Your June 20-22 weekend guide: Celebrate Juneteenth, learn about our local waterways and more

African American culture is at the heart of the Juneteenth Celebration. Photo courtesy of WPA Juneteenth.

With summer in full swing, there are so many options each and every day to keep kids busy until their summer bedtime. There is a great lineup of outdoor movies in and around the city, several farms to pick berries at, and so many pools and spray parks for those hot days! Check out just a handful of the many activities happening this weekend in and around the ‘Burgh:

Tuesday, June 17 – Sunday, July 22: “Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot” at the Benedum Center

The Pittsburgh CLO presents the musical version of the legendary love triangle between King Arthur, Queen Guenevere, and the valiant Sir Lancelot. While all ages are welcome, this performance is best for kids ages 10 and older. Tickets start at $66.64.

Thursday, June 19: Juneteenth Concert at Mellon Park, 5 p.m. 

Juneteenth doesn’t fall on a weekend this year, so get the celebration started early with this free outdoor concert. Pittsburgh Symphony Principal Pops Conductor Byron Stripling leads an outdoor Juneteenth Concert featuring a lively big band set showcasing PSO brass members alongside regional jazz musicians. Expect special appearances by vocalist Sydney McSweeney and Bobby Floyd playing the Hammond B3 organ. This event is free.

Thursday, June 19 – Saturday, June 21: Western PA Juneteenth Celebration

This year, Juneteenth will be celebrated in Mellon Park. With musical guests, family-friendly activities, speakers and tons of great food, this is the perfect way to teach kids about the history of Juneteenth. The holiday commemorates the day that slaves in Texas were freed, once word of the Emancipation Proclamation reached their state. Find more details about this event here.

Friday, June 20-Sunday, June 22: Pogopalooza 2025

Pogopalooza presents three days of high-flying world championship competitions. Brave souls can sign up to compete in categories like highest jump, freestyle, best trick, or tech. There’s a classification for kids, too, with the 15 and under Bounce-off. Tickets are free, but registration is requested.

Saturday, June 21: “How to Train Your Dragon” sensory-friendly screening at The Lindsay Theater, 9 a.m. 

The Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center in Sewickley will host a sensory-friendly screening of “How to Train Your Dragon” this weekend. “How to Train Your Dragon” is the live-action remake of DreamWorks Animation’s 2010 adventure about the unexpected friendship between an eager young Viking and an injured dragon. Tickets to this and all sensory-friendly screenings at The Lindsay are discounted to $8.75 each. Sensory-friendly screenings are designed so everyone can enjoy a personal, unhurried cinematic experience. Purchase tickets here or at the door.

Saturday, June 21: Summer Splash with ALCOSAN at the Carnegie Science Center, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Families are invited to celebrate the beginning of summer at Summer Splash. Soak in the sun with hands-on activities, interactive science experiments, and fun for the whole family. Enjoy outdoor games and activities like giant bubbles, playing with “snow,” tours of the rain garden and a photo scavenger hunt. Kids will also learn about the science of our rivers and the water cycle from the experts at ALCOSAN. This event is included with Science Center admission.

Saturday, June 21: Make Music Day at The Frick Pittsburgh, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Enjoy free live music as we participate in the global celebration of Make Music Day! Make Music Day is designed to help with music exploration, to showcase local musical talent, and to inspire others to play music. The global celebration of music is held annually on the summer solstice, with more than 5,000 live, free music-making events held on June 21. Find more details about Pittsburgh’s own local celebration here.

Saturday, June 21: Prime Stage Theater Cemetery Walk, 12 p.m. 50 5 p.m.

Join the theatrical folks at Prime Stage Theater for a lively and informative walk through the historic Allegheny Cemetery, located at 4734 Butler Street. Prepare to be inspired by these local legends as the crew brings their stories to life. Tours are $20 per person and are one hour long, with tours running on the hour. Find more details here, as well as a YouTube video about the tours here.

Saturday, June 21: DIY Kites with Center for Creative Reuse at CLP West End, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

As part of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Summer Reading Kickoff, participants of all ages can head out to the West End location of the library for a hands-on creative workshop using found materials to make kites that really fly! This event is free. Find more info here.

Sunday, June 22: Butler County History Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Butler County, located north of Pittsburgh, has been an important part of local history for over two centuries. Learn about George Washington’s near-death experience in Butler and lots more! The county’s museums will be free all day on June 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Find the full schedule of events here.

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