Today’s entertainment picks:

Today’s entertainment picks:

v Our Lady of Mount Carmel Italian Festival, 4-11 p.m.: Annual festival gets underway at the church near Choffin Career Center in Youngstown. Go to mtcarmelitalianfest.com for details.

v Party on the Plaza, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.: The band Breakfast Club will perform at this outdoor party in front of Warehouse 50, on Central Square, in downtown Youngstown.

v “Bare,” 8 p.m.: Pop opera centered around students at a co-ed catholic boarding school at the Oakland Center for the Arts, 220 W. Boardman St., Youngstown; 330-746-0404.

v “Hairspray,” 8 p.m.: The offbeat musical set in 1960s Baltimore is being presented as part of Kent-Trumbull Theater’s Summer Stock program. The campus is at 7314 Mahoning Ave. NW in Champion; 330-675-8887.

v Packard Dixieland Band, 7:30 p.m.: Free concert at Packard Music Hall, 1703 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren.

“Science of Stupid” (8:30 P.M., NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC): Have you ever been shot in the groin by a potato gun? I guess that’s what happens when you think M.C. Hammer.

“Diner, Drive-Ins and Dives” (10 p.m., Food Network): On the latest installment of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” Guy Fieri samples funky foods from coast to coast, starting with a visit to Monterey and a second-generation Italian eatery.

TV listings, B6

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Cincy: country music mecca

CINCINNATI

This Ohio River city is going country this weekend, in a big way.

Cincinnati hosts the inaugural “Buckle Up” festival Friday through Sunday, with some 80 acts booked for six stages and tens of thousands of fans expected along the Ohio River. The storied singer Willie Nelson will be among a mix of established and rising stars that includes Alabama, Drive By Truckers, The Band Perry, Jamey Johnson, and Alison Krauss and Union Station.

Meanwhile, the Great American Ball Park, where the Cincinnati Reds play baseball, has two of country music’s most popular artists Saturday evening with Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert. The Aldean-headlined stadium tour plays Cleveland’s Progressive Field today.

Family variety open mic night

YOUNGSTOWN

U.N. Act will present a family variety show, featuring Nikki Jones, at 6 p.m. Sunday at Rust Belt Theater Company’s venue in Calvin Center, 755 Mahoning Ave.

The open mic event is free, and all are welcome to perform. This month’s featured artists will be Infini-Tribe, who will demonstrate hoop dancing. Call 330-519-2046 for information.

Ronnie Spector coming to Stage

KENT

Legendary singer Ronnie Spector will appear at Kent Stage, 175 E. Main St., on Sept. 17.

The career retrospective show will include a multi-media presentation. Spector will also sing all of her hits with a full band.

Tickets are $90, $60 and $50 at thekentstage.com. The show starts at 8 p.m.