Carnegie's 22nd annual Arts and Heritage Festival offers something for everyone in the heart of the borough's business district.

Festival hours are from 4 to 10 p.m. today, 4 p.m. to midnight tomorrow and noon to midnight Saturday on East Main Street.

Among the events is the live broadcast of the Steelers' home opener tonight on a big screen TV up in the main stage area, where viewers can buy beer. Bands will perform before and after the game.

A first-ever Battle of the Bands will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Five local bands will compete for prizes of $1,000 and a gig in next year's festival.

"Saturday afternoons have not always been well-attended," said Leigh White, festival chairman and executive director of the Carnegie Community Development Corporation. "We decided to use the time to give voice to some less-known but excellent bands who wouldn't usually get to play in the festival."

Each band will play a 30- to 45-minute set and be judged by at least four judges. Listeners will choose the winner of the People's Choice Award. More than 20 other bands will provide entertainment, including the Mansfield 5, Jill West and Joe Grushecky.

Ukrainian and Irish dancers and ballet and belly dancers will perform.

The festival's creative marketplace will offer the talents of 18 artists and crafters, and the family fun and entertainment area will have activities such as Velcro wall, moon walk and face painting.

Food representative of a half-dozen nationalities, as well as from Carnegie's restaurants and outside vendors will be for sale.

Motorists should be aware of road closings and parking restrictions in the vicinity of the festival.

Information will be distributed at the festival about a ceremony to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Hurricane Ivan flooding. Titled Carnegie Remembers, the ceremony will be held at 7:30 p.m. next Thursday at the Carnegie Municipal Building Amphitheater on Veterans Way.

The event also will celebrate the growth and renewal efforts.

For information, visit www.carnegieartsandheritage.com.