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Fire Carnivals and 4th of July Musical Fireworks!

Here is a listing of Altoona area live music happenings for the weekend and week of Friday, June 28 through Thursday, July 4.

The region begins to gear up for the July 4 holiday, and several Independence Day-related events – some including fireworks – take place in the days leading up to Thursday.

If you need your fireworks fix early, Shawnee State Park near Schellsburg will set off fireworks on Saturday evening to cap their “Fireworks on the Lake” event. Bedford acoustic favorite Jackson Monsour will perform leading up to the fireworks.

Lake Raystown Resort sets off their fireworks on Sunday night, with country favorites Chris Woodward & Shindiggin providing the pre-fireworks tunes starting 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 4 presents plenty of musical fireworks leading up to the night’s pyrotechnic displays. With Altoona’s Lakemont Park returning to action this season, the park’s 4th of July fireworks return as well on Thursday, with musical performances leading up to the display. Local acoustic duo Casey Gray & Tyler Shultz gets an early start on the party on Wednesday evening, Zach Wade & the Good Grief bring their upbeat folk rock’n’soul on Thursday afternoon, before Stephanie & the Wild Hearts provide a rebel country lead up to the park’s pyromania, starting after 9 p.m.

Meanwhile in State College, the annual Central Pennsylvania 4th Fest celebration takes place Thursday near Penn State’s Beaver Stadium. This event features three stages of musical entertainment from local and regional performers (see the listing below for exact schedule and start times), along with a variety of vendors and other Fourth-related activities, before one of the biggest fireworks displays east of the Mississippi River commences at 9:15 p.m.

Keeping with tradition, the band White Shadow will anchor an afternoon of music and fun at Patton Park in Patton on Thursday beginning at 1 p.m. White Shadow will feature classic and vintage rock’n’roll, and tributes to the Beatles and Elvis Presley will likely be part of the mix. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted to benefit the Patton Public Library. (Patton’s annual fireworks display will take place next Saturday, July 6.)

And several fire company-related carnivals happen during this weekend and upcoming week. The Lilly Firemen’s Carnival wraps up on Friday and Saturday nights, with 53 South providing country sounds on Saturday. Both the Cresson Firemen’s Carnival and Columbia Fire Company’s Firemen’s Fair in Osceola Mills start Monday. The band 53 South kicks off the Cresson carnival’s musical slate on Monday night, while Felix & the Hurricanes do likewise in Osceola Mills.

And if you feel like getting funky this weekend, a short roadtrip over the hill to Johnstown will satisfy your needs, as the inaugural Johnstown Funk Fest presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield happens Saturday evening at People’s Natural Gas Park near downtown Johnstown. Johnstown funk group Afro N’at and Pittsburgh’s Beauty Slap provide the beats and grooves starting at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

For outdoor shows, in the event of inclement weather, please call or use social media to check ahead to make sure the show is still taking place, especially if you are driving any distance to attend.

Check out and support the area live music! And if you celebrate heavily while doing so, please designate a sober driver or call a taxi to get you home.

FRIDAY 6/28:

Black Ridge PABG at Railroad City Brewing Company, Altoona (starts 4 p.m.)

“Friday Wine Down” with Kel Marie (starts 6 p.m., free admission)

Rogan Allen at Trianon Bar & Grille, Altoona (starts 7 p.m.)

Triple Threat at Heidelberg Country Club, Altoona (starts 7 p.m.)

Matt Pletcher & Co. at Buccinese Society, Altoona (on the patio, starts 9 p.m.)

Jampact at Bavarian Aid Society, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)

Back in the Day at Newburg Fire Association Social Hall, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)

Scottie Scott at Blue Knob Clubhouse, Blue Knob Ski Resort (starts 6 p.m.)

Grace Fala at Stone Town Cafe & Gallery, Huntingdon (starts 6 p.m.)

Bruce Schettig at Woody Lodge Winery, Ashville (starts 6:30 p.m.)

Coltt Winter Lepley at Tre Ragazzi, Cresson (starts 7 p.m.)

