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BEST BETS: July 8 to 14, 2011

Big Rib BBQ & Blues Fest
The fourth annual Big Rib BBQ & Blues Fest kicked off today at the Highland Park Festival Site and continues through Sunday. The food includes succulent ribs, BBQ chicken, beef brisket and pulled pork served with all the fixings. Five nationally renowned Rib Masters—Cowboys BBQ & Rib Co., Porky ‘N’ Beans, Willingham's World Champion Bar-B-Que, Texas Pit BBQ and Gator BBQ—are featured. More than 30 bands and 200 musicians will perform over the four days on two stages. Main stage headliners are the Robert Cray Band (pictured), the Good Rats, the Felice Brothers, Swamp Dogg, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, the Revelations featuring Tre Williams, Joe Beard and more. Admission is free everyday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; $5 after 4 p.m. on Thursday and Sunday, $10 after 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Kids 12 and younger are admitted free. Visit rochesterevents.com.

Musical theater revue for good cause
Geva Theatre Center presents "Fight With Love," the annual musical theater revue to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Show times at Geva's Nextstage are at 8 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday. Now in its fifth year, “Fight With Love” stands as a symbol of the commitment of local youth in the theatre community to use their art to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The show features songs from such popular musicals as "Spring Awakening," "Rent," "Next to Normal," "Follies and Company" and scenes from "Philadelphia." Tickets are $10, and all proceeds go to the charity. You can buy tickets at the door the night of the event. Visit fightwithlove.com.

Horse competition under way in Victor
The Cosequin Stuart Horse Trials, which kicked off this morning, are a big deal for equestrians. The event draws top international-level competitors from all over the world. Some 18,000 people show up to watch riders put their horses through their paces in three diverse disciplines: dressage, cross-country and stadium. The trials continue through Sunday in Victor. Admission is free; parking is $10 a car. Visit stuarthorsetrials.org for directions and details.
 

Monroe County Fair continues
The Monroe County Fair, which runs through Sunday, has livestock judging, apple pie contests and horse shows, as well as, of course, carnival rides, vendors, animals to pet and funnel cakes. Dome exhibits include Spaceport USA, a flower show, home arts, first robotics and a Farm Bureau exhibit. The days are themed: Chamber of Commerce Day (today), Kids' Fun Day (Friday), Family Fun Day (Saturday) and Celebrate Community Day (Sunday). Visit mcfair.com.
 

Annual duck drop
Pittsford Youth Services holds its annual Duck Drop fundraising event Friday around 8 p.m. It's immediately after Pittsford's summer concert featuring Orient Express at the Port of Pittsford Park. Buy a duck raffle ticket for $5, and see if the duck whose number corresponds to your ticket wins the race in the canal. First prize is $500. New this year is a $200 second prize and $100 third prize. For more information, visit pittsfordyouthservices.org

Downtown Canandaigua Art & Music Festival
Canandaigua's annual art and music festival is this weekend on Main Street. The free festival runs from noon to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. More than 100 shops, restaurants and galleries will have vendor stations. The festival also features free concerts and kids events and entertainment. Visit canandaiguaartfestival.com.
 

On the big screen
Based on J.K. Rowling's very popular series of books, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II" opens Friday. Daniel Radcliffe stars as Harry Potter, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint as his friends Hermione and Ron, with Ralph Fiennes as the evil Lord Voldemort. "Winnie the Pooh" is an animated feature in which Pooh misinterprets a note from Christopher Robin and convinces Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, Owl, Kanga, Roo and Eeyore that their young friend has been captured by a creature named "Backson." They set out to save him. Find movie times.

Blue Angels fly into Rochester
The U.S. Navy’s precision flying team, the Blue Angels, will return to Greater Rochester International Airport for the 2011 ESL International Airshow this weekend. The appearance will be the fourth for the Blue Angels in Monroe County, and one of 38 stops for the flying team in 2011. In addition to the Blue Angels, military and civilian air performers participate. The event includes aerobatic demonstrations, ground displays, local food vendors and entertainment. The airshow is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There's also a special Blue Angels public appearance Friday at the Bands on the Bricks concert featuring Rochester native and Foreigner frontman Lou Gramm. Visit rochesterairshow.com.

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