much of this is thanks to local groups and collectives of musicians, performers, visual artists and writers. One such group, (un)apologetic productions, a community based arts organization in Johnstown, will be promoting creativity and awareness of our area’s arts scene at RagBag! A Family Friendly Festival of Creativity on Saturday, June 18^th. The festival will take place at the Roxbury Bandshell.

The event, which lasts from noon until 7PM, will feature live music, interactive children’s theater, crafts, a silent auction with baskets and products from local businesses, demonstrations, and more. Musicians who will be featured on the stage include Jenny Drummey, Savanna Dawn, and EVK. Demonstrations include Fun with Science and Hooping with Dorien. Food and beverages will be available throughout the day.

“[The festival] is part of (un)apologetic productions’ ongoing campaign to foster the recognition of the importance of the arts in the Johnstown community,” says Lindsay St. Clair, a member of the group.

The festival and all its activities are free to attend and perfect for all ages. Donations are strongly encouraged, with proceeds benefiting (un)apologetic productions, a non-profit organization.

The Roxbury Bandshell is located in the Roxbury neighborhood of Johnstown. Click here for a map.

More information about the event and other (un)apologetic productions events, visit their Facebook page, their website, or email them at unapologeticproductions@gmail.com.

Photography courtesy of Caterpillar

What began as a bonding exercise for four band mates, quickly turned into an inspirational stay in Johnstown, PA. This visit unpredictably led to the birth of the latest Caterpillar album, “Johnstown”. Now, residents of the city that kindled the concept record will be able to see the composition performed live during the kick-off of the 2011 Concert Series at the Roxbury Bandshell. The band initiates an afternoon of festivities, beginning at 1:00PM, Sunday, May 29^th, 2011.

“The five-song story takes us from when the city was originally founded, through the great flood of 1889 and then moving forward to now,” said Dennis Davis, one of the Indie Rock band’s two guitarists. “We wanted to convey the feeling of history within the city, and the determination of its people to first build—then re-build the town.” He said they would spend the day exploring and enjoying the city, and then let those feelings guide the songs they wrote at night. “It’s a pretty optimistic collection of songs.”

2011 is turning out to be a prolific year for Philadelphia-based band, with “Johnstown” being their second release since January. While they are working on a very tight production deadline, Mr. Davis is hopeful that they will have copies of the CD on hand for the local performance.

The Roxbury Bandshell will have a full slate of activities to launch the popular concert series, including performances by the Johnstown Community Chorus and Ole 97, as well as a Civil War reenactment.

Free concerts will be held every Sunday from Memorial Day weekend through September 11^th, 2011. For complete details, visit the official website of the Roxbury Bandshell.

For more information on Caterpillar, you can find them online at www.caterpillarlovesyou.com.

The yearly festival is held at the Ligonier Township Fire Department Fairgrounds just a few miles outside of Ligonier, Pennsylvania. Enthusiasts are invited to camp out for the weekend at the convenient camping area not far from the stage and concert grounds.

Music workshops, a craft show and a “cow plop” contest are among the activities scheduled, which should provide fun times for adults and children alike.

The line-up for this year’s festival is undoubtedly an impressive one to any fan of the genre. Artists performing include Blue Moon Rising (International Bluegrass Music Association Showcase Artist), Lonesome Highway, and many other national and local acts. If you are looking for a weekend of great music and fellowship, look no further than the Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Music Festival.

The festival will take place June 17 through 18 at the Ligonier Township Fire Department Fairgrounds along Route 271 in Waterford, Pennsylvania.

For more information about the Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Music Festival, or to purchase tickets, visit: www.laurelhighlandsbluegrass.com. You can also call (724) 238-8646 or write to:

Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival
1012 Harvey Road
Ligonier, Pennsylvania 15658

Featuring Dillweed’s Parlor Players performing selections from the works of Poe throughout the rooms of the bed and breakfast, the event is a perfect way to enjoy the eerie autumn season with class. Desserts and coffee are offered to start off the evening from 7:00 to 8:00PM, with performances running from 8:00 to 10:00PM.

“In addition to some of Poe’s most notable works, this year’s event will feature another classic horror story written by Robert Louis Stevenson, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” said Cindy Gilmore, Co-owner of the Dillweed Bed and Breakfast.

The Dillweed B&B, located in Dilltown, PA, just across from the beginning of the Ghost Town Trail, is a turn-of-the-century home built by the Dill family. The establishment features four guest rooms and also hosts private parties, teas, and meetings. The bed and breakfast also houses Dillweed’s Trailside Shop.

Admission is $16 per adult and seating is very limited, so be sure to make your reservations soon. You can do so by calling the Dillweed Bed and Breakfast at (814) 446-6465.

More information is available on the Dillweed Bed and Breakfast website’s Event Page.

Dillweed Bed & Breakfast is just ten miles from downtown Johnstown, located on Route 403, one mile North of US Route 22, in the village of Dilltown. Click here for a map to the Dillweed Bed & Breakfast.

