10 family-friendly Pittsburgh events this weekend, many of them free (and Kennywood’s open!)

Above photo courtesy of Kennywood Park.

There’s so much going on this weekend around Pittsburgh for kids and their families! The gorgeous weather makes it a perfect weekend to enjoy the zoo’s Wild Earth Day Festival. If you’re looking for indoor Pittsburgh events, there are cooking classes and puppet shows across the city, too.

Plus, it’s finally opening day for Kennywood Park!

Your weekend starts here:

Friday, April 19: ‘Let Them Cook’ at Sweetwater Center for the Performing Arts, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

This community event in Sewickley features both takeout and dine in options. Diners at Sweetwater will receive a handmade bowl with their order at a cost of $50, while takeout (food only) costs $20. This event is a great way to support the arts, while also learning more about the programs at Sweetwater. Register for a time slot here.

Saturday, April 20: Wild Earth Day Festival at Pittsburgh Zoo, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Embark on a journey with live performances by local bands, live art creation and eye-opening educational booths hosted by Pittsburgh’s most innovative companies. You’ll find plenty of creativity and sustainability, while learning how Green Business is Good Business and meeting local businesses that are leaders in sustainability. This event is included with zoo admission.

Saturday, April 20: Reading Ready Pittsburgh puppet show, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Reading Ready Pittsburgh presents an afternoon of puppetry at their free children’s bookstore. Emily Schubert and Abby Pelan will be performing two puppet shows for children. Schubert’s “Kraut” is a suitcase style puppet show about a rogue cabbage who sings about his life and what might happen if the pesky farmer finds him. Palen’s “Catch the Clown Cat and the Magic Mice” is a show about Catch, a clown cat, who goes on an adventure with Herbie, a hairy hairball, and discovers what it really means to be a clown. This event is free, and each child can go home with three free books to keep. Find details here.

Saturday, April 20: Opening Day at Kennywood Park, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Say it with us: “Kennywood’s open!” Kids will be excited to join Kenny Kangaroo at Pittsburgh’s favorite amusement park again this year. Tickets start at $39.99, and there are some great deals on season passes ahead of opening day. Catch the half-off deal before Saturday!

Saturday, April 20: UPMC Magee Womens Hospital Mommy & Me Expo, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital will host a Mommy & Me Expo at the UPMC Health Plan Neighborhood Center in East Liberty. Have one-on-one sessions with UPMC experts such as pediatricians, OB/GYNs, lactation consultants, doulas and more. Attendees can also learn about labor pain management, infant CPR and pregnancy yoga. There will be health screenings and giveaways. Find more details here.

Saturday, April 20: Super Science Saturday presents The Stories We Keep, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Caring for the Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s millions of specimens is a BIG job! Investigate the science of conservation and restoration that keeps the cherished objects in our care safe. Meet museum conservators and watch them demonstrate conservation techniques in real time in Dinosaurs in Their Time, the Hall of North American Wildlife, and the conservation lab. Discover the 10 “Agents of Deterioration” that conservators guard against and learn how to care for your special things at home. This event is $25.

Saturday, April 20: Pottery Workshop at CLP with Union Project, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Come on out to the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Mount Washington location to learn all about pottery. The Union Project’s Wheel Mobile is a vehicle equipped with clay, tools, a potter’s wheel, and a Raku kiln. This mobile studio extends UP’s ceramics programming by bringing clay anywhere there’s a road and provides wheel throwing, hand-building, and Raku firing demonstrations and activities. This event is free and is recommended for all ages.

Saturday, April 20: Kids Pizza Making Class at Italian Village Pizza, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. 

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity for your kiddos to become mini pizzaiolos. This fun filled class will also cover “how not to make a pizza,” as well as a brief lesson for their in-house pizza dance. IVP’s mascot, Tony Anchovy, will drop in for a visit and all will celebrate with a sense of accomplishment as each guest is served their very own pizza creation. Additional pizza kits will be available for purchase for kids to showcase their skills at home. The cost is $25 per child.

Saturday, April 20: “The Super Mario Brothers Movie,” at South Park, dusk

Allegheny County Drive-in Movies Series offer this kid-friendly showing, with parking opening at 6 p.m. and movie screening at dusk. Grab some snacks and enjoy a series of family-friendly movies all summer long. These events are free. Find out details about this showing and the rest of the summer here.

Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21: Pennsylvania Maple Festival in Meyersdale

Extend your maple sugar rush to spring with the 77th annual Pennsylvania Maple Festival. The festival kicks off this weekend and continues next weekend. Meyersdale, which bills itself as Maple City USA, packs the schedule with activities to entertain visitors of all ages. Reenactors and interpreters dramatize the discovery of maple syrup in the “Legend of the Magic Water.” Kids can enjoy hands-on crafts and face painting. Living History exhibits include a cobbler shop and an antique doctor’s office. And, of course, all the maple fun you’d expect is at the heart of the festival. Admission to Maple Festival Park is free for ages 5 and younger, $1 for ages 6-12, $5 for grownups. Catch all the details here.

Looking for more fun Pittsburgh events around the region? Check out our April events guide and our guide to environmental celebrations during Earth Month. And sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Instagram!