Rewynd at Patton VFW, Patton (starts 9:30 p.m.)

Jam Night at The Grove, Belsano (starts 8 p.m.)

SATURDAY NIGHT 6/29:

Hate Grenade, Behind the Grey and 2BB at McGarvey’s, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)

Zac Grace at Altoona Grand Hotel, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)

Lauren & Joe (with guests from Flight 19) at Buccinese Society, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)

Washington Slept Here at Newburg Fire Association Social Hall, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)

Matt Wagner at U.S. Hotel, Hollidaysburg (starts 8 p.m.)

Star 69 at Friendship Village (Relay for Life), Bedford (starts 7 p.m.)

Jackson Monsour at “Fireworks on the Lake,” Shawnee State Park, Schellsburg (starts 7 p.m., fireworks afterward)

Ron “Music Man” Balestino at Woody Lodge Winery, Ashville (starts 6:30 p.m.)

53 South at Lilly Firemen’s Carnival, Lilly (starts 8 p.m.)

Crawdad Joe at Castle Pub, Ebensburg (starts 10 p.m.)

SUNDAY NIGHT 6/30:

The Backyard Rockers at Valley View County Park Amphitheater, Altoona (starts 5 p.m.)

Felix & the Hurricanes at Black & Gold Tavern, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)

Chris Woodward & Shindiggin’ at Lake Raystown Resort, Entriken (starts 7:30 p.m., fireworks afterward)

MONDAY NIGHT 7/1:

Asbury Lane at Tavern 27 (Park Hills Country Club), Altoona (starts 7 p.m.)

53 South at Cresson Firemen’s Carnival, Cresson (starts 7:30 p.m.)

Felix & the Hurricanes at Columbia Fire Company Firemen’s Fair, Osceola Mills (starts 8 p.m.)

TUESDAY NIGHT 7/2:

Felix & the Hurricanes at Cresson Firemen’s Carnival, Cresson (starts 7:30 p.m.)

WEDNESDAY NIGHT 7/3:

Casey Gray & Tyler Shultz at Lakemont Park (C2 Trolley House), Altoona (starts 5 p.m.)

Open Mic Night at Unter Uns Musical & Entertainment Society, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)

White Shadow at Patton Italian Club, Patton (starts 7 p.m.)

The Sharptones at Cresson Firemen’s Carnival, Cresson (starts 7:30 p.m.)

Velveeta at Columbia Fire Company Firemen’s Fair, Osceola Mills (starts 8 p.m.)

THURSDAY 7/4 (INDEPENDENCE DAY):

Central Pennsylvania 4th Fest, State College (free admission, fireworks at 9:15 p.m.):

– Towne Square Stage: 3:30 p.m. – Jason Adams, 5 p.m. – Haystack Lightning, 6:30 p.m. – Kristi Jean & Her Ne’er Do Wells, 8 p.m. – Gabe Stillman Band

– Centre Stage: 4 p.m. – Swamp Root, 7:30 p.m. – The Weaklings

– Founders Mall Acoustic Stage: 4 p.m. – ESP, 5 p.m. – Dale Keller, 6 p.m. – Corner Brothers, 7 p.m. – Sgt. Bob Timney, 8 p.m. – Tommy Wareham

Zach Wade & the Good Grief at Lakemont Park, Altoona (starts 3 p.m.)

Stephanie & the Wild Hearts at Lakemont Park, Altoona (starts 7 p.m., fireworks afterward)

Steve Summerhill at Jethro’s, Altoona (starts 7 p.m.)

Star 69 at Fort Bedford Museum, Bedford (starts 6 p.m.)

White Shadow and friends at Patton Park, Patton (starts 1 p.m., free admission, benefits Patton Public Library)

Tombstone at Cresson Firemen’s Carnival, Cresson (starts 7:30 p.m.)

(NOTE: More shows may be added to this list as information becomes available. Feel free to check back.)

To report additional shows or corrections to this listing, email information to jptheprofessor@gmail.com. Deadline to submit information for the initial posting is each Friday morning at 9 a.m.

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