It depends on if they charged it as a misdemeanor or a summary offense. What does the paper work look like? If it looks like a traffic ticket, it's a summary offense. You'll appear in front of a magistrate and the witnesses will testify and your attorney can cross examine, etc... The upside of this is that summary offenses do not cause a criminal records and the penalty is usually small fine.
If you were charged as a misdemeanor, your papers are full sized sheets of paper and the court date is your Preliminary Hearing/Preliminary Arraignment. This is where they decide if there's enough cause to go forward. It's also where plea bargains or ARD applications are usually made (by your attorney). Usually, they'll also set some bail (often unsecured) at this point. The next appearance will be the real arraignment in common pleas court, and the next appearance will be your actual trial.
Your best bet (other than having a real defense on the charges) is to get into ARD. This is a period of probation that if you succeed in, ends up in having the charges dismissed. Ask your lawyer.

