What to do that week in Pittsburgh, from Barrel & Stream to Lights On! to Britsburgh: September 6-12
What’s going on this week in Pittsburgh, September 6-12? Find out here. Know of a cool event? Email us.
Monday, September 6: Britsburgh Festival
Various times
The British are coming (back) for seven days of virtual and in-person events all around town — and many are free. It all kicks off on Labor Day with a commemorative celebration of Prince Phillip’s life at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. You’ll become a dedicated Anglophile as you sip East End Brewery’s Britsburgh Ale, taste traditional spotted dick pudding baked by a celebrity chef, watch an all-female premiere of “Hamlet,” hear author readings and more. The festivities culminate at the free British Invasion celebration Settlers Cabin Park.
Monday, September 6: Allegheny County’s Pooches in the Pool
4-6:30 p.m.
Dry off hoomans, it’s time for pooches to rule the pools. As the outdoor swim season sadly comes to a close, the region’s furry besties are invited to cool off in one of the county’s spacious pools at Boyce Park, North Park, Settlers Cabin and South Park. Buy tickets.
Photo courtesy of Allegheny County.
Tuesday, September 8: 20th Anniversary of 9/11 & The Media at Point Park University
6-7:30 p.m.
Three days before the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Point Park’s Center for Media Innovation is convening journalists and storytellers who were directly involved in coverage of the day and the events that followed. Hear their incredible and moving stories firsthand. Register for free.
Wednesday, September 8: Forests at the National Aviary
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Step into to forest this fall to meet mysterious owls, sociable parrots and powerful birds of prey. From dense habitats to lush tropics, you’ll explore complex global ecosystems, learn how to protect forest birds and discover the vital resources forests provide through interactive programs and immersive habitats. Buy tickets.
Wednesday, September 8: ReelAbilities at Carnegie Museum of Art
7 p.m.
Anchored by 12 film premieres exploring the lives of people living with disabilities, the inclusive and insightful film festival includes filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions and a Creative Citizen Studios pop-up exhibit. Don’t miss tonight’s kick-off screening, Q&A and reception showcasing “Crutch,” which documents the career of Pittsburgh-based street performer Bill Shannon. Buy tickets.
Crutch. Film still courtesy of Film Pittsburgh.
Thursday, September 9: Lights On! A Three-Day Celebration in the Cultural District
Various times
After many long months of darkened theaters and empty stages, the Cultural District will again teem with life. Seven of the city’s core cultural institutions are coming together with dozens of regional arts organizations to mark the collective reopening of live arts experiences. Reactivating Downtown’s vibrant arts scene, the three-day festivities are packed with 50-plus free music, theater, dance and visual art events spanning three outdoor stages, five galleries, one theater and one arts truck. View a schedule.
Thursday, September 9: RADical Days in Allegheny County
Various times
It’s the best time of year to visit the region’s attractions and amenities. Featuring 60 free events spanning an entire month, RAD Days is a way for the Allegheny Regional Asset District to thank taxpayers. From free admission days at top attractions and behind-the-scenes tours to concerts and exhibits — this year’s lineup allows organizations to reopen their doors and welcome back patrons. View a schedule.
Friday, September 10: United Way’s Week of Caring
8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Looking for a way to give back to the community as the pandemic drags on? Roll up your sleeves and choose from 100-plus volunteer projects to help neighbors meet basic needs and assist nonprofit agencies throughout Southwestern PA. Volunteers can complete a variety of in-person and virtual projects including painting, landscaping, mentoring, working with seniors and more. Register now.
Joan Iversen Goswell, Notice This, 2019. Photo courtesy of Contemporary Craft.
Friday, September 10: Food Justice: Growing a Healthier Community through Art at Contemporary Craft
5:30-8 p.m.
Did you know that 35 million people in the U.S. are food insecure? The newest exhibition at Contemporary Craft is examining the complexities of food security. Featuring 18 works by 15 contemporary artists, the socially-engaged exhibit highlights techniques, forms and innovative art expressions rooted in traditional craft materials. Don’t miss tonight’s opening reception which will showcase a Strange Roots Kvass made from bread recovered by 412 Food Rescue. The opening events continue on Saturday with an artist dialogue, gallery talk and hands-on workshop.
Friday, September 10: Pour at the Park at North Park Lodge
5:30-8:30 p.m.
Enjoy a late summer evening of beer, bites and spirits while raising supporting the Allegheny Co. Parks Foundation. The family-friendly event will feature 15 food and beverage vendors, along with folksy bluegrass music by Buffalo Rose. Buy tickets.
Friday, September 10-Sunday, September 12: Barrel & Flow at SouthSide Works and DoubleTree by Hilton
Various times
There’s so much more than beer at this community-driven event designed to uplift Black artists, musicians, chefs and brewers. Spurring economic empowerment for Black cultural and culinary sectors, the fest embodies a spirit of collective creativity. Debuting will be imaginative handcrafted releases — such as a Blue Peach Fruited Gose honoring Stacey Abrams. Taste what’s been dreamed up by a staggering lineup of 50-plus collaborations. Alongside the taps and food vendors, live music will “flow” with performances by Ghost-Note, Benji, INEZ, 12 DJs and more. Additional highlights include panel discussions, a brewer’s brunch and a bottle share party at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Green Tree. Buy tickets.
Photo courtesy of Barrel & Flow.
Friday, September 10: Pittsburgh Lebanese Food Festival at Our Lady of Victory Maronite Church
Various times
Feats on authentic Lebanese cuisine all weekend long in Beechview — from stuffed grape leaves and baked kibbeh to spinach pies, delicious desserts and much more. There will also be entertainment, live music and traditional dabke dancing.
