It’s eclipse weekend! Here’s your weekend fun guide for Pittsburgh and beyond

Above image courtesy of PNC Park.

With spring break behind us and most students easing back into regular routines, this first weekend in April may be a great chance to lay around and finish off those candy baskets. But if your family is looking to get out and explore, we’ve got a roundup of some of the best events for kids to get you excited:

Friday, April 5: Pirates Home Opener at PNC Park, 4 p.m. 

Watch the Pittsburgh Pirates take on the Baltimore Orioles as they open the 2024 season at home. After kicking off the season on the road with five straight wins, the Pirates are in first place in the N.L. Central division. Catch the home opener (and maybe see Cutch hit his 300th home run) and be there to see who wins the first pierogi race of the year. Advance tickets are recommended.

Saturday, April 6: Baby and Me Musicality Class, 9 a.m.

The folks at Los Sabrosos have put together a variety of classes for kids of different ages, but this Saturday morning class is just for babies and their caregiver to bond and appreciate music. The class costs $20 and parents are welcome to hold their babies, wear them, or do whatever feels comfortable. Find more details here.

Saturday, April 6: Kids of Steel Fest, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. 

The Kids of Steel Marathon isn’t until May, but kids across the region are training at their schools or with their families for the big day. This event at the RMU Island Sports Center will get them hyped up to race. With games, snacks, and prizes, it’s a free event you won’t want to miss. Find the details here to get registered.

Saturday, April 6: Art Workshop with Cue Perry at CLP, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

At the Beechview location of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, artist Cue Perry will guide kids in grades K to 5 through the basics of drawing, painting, and more. This event is free and more details can be found here.

Saturday, April 6: Earth Month Celebration at Westinghouse Park, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

This fun and free event helps kick off a whole month of honoring the earth. Festivities include lawn games, face painting, balloon artists, nature crafts and activities by community organizations. While the event is free, select events require registration.  (Want more Earth Month fun? Check out our guide to all the events.)

Saturday, April 6: Family Nature Walk at Powdermill Nature Reserve, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

Join staff from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and hit the trails for a guided nature walk. Meet in the atrium of the Powdermill Nature Center  before heading outside to explore. This family-friendly experience is open to participants of all ages. These events are pay-what-you-can, but they do fill up fast, so please register here.

Saturday, April 6: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” at the South Park VIP Lot, 6 p.m. 

While actual drive-in movie theaters are dwindling, local parks are keeping the drive-in tradition alive all summer long. Allegheny Parks Drive-in Movies Series features a variety of family-friendly movies all season with parking opening at 6 p.m. and movie screening beginning at dusk. This movie, and all Allegheny County Parks movies, are free. Details can be found here.

Sunday, April 7: ReptiRoots Reptile Show, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This event at the Pittsburgh Mills Mall is the perfect spot to learn about reptiles and their care. There will be animals for sale, educators for curious kids, and everything you need to get started with reptiles. Admission is $6. Find more details here.

Sunday, April 9: Big Nosh at Congregation Beth Shalom, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Beginning this Sunday and running through Tuesday, April 9, The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle will be hosting a Jewish Food Festival at Congregation Beth Shalom. Meals are available to eat in or take out. Find the menu and all the details right here.

Monday, April 8: Total Solar Eclipse

While the eclipse is on Monday, many families are planning to travel north into the path of totality Sunday night as traffic is expected to be significant Monday morning. We’ve got a guide to all the local events and the celebration in Erie. While Pittsburgh isn’t in the path of totality, the city will see 97% of the sun eclipsed. So get your eclipse glasses ready!

Looking for more fun activities? Check out our guide to the whole month of April here, and sign up for our newsletter so you’re always in the know.