The sky is getting darker, the air is getting chillier and the season of fall is fully upon us. We’re trying to take advantage of the last nice days to be outdoors before we are bundling-up in scarves and mittens. October is a big month for outdoor and indoor activities. Enjoy this list we have for you of fun things to do in and around Pittsburgh this month!
Visit our full Events Calendar here!
Stay Tuned for PART 2!
Looking for Family Friendly Fall Festivals and Events?
Check out our 2017 Ultimate Fall-Fest Fun Guide by clicking here!
RAD Days Are BACK!
From the website: https://radworkshere.org/pages/radical-days-2017-sweet
Get Ready for Free Admissions and Performances with Your Regional Assets!
Celebrating its “Sweet 16” year, the region’s annual RADical Days event returns in September with treasured regional assets opening their doors for free admissions, performances and activities to thank the public for its sales tax dollars. RADical Days is an annual celebration sponsored by RAD and the organizations it funds. Since 1994, RAD has provided nearly $1.8 billion in grants to Allegheny County’s regional parks, libraries, sports and civic facilities, and arts and culture organizations.
This list is HUGE… You will find Marked #RADDays throughout this guide! (all information is sourced directly from their website)
OCTOBER 1
Carnegie Science Center #RADDays
Free admission: 10AM-5PM
Discover the science behind Pittsburgh’s rivers and see some local animals in H2Oh! Defy Gravity on the Ropes Challenge, try to score against Hockey-bot, tour an authentic submarine, and explore our gigantic model railroad. Free admission to all exhibits, planetarium, and live shows; laser shows not included.
One Allegheny Ave. (North Shore)
Fort Pitt Museum #RADDays
Free admission: 10AM-5PM
Step back in time to Pittsburgh’s birthplace at the Fort Pitt Museum in historic Point State Park. Discover the world-shaping events that occurred right here in Western Pennsylvania.
601 Commonwealth Place (Point State Park)
Prime Stage Theatre at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Main #RADDays
Free admission: 1PM
Come for a sneak preview of our upcoming season that features selections from All Quiet on the Western Front, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and The Diary of Anne Frank.
4400 Forbes Ave. (Oakland)
Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures #RADDays presents Katherine Applegate at Carnegie Lecture Hall – Oakland
Free admission: 2:30-4PM
Applegate is the author of the Newbery Medal-winning The One and Only Ivan, the New York Times bestselling Crenshaw, and several bestselling young adult series. Her forthcoming book, Wishtree, features an old oak tree and a crow that help their neighbors embrace their differences. A book signing will follow this lecture. Tickets are free; reserve yours at pittsburghlectures.org/Katherine-applegate/
4400 Forbes Ave. (Oakland)
Pittsburgh Savoyards #RADDays
Free admission: 7-9PM
Come and experience a live orchestra rehearsal with some cast members of HMS Pinafore. Guy Russo conducts the orchestra and vocal rehearsals and fills in any missing parts with his own wonderful singing. Enjoy the lovely music of Gilbert & Sullivan’s best-loved operetta!
St. James Catholic Church, 200 Walnut St. (Sewickley)
OCTOBER 2
PNC Park #RADDays
Free admission: 10AM–3PM (tours only)
Take a behind the scenes tour of The Best Ballpark in America. Places you may visit are the Legacy Theatre, Batting Cages, Dugout and Press Box. Tours take place on the hour from 10AM to 3PM with the last tour starting at 2PM; 80 guest maximum, on a first-served basis. NO RESERVATIONS will be taken. Please enter the gate next to the Willie Stargell Statue on Federal St.
115 Federal St. (North Shore)
OCTOBER 3
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust #RADDays : StoryCorner at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Downtown & Business
Free admission: 4PM
Join Ms. Betty and her friends on an imaginary journey as they hear the story Crocodile Beat by Gail Jorgensen. Interactive movement, puppets, and call-and-response animal sounds lead children to take part in the animals’ parade.
612 Smithfield St. (Downtown)
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra #RADDays
Free admission: 7:30-8:50PM
Celebrate RADical Days with a free concert at Heinz Hall! Associate conductor Andrés Franco leads the orchestra in a program of light classics. Music lovers young and old will enjoy Rossini’s Overture to La gazza ladra, Mascagni’s intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana, and Bizet’s Suite No. 1 and Suite No. 2 from Carmen. Duquesne University Young Artist National Concerto Competition winner Kevin Zhu joins the PSO for Paginini’s Concerto No. 1 in D major for violin and orchestra. Though this is a free performance with general admission, advance reservations are recommendation. Reserve your tickets at the Heinz Hall box office in person or at (412) 392-4900.
Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave. (Downtown)
OCTOBER 4
Pittsburgh Botanic Garden #RADDays
Free admission: 10AM-5PM
Enjoy free admission to the region’s first outdoor botanic garden. Explore 3.1 miles of trails through 60 acres of woodlands, meadows, and gardens, and learn about how Pittsburgh Botanic Garden turned an abandoned coal mine into a sprawling forest filled with native plants and wildlife. This garden is completely pet-friendly!