This year’s series kicks off Saturday, September 25, 2010, with a performance by pianist Jon Gonder with the Tremont String Quartet. Mr. Gonder, a well-known Johnstown, PA-area musician, will lead a program that features a melding of piano and traditional strings, as well as solo piano pieces. This performance will be held at First Lutheran Church in downtown Johnstown, PA (click here for a map to 309 Lincoln Street, Johnstown, PA 15901) with free parking available.

The series continues with two autumn events performed with the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra. On Saturday, October 16, 2010, Elena Ulyanova will perform Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18, with the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra. This is a concerto written specifically for piano and orchestra and is one of Rachmaninoff’s most well-known compositions. On Saturday, November 13, 2010, violinist Ann Fontanella will be backed by the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra for a performance of Saint-Saens Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61. Concerts with the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra are held at the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center on the UPJ Campus (click here for a map to the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, Johnstown, PA).

The 2010-2011 Concert Series concludes with two springtime performances, both held at First Lutheran Church in downtown Johnstown, PA. On Saturday, March 26, 2011, Pittsburgh Concert Society winners Linda Fischer and Becky Billock will perform pieces composed for violin and piano. On Saturday, April 30, 2011, the series will conclude with a concert by the Copeland String Quartet.

For tickets or additional details, contact the Chamber Music Series of Greater Johnstown by calling (814) 467-7943 or visit them online at www.johnstownmusic.org.

• June 12—Lou Stein
• June 19—Whiskey River Panhandlers
• July 10—Jazz In Your Face
• July 31—Lou Stein
• August 14—Rachel & John
• August 21—Jazz in Your Face

Anyone that has experienced these outdoor concerts will tell you that these performances are a great way to spend a summer evening. Concertgoers are welcome to sit on the park benches or to bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Admission is free.

Click here for a map to Central Park, downtown Johnstown, PA.

The 5th Annual Roxbury Bandshell Summer Concert Series kicks off this Sunday, May 30th with an afternoon full of events. The 54th PA Volunteer Infantry and Civilian re-enactors will be on-site to perform Civil War re-enactments, which will start at noon and occur throughout the day between music sets. Music schedule for Sunday is as follows:

•    1:00 pm Lou Stein
•    3:00 pm Hard Rok, Koko, and Joe
•    5:00 pm Ole ‘97

Concerts for this season will be held on Sundays, May 30, 2010 through September 12, 2010. Music for every taste has been scheduled—rock, polka, jazz, country and more! For a complete list of this year’s line-up, visit the “Calendar of Events” page of the Roxbury Bandshell Web site.

Admission is free, but donations are accepted. All proceeds benefit the Roxbury Bandshell Preservation Alliance and are used for renovations and upkeep of the bandshell. Concertgoers are asked to bring their own seating and are permitted to bring a picnic lunch. Food is also available for purchase from Holy Cross National Catholic Church.

The Roxbury Bandshell is located in Roxbury Park at 1430 Franklin Street in Johnstown (click here for a map).

It’s once again time for car and bike enthusiasts to bring out their rides. And an old fashioned car cruise-in is just the right setting for car lovers and entertainment seekers to come out and enjoy the sight of rows of classic cars in the warm weather. Add in live music and food, and you’ve got a fun evening for all ages. Windber Friday Night Cruise Ins will offer this opportunity to the community all summer.

Windber Friday Night Cruise Ins will be taking place in downtown Windber select Fridays this summer, starting May 14 and ending August 27. Local vendors will supply food and a live band will perform at the Miner’s Park gazebo each week from 6PM to 9PM.

This is the second year for the event, which brings family-friendly liveliness to Friday nights in Windber. “Windber Friday Night Cruise Ins give you a chance to show off your ride or just come hang out with friends, relax and remember the good old days,” says organizer James Spinos.

Visit the Windber Friday Night Cruise Ins Facebook page for more information.

You may associate vampires with Halloween alone (or perhaps a certain box office franchise), but this May, the fanged creatures of the night will be headed to Windber for the second annual Draculacon. The event’s lineup consists of authors, actors, music, films, and more, all brought into town with the goal of creating a day (and night) of dark delights.

“Draculacon is an investment in enchantment and romance… it’s a very undefined celebration,” explains host Blair Murphy.

Special guests of the event include actor Butch Patrick (Eddie Munster on the television show The Munsters), musician David J., and author Rosemary Ellen Guiley (author of Vampires, Werewolves, and Other Monsters). The stage will also feature the premier screening of SCARED! The Grand Midway Hotel, which follows a team of ghost hunters in their investigation of Windber’s own mysterious landmark. Additional events include a burlesque show and a costume contest.

Draculacon will take on May 8, 2010, from 1:00 PM to 10:30 PM at the Arcadia Theater in Windber. Tickets are available for purchase online through Draculacon.com. More information and a full list of guests can be found at the site as well.