Weekend events March 13-15: Free family fun, St. Paddy’s Day festivities and more!

This weekend Pittsburgh celebrates its strong Irish roots. According to Visit Pittsburgh, around 14 percent of Yinzers have Irish immigrant ancestors, making it one of the “most Irish cities” in the United States. But this holiday can be fun for everyone.

We’ve got details on the parade below, as well as a lineup of other fun family events including story times and free STEAM classes for teens and tots alike.

Begin your weekend planning right here:

Friday, March 13: Winter Story Time in the Garden at Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Join the Botanic Garden’s youth educator, Ms. Colleen, to discover the wonder of nature through inspiring stories and engaging crafts. A read-aloud will take place from 10:00 – 10:30, followed by a craft related to the story themes. This is a free program that will take place inside the Welcome Center during the winter months. Find more info here.

Friday, March 13: South Side Kids Fish Fry Food Truck Palooza, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

This Friday the 13th is a lucky one, with lots of delicious options in a family-friendly setting. Bring the family to a first-of-its-kind Fish Fry Food Truck Palooza at South Side’s local brewery, Velum Fermentation. The fourth annual South Side Kids Fish Fry features the award-winning Cold Friends Kitchen, serving up a tasty Tuna Melt, alongside internationally renowned La Palapa, showcasing their yummy Fish and Shrimp Tacos, followed by Bado’s Pizza, with Fried Fish Sandwiches and Cheese Pizza, and something sweet from locally owned Vital Sips. Inside, children and families will enjoy kids’ crafts and games, a full arcade, face painting, balloons and more. Proceeds from the South Side Kids dine-to-donate program directly support South Side Kids’ mission to foster family life across Pittsburgh, creating a community where children and families can flourish. South Side Kids organizes free events and programming throughout the year, creating a bridge between families and local resources. Find more info here.

Friday, March 13: Parents’ Night Out at Attack Theatre, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

Shake off the winter blues and let your kids “spring” into action! While you enjoy the fresh March air and the best of Lawrenceville’s nightlife, little ones will celebrate the arrival of spring with the staff at Attack Theatre. They are hosting an evening of blooming creativity, featuring garden-themed dance games, nature-inspired crafts, and plenty of imaginative play. They will provide the snacks and the sunshine vibes — parents can just enjoy their night out on the town. The cost is $30 per child. Register here.

Saturday, March 14: St. Patrick’s Day Parade, 10 a.m. 

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day Parades in the United States. For this day, everyone is Irish. The parade kicks off at 10 a.m. sharp in Downtown. Find more info here.

Saturday, March 14: Spark Saturdays at CMU, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

This weekend kicks off the first of four free Saturday sessions for middle and high schoolers at CMU. Students are encouraged to attend all four sessions, so this is a great weekend to get started. SPARK Saturdays is a program created by ECE Outreach that aims to introduce middle and high school students to concepts within the field of electrical and computer engineering, and expose them to engineering as a potential career choice. Topics may range from the binary number system and boolean logic to programming in Python to building circuits with LEDs that can be used as radios. This spring’s labs will work on catapults, signals and musical circuits. The labs assume no prior knowledge, and students are provided with assistance from Carnegie Mellon graduate and undergraduate students. This program is free. Please register here.

Saturday, March 14: “The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac” at the Byham Theater

Join Freddie and Ivy alongside their grandparents, Po Po and Kung Kung, as their Chinese New Year celebrations take a turn from dumpling-making to discovering the incredible origin story of the Chinese Zodiac. Tickets start at $17.

Sunday, March 15: Little Minnows Story Time at White Whale Bookstore, 10:15 a.m.

Every other weekend, White Whale features a free story time for little learners. This event is open to anyone and is geared for kids who are ages 2 through elementary school. Find more info here.

Sunday, March 15: Azure Enchanted Melodies, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

Autism Pittsburgh presents a family-friendly concert where all behaviors are welcome. Join musicians Emily Gallagher and Caleb Glickman for an enchanted afternoon of musical storytelling. See what happens when a princess finds her own storybook and discovers the importance of finding her own path. The audience is encouraged to sing, dance and play along to bring the story to life. An instrument petting zoo will follow the concert. You can find more information right here.

Sunday, March 15: “Newsies” at The Frick Pittsburgh, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Celebrate the Frick’s current exhibition, Lewis Hine Pictures America, with a screening of the award-winning musical movie, “Newsies.” Loosely based on the New York City newsboys’ strike of 1899, “Newsies” is a tale of teamwork and determination. Spend an afternoon with fellow musical theater lovers; the film is rated PG and runs for 120 minutes with subtitles in English. Advance registration encouraged; walk-up tickets can be purchased in the Frick Art Museum while space is available. The cost is $10. (Admission to the Lewis Hine exhibition is not included with the movie ticket.)

Now that spring is in the air, there are so many family activities worth enjoying in Pittsburgh. Sign up for our newsletter so you always know about the latest camps, classes, concerts, and more! 

Photo at top of guide courtesy of Unsplash.