799 Pinkerton Run Road (Oakdale)
OCTOBER 5
Audubon Society of Western PA: Owl Prowl #RADDays
Free admission 7PM (reservations required)
See details on September 28th.
OCTOBER 6
Pittsburgh Glass Center #RADDays
Free admission: 10AM-9PM
Join us for a free day of heat defying acts of art in the flameworking and glassblowing studios, plus the opening of Embodiment, a glass-wearables exhibition co-sponsored by 3 Rivers Glass Beadmakers.
5472 Penn Ave. (Friendship)
near Silver Eye Center – also on October 6th
Silver Eye Center for Photography presents The Notion of Family #RADDays
Free admission: 6-10pm
The Notion of Family, a solo exhibition by LaToya Ruby Frazier, is an incisive exploration of the legacy of racism, the working class, and economic decline in America’s small towns, as embodied by her hometown of Braddock, Pennsylvania.
4808 Penn Ave. (Bloomfield)
near Pittsburgh Glass Center – also on October 6th
OCTOBER 7
The Frick Pittsburgh #RADDays
Free admission: 10AM–5PM
FREE family activities! Explore Clayton, the restored Frick family mansion, view fine and decorative art at The Frick Art Museum, and experience Elise Adibi: Respiration Paintings, a multisensory installation in the Greenhouse.
7227 Reynolds St. (Point Breeze)
Allegheny County Parks: South Park Hay Day and Public Safety & Health Day #RADDays
Free admission: noon-4PM
Enjoy activities for the whole family including hay rides, hay maze, arts and crafts, petting zoo, puppet shows, games and more. Check out our public safety, specialized emergency response and public works vehicles and equipment!
South Park Fairgrounds, Brownsville Road (South Park 15129)
Children’s Halloween Party at Saint Michael & Angels Lutheran Church
Free – 6PM – 8PM
from the Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/351010961990144
Bring Your Little Monsters For Some Ghoulish Fun
-good will offering
-candy bags for each kid
-parade
-food
-fun
-basket raffle
Donations appreciated.
OCTOBER 8
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium #RADDays
Free admission: 9AM-5PM (gates close at 4PM)
Combine learning, fun, and exploration! Thousands of wild animals, including sea lions, leopards, elephants, polar bears, giraffes, and penguins representing every continent offer a stunning view of our world. Additional sponsor: PPG Industries. Please note: as a result of the popularity of this day, delays are to be expected in areas surrounding the Zoo.
7340 Butler St. (Highland Park)
Special performance:
11AM River City Brass Band – at the Water’s Edge exhibit
River City Brass Band entertains, educates, and engages citizens locally, nationally, and internationally in the American musical culture. rivercitybrass.org
Mattress Factory #RADDays
Free admission: 1-5pm
A contemporary art museum + experimental lab featuring site-specific installations created by artists in residence from around the world. The Mattress Factory will offer a free drop-in tour at 2pm: Meet a museum educator at the admissions desk for an introduction to installation art and a guided gallery experience. About accessibility: The Mattress Factory’s facility at 500 Sampsonia Way is fully accessible; enter from free parking lot at 505 Jacksonia Street. Facilities at 516 Sampsonia Way and 1414 Monterey Street are partially accessible. Wheelchairs are available upon request at 500 Sampsonia Way.
500 Sampsonia Way (North Side)
South Park Theatre: Vintage Hitchcock – A Live Radio Play #RADDays
Free admission: 2PM
Spies, murder, love and other trademarks of Alfred Hitchcock come to life in the style of a 1940s radio broadcast. A triple feature, complete with vintage commercials that recreates a daring train chase, a serial killer’s ominous presence and a devastating explosion through the magic of live sound effects and music.
Corner of Brownsville Road and Corrigan Drive (South Park Twp)
2nd Annual Halloween Family Fun Day
October 8 at 12 PM – 6 PM
from the Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/484997411864986
Bring the entire family. We will have vendors selling their wares all around the second level of the mall. There will be a costume contest (all ages welcome), crafts, Storytime, DJ/Emcee, Entertainment (TBA), Strolling Zombies passing out candy, Trick or Treat w/the vendors, Charity Auction to support our good friend Patricia Stevens. -A detailed schedule of events and list of vendors will be added closer to the event.
OCTOBER 9
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum #RADDays
Free admission: 10AM-4PM
See September 25th for details.
OCTOBER 12
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust: Family Engagement Workshop #RADDays
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Lawrenceville #RADDays
Free admission: 10:30AM
Teaching Artist Amber Fantini will engage families through music and movement while they explore the story Oh No George! Adults will learn art strategies that support their child’s social-emotional development. Children will learn right alongside their caregivers during these engaging sessions.
279 Fisk St. (Lawrenceville)
OCTOBER 14
Library FunFest
Hosted by Monroeville Public Library
October 14 at 12 PM – 4 PM
Free to attend! No registration required!
Community fun, the library way!
