10 things to do with kids this week in Pittsburgh, from free festivals to outdoor theater
Photo courtesy of BikePGH.
Kids will find loads to do this week – indoor, outdoor, all around the town. Keep them busy and entertained with these top 10 events in Pittsburgh.
1. Learn about bike safety and snag a free helmet
The City of Pittsburgh and BikePGH host Youth Bike Safety Day from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. June 12. The event includes helmet giveaways, bicycle activities, safety demonstrations and details on summer programs for kids. Head to the Bud Harris Cycling Track on Washington Boulevard, where all the fun takes place. Families can visit with folks from the Safe Routes to School Program, too. The organization works to increase biking for kids through safety improvements and community engagement. Looking for more? Check out BikePGH’s Family Guide to biking.
2. Discover ‘The Most Magnificent Thing’ (at home)
Carnegie Museum of Art welcomes kids ages 12 and younger to the June session of Story Sunday on June 13. Join Alyssa Velazquez, curator of the museum’s Locally Sourced exhibit, in a virtual reading of “The Most Magnificent Thing” by Ashley Spire. It’s a story that will catch the attention of kids who love creative making and can identify with the frustration to do it perfectly. A hands-on activity follows the reading. You’ll receive a link and list of materials upon the pay-what-you-wish registration. If you can’t make the live event, register now and receive a link to watch on your schedule.
3. Take a botanical ballet class (at home)
Tiny dancers from ages 3-7 will be delighted by a Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre virtual creative movement class featuring dances from “Don Quixote.” Kids will make a related craft and learn ballet basics. Let’s Move Pittsburgh and Phipps Conservatory are part of the fun, which includes a story about trolls Fern and Ivy on an adventure through the conservatory. Registration is $12 per household for the June 12th event. Choose from a noon or 2 p.m. timeslot.
4. Meet and greet the world
World Square, a three-day celebration of international communities, fills Market Square with music, dance and delectable eats from June 11-13. Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and Welcoming Pittsburgh host the party to embrace and promote our newest neighbors. You’ll find handcrafted goods from exotic locales like the Ivory Coast, Costa Rica and throughout Latin America. Sample delicious treats from Peru, Greece and Afghanistan. You’ll find the entertainment lineup of music and dance here.
5. Catch the first session of the Summer Sidewalk Series
Heinz History Center launches its Summer Sidewalk Series from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on June 12 with a sports-themed focus on the City of Champions. The free day of fun includes a lineup of family-friendly activities. Design a team jersey, test your football skills in a training camp challenge and put yourself into famous sports moments through the magic of a green screen. Summer Sidewalk Series takes place outdoors at the parking lot on Penn Avenue between 12th and 13th streets in the Strip District. No registration is required.
6. Enjoy a sensory-friendly museum outing
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History welcomes families to sensory-friendly hours from 8:30-10 a.m. on June 12, opening 90 minutes before regular hours. Kids who experience sensory overload can explore the museum in a more controlled environment without crowds. Museum staff will provide tours of the exhibits and answer questions throughout the morning. Registration is $5.95 for kids, free for ages 2 and younger, $9.95 for their grownups.
7. Settle down for Storytime
A weekly Storytime, geared to toddlers and the pre-K set, begins at 10:30 a.m. on June 11 at Schenley Plaza and 10 a.m. June 17 at the iron deer sculpture in Allegheny Commons Park. Bring a blanket or folding chair to get cozy. The Schenley Plaza location includes a bonus PNC Carousel ride. No registration is needed for this series, hosted by Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.
8. Cheer for a silly Cinderella
South Park Theatre’s lineup of plays for kids returns with all the gleeful silliness we missed last summer. The season opens with the musical “Cinderella … If the Shoe Fits!” with morning and evening shows running June 14-23 on the outdoor stage. Lawn seating is limited to 150 patrons, allowing for social distancing. Tickets are $5, free for 3 years and younger, and sold at the door. For a special treat, order a boxed picnic dinner, available on Monday nights. Next up is “Pinocchio: No Strings Attached” running June 28-July 7. Check out the complete season schedule here.
9. Celebrate Kid’s Day
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy hosts families to Kid’s Day at Schenley Plaza for an afternoon of fun in the sun – or under the tent. Kids will love the balloon artist, hands-on craft activities and performers. Moms and dads will love the price: It’s all free, including rides on the PNC Carousel. No registration is needed. Just stop by between noon and 5 p.m. on June 13.
10. Last chance: Be the artist at Three Rivers Arts Festival
Be sure to catch the final weekend of the Three Rivers Arts Festival, running through June 13. Enjoy live music, the artist market and delicious festival food. Kids looking for interactive entertainment and maker fun will love the Creative Activities. The Giant Eagle Activity Zone hosts cultural groups that have organized all sorts of hands-on and interactive endeavors. Explore movement with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, make a take-home box instrument with Unisound or mold seed bombs with Union Project. Find storytelling that engages kids through dance, music and dramatic play at EQT Plaza. And stop by Katz Plaza for a group painting session. Not ready to join the crowds? The schedule includes virtual activities, too.
Bonus: Be sure to check out 9 things to know about the reopening of the Children’s Museum and MuseumLab.