Friday, September 10-Sunday, September 12: A Fair in the Park in Mellon Park
Various times
If you have a blank wall crying out for attention, don’t miss the return of this Pittsburgh art institution. For its 52nd edition, the three-day fair will convene 100 local and national fine artists representing a diverse range of mediums – from glass, ceramics and fiber, to wood, leather and jewelry. Bring your phone, pick up a clue card and join the scavenger hunt to win a treasure from the Artsmiths.
Friday, September 10-Sunday, September 12: Pittsburgh Irish Festival at The Lots at Sandcastle
Various times
Pittsburgh’s Irish diaspora will rejoice when this cultural staple returns after a yearlong hiatus. Headlining the milestone 30th-anniversary festival are international acts such as Gaelic Storm, The Screaming Orphans, Colm Keegan, The Bow Tides and many others. During your Irish staycation, you can try ancient Celtic ax throwing, cuddle with canines native to Ireland, trace your Irish ancestry and feast on Irish cuisine. Four stages will spotlight local bands, dance troupes, comedians, storytellers and authors. Buy tickets.
Friday, September 10: Gallery Crawl in the Cultural District
5:30 p.m.-12 a.m.
One of Downtown’s core cultural events make a triumphant returns as part of the three-day Lights On! Celebration. Spanning 14 blocks, the summer crawl will showcase five new gallery exhibitions and more than 20 performing and visual arts attractions. The series’ much-anticipated return will also include the Saturday Night Market, public art, pop-ups and film screenings. Dance into midnight at the Crawl After Dark Silent Disco, where you can choose your own music from local DJs via headphones. View a schedule.
Friday, September 10: The Rivers Don’t Know at Point Park University’s Pittsburgh Playhouse
7:30 p.m.
City Theatre marks its return to indoor performances with a world premiere play featuring stories of immigration in collaboration with Point Park University’s Pittsburgh Playhouse. Written by James McManus, the play explores the experiences of refugees and immigrants in Pittsburgh through interlocking stories of a 1940s steelworker, a Somali family and ESL students. Register for free.
Saturday, September 11: Pittsburgh Recovery Walk in the Strip District
9 a.m.
Put one foot in front of another to honor the many roads to recovery from addiction. Celebrating recovery, eliminate stigma, and sharing resources, the welcoming walk invites all people whose lives have been touched by addiction or recovery to join. Kicking off at 11th St. & Waterfront Pl., the event will include activities, guest speakers, live music by Benji, food trucks and virtual components. Register now.
Saturday, September 11: Family House Polo Match at Hartwood Acres
10 a.m.
For 38 years and counting this beloved Pittsburgh tradition has raised critical funds for Family House. Gather your family and friends for a day of fun on the Polo field to help the organization provide a home away from home for families traveling to Pittsburgh for medical care. Along with the excitement of a professional polo match, the event will feature vintage vehicles, a silent auction, craft beer and wine, live music and children’s activities. Buy tickets.
Saturday, September 11: Original Pittsburgh Taco Festival at the Strip District Terminal
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Eat tacos, support the work of the Latin American Cultural Union and Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation. Sounds like a win-win Saturday. Transforming the new Strip District hub into taco town, the foodie fest will showcase 25-plus food trucks, street vendors and eateries, along with beer, tequila and sangria purveyors, an artist market, and live music from Mariachi Internacional, Karibe Son and Gavas Beat. Buy tickets.
Saturday, September 11: Fifth Avenue by the Numbers with Doors Open
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Did you now that the Hill District was once a gambling mecca? During this guided walking tour starting at 1800 Fifth Ave., you’ll visit places where numbers bankers, writers and runners worked, played, dined and lived. Discover how “gambling entrepreneurs helped make numbers an iconic part of Pittsburgh’s informal economy and social history” during the 20th century. Buy tickets.
Photo courtesy of Brick Fest Live.
Saturday, September 11 & Sunday, September 12: Brick Fest Live at the Monroeville Convention Center
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
We’ve all played with them, but what if you could walk through life-sized LEGO models? Immerse yourself in one million LEGO bricks spanning 70,000 square feet when the country’s top LEGO event hosts its first show in 18-months. LEGO lovers can check out brand-new exhibits and interactive programs and meet contestants from the Lego Masters reality TV show. Buy tickets.
Saturday, September 11: Dance for the World at Avalon Park
10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Learn about and experience Native American culture while supporting a worthy cause at this fundraiser hosted by the Salvation Army North Boroughs Worship and Service Center. The pow wow and cultural celebration of unity includes educational demonstrations, authentic cuisine, vendors, children’s activities and more. The event will feature head dancers David and Leeyah Wanner and head drummer Thunder Nation. Register for free.
Sunday, September 12: North Hills Food Truck Festival at 800 Avila Court
12-5 p.m.
Mobile food, fashion and beer will converge when this food truck festival rolls into Perrysville. From Caustelot Creamery to El Rincon Oaxaqueno to the Pittsburgh Crepe Truck, 24 of the region’s tastiest food trucks will set up shop throughout the grounds of Our Lady of Mount Carmel’s St. Teresa campus. There will also be baked goods, bingo games, caricature activities and Hop Farm brews.
Sunday, September 12: Jazz Poetry Month at City of Asylum and Online
6 p.m.
Welcoming back in-person audiences for select live events at Alphabet City, while connecting with artists and audiences around the world via virtual programs, the 17th annual Jazz Poetry Month features nine concerts and four international commissions. Transcending genre, style and language — while empowering musicians and poets to experiment, collaborate and express themselves freely — the festival kicks off tonight with violinist and composer Layale Chaker, who will perform a suite of music exploring the sounds, rhythms, rhymes, shapes and forms of Arabic poetry. Register for free.
Comments are closed.