We’ll have food trucks, face painting, games, a DJ, a cupcake classic, special programs from Carnegie Science Center! and so much more!
Library FunFest is an event for all ages and will take place in our lovely backyard!
This will be a day of fun open to our community and we hope you’ll join us!
Children’s Museum: MAKER FAIRE #RADDays
Free admission: 10AM-7PM
MAKER FAIRE PITTSBURGH takes over the Children’s Museum and Buhl Community Park on October 14 & 15. It’s an all-ages festival of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, engineers, science clubs, artists, startups and students who show their creations and offer hands-on activities. NOTE: MAKER FAIRE will take place in all Children’s Museum exhibit areas except the Nursery.
10 Children’s Way (North Side)
see also the Saturday Light Brigade on October 14th and 15th
Saturday Light Brigade #RADDays
Free admission: 10AM-5PM
Visit the broadcast studios of The Saturday Light Brigade and Youth Express for a behind-the-scenes tour and an opportunity to be on the radio.
Inside the Children’s Museum. 10 Children’s Way (North Side)
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust: Ghost Stories #RADDays
Free admission: noon
Gather the whole family in the Trust Arts Education Center to hear storyteller Alison K. Babusci share her most popular program featuring spine-tingling tales as well as hauntingly funny ones. This program will delight all ages. Bring your PJ’s and a pillow if you’d like. For children 5+, accompanied by an adult.
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Arts Education Center 805-807 Liberty Ave. (Downtown)
Pittsburgh Opera: Brown Bag Concert #RADDays
Free admission: noon-1PM
The Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artists will entertain you with a variety of opera favorites, selections from upcoming operas and more. After the performance, meet the Resident Artists at an informal reception. Doors open at 11:30AM. The Pittsburgh Opera garage is available only for handicapped parking, by reservation. Reservations must be received by 4pm on Friday, 10/13: [email protected].
George R. White Studio at Pittsburgh Opera
2425 Liberty Ave. (Strip District)
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – West End Presents Suffrage and Sappho: 75 Years of Wonder Woman #RADDays
Free admission: 1PM
Wonder Woman first appeared in Sensation Comics in 1942. Since that time she has been recognized as the foremost female superhero, influencing generations of creators and characters. Join us for a presentation of her history, and the ongoing story of her influence, both in comics and the world. Wayne Wise is a comic book writer, artist, retailer and scholar living in Pittsburgh.
47 Wabash St. (West End)
Fall Festival: October 14/15
from the Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2358892381002669
Our Fall Festival 2017 returns October 14/15 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Great food from our Back 40 BBQ and Food Barn (including roasted corn while supplies last), delicious desserts from our Sweet Saloon, hayrides, the pumpkin patch, kettle corn, pick your own apples, face painting, games, and so much more are all waiting for you here on the farm.
Over 21? Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka will be on site along with Arrowhead Wine Cellars doing tastings of some of their most popular drinks. Arsenal Cider – Wexford will be open and serving up their line of hard ciders along with great beer from local brew masters Aurochs Brewing Company (on draft!).
Are You Looking for MORE Pumpkin Patches, Farms,
Hayrides and other Fun Fall Stuff?
Check out our 2017 Ultimate Fall-Fest Fun Guide by clicking here!
OCTOBER 15
Children’s Museum: MAKER FAIRE #RADDays
Free admission: 10AM-5PM
See details on October 14th.
Saturday Light Brigade #RADDays
Free Admission: 10AM-5PM
See details on October 14th.
STAY TUNED FOR PART 2 OF THE OCTOBER MONTHLY ROUND-UP
What’s Happening at The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
Peppa Pig Live!
October 22 @ 2:00 am – 4:00 pm
from the website: https://trustarts.org/production/52691
A Cohen & Grigsby TRUST PRESENTS Series
Peppa Pig, the #1 Family show of 2016, is back with an action-packed live show featuring your favorite characters as life size puppets and costume characters in Peppa Pig’s Surprise! Come join Peppa, George, Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig and more in an all singing, all-dancing adventure full of songs, games and surprises!
Visit The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Online to buy Tickets.
#Trustarts @trustarts
Dracula presented by Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
October 27 @ 11:00 am – October 29 @ 2:00 pm
from the website: https://www.pbt.org/performances/dracula-pittsburgh/
Over Halloween weekend, PBT brings back the deliciously spine-chilling Dracula, based on Bram Stoker’s 1897 gothic novel – the grandfather of all vampire dramas. Dissatisfied with his bevy of undead brides, Count Dracula fixates on Svetlana, a young girl on the cusp of engagement, to satiate his thirst for fresh blood. A haunting score by Franz Liszt builds suspense while scenic designer Thomas Boyd’s fastidious studies of Balkan and Romanian architecture add authenticity to the 19th-century Transylvanian setting. The dancing also has teeth, with levitation, flying and pyrotechnics that make the choreography even more climactic. At the time of its premiere, the New York Times described it as a “spectacle of an order ballet audiences seldom see today.”
Visit The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Online to buy Tickets.
#Trustarts @trustarts
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