There is more to the festival than music:

Free performances that combine circus acts and storytelling by this local favorite at 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and 7:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday and Tuesday-June 14, at the Seventh Street lot near Katz Plaza.

Hands-on activities and performances -- from making Shark Hats to an African Drum and Dance Workshop -- noon-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Point State Park (see www.artsfestival.net for schedule).

West Coast performance artists Roberto Sifuentes and Guillermo Gomez-Pena combine "political reinvention and poetic prophesying to explore the emerging culture of hope, imagination and faith that has developed in response to the former world order." Having premiered in Belgium in April, the work makes its U.S. debut here. Contains adult themes and partial nudity. 8 p.m. Saturday at Bricolage, 937 Liberty Ave. $10. 412-381-6999; www.webbricolage.org.

Pittsburgh Playworks' Play Development Lab features free readings by professional actors of 15 new plays-in-process, ranging in length from one to 122 pages, at 907 Penn Ave. This weekend's lineup:

"Cheating History": A disgruntled professor becomes involved in a cheating scheme, by William Cameron, 7 p.m. Friday.

"not fade away": Shifting relationships occur among friends in this story of a recent widow and her late husband's unstable friend, by William Cameron, 1 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Monday.

"Three Women": A selkie strives to retrieve her seal skin from two daughters who have stolen it, by T.S. Frank, 7 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday.

"Mother Marion": A nun transcends inner conflict and social condemnation during a period of historic change, by Ginny Cunningham, 7 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday.

"Short Shorts": Pittsburgh PlayWorks Playwrights, 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

Original, handmade items by 250 artists from the U.S. and Canada. Approximately 85 artists and artisans will show at One, Two and Three Gateway Center Plaza with new arrivals Wednesday. Those will be supplemented by 40 additional booths at Point State Park Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with new arrivals on June 12. All booths will be open noon-8 p.m.

Exploring festival history through archival material and artworks. 907 Penn Ave. Noon-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 4-8 p.m. Monday-Fridays.

A group exhibition by members of Associated Artists of Pittsburgh. 929 Liberty Ave. Noon-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 4-8 p.m. Monday-Fridays.

Artists use a variety of media to disrupt the notion of tranquility in this group exhibition curated by Eric C. Shiner, the Milton Fine Curator of Art at The Andy Warhol Museum. 925 and 927 Penn Ave. Noon-6 p.m. Sundays, 4-8 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays.

Work by past recipients of the Festival Emerging Artist Scholarship, curated by Sonja Sweterlitsch, festival artists market coordinator. 937 Liberty Ave. Noon-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 4-8 p.m. Monday-Fridays.

Contemporary photographers who use historic or alternative methods. 707 Penn Gallery. Noon-6 p.m. Sundays, 4-8 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays.

Lee Renninger explores clay as fabric. 709 Penn Gallery. Renninger will talk about her work at 2 p.m. Saturday. Noon-6 p.m. Sundays, 4-8 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays.

A collaborative presentation of art works by local youth presented by Catholic Charities. 212 Ninth St. Noon-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 4-8 p.m. Monday-Fridays.

C.B. Fisher's abstract satire exploring the post-humankind legacy, presented by ArtUp. 820 Liberty Ave. Opening reception 6-10 p.m. Friday. Open noon-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 4-8 p.m. Monday through Fridays.

Artists and craftsmen demonstrate techniques from wood turning to quilting, calligraphy to screen printing. Noon-7 p.m. Fridays-Sundays in Point State Park, and noon-7 p.m. Saturday only at the rear of One, Two and Three Gateway Center Plaza.

Back at Point State Park, noon-9 p.m. (or later) daily.

Information: Call 412-281-8723 or go to www.artsfestival.net.