Seasonal

10 Reasons to Visit Pittsburgh in July – Summer Activities

July in Pittsburgh is one of our favorite months. There are long, hot sunny days, numerous events, and many opportunities to get out and enjoy the great outdoors of southwest Pennsylvania!

As such, it should be no surprise that this month's guide includes a number of outdoor activities as well as a few indoor favorites to round out the list. No matter what you do, you'll be having a great time if you visit Pittsburgh in July!

Looking for things to do in Pittsburgh in July? Check out the following options!

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Phipps Summer Flower Show – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

The summer shows at Phipps Conservatory are always bright and vibrant, and 2026's Summer Flower Show goes through the looking glass with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland!

Check out rooms decorated with the Queen of Hearts, Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, and so much more in this one.

As with all flower shows at Phipps Conservatory, we do not like to give away what you can see at all the rooms. So in this one, we wanted to share a few of our favorites. To see the rest, well, you'll have to visit for yourself!

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Enjoy Music All Summer Long in Allegheny County Parks

We love seeing live music in the area, and there are no shortage of great concert venues in Pittsburgh to check out a show.     

But some of the best music experiences in Pittsburgh are when free music performances pop up, and one of our favorites is during the Allegheny County Summer Concert Series which takes place at two great locations in the county!

We made our way up to Hartwood Acres to check out a show and wanted to share a bit more about what you can expect and how to get the most out of these free events!

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Seven Springs Pond Skim is an End of Season Blast

We didn't choose the ski life, the ski life chose us.

In recent years, we've been hitting the slopes at our area ski resorts more and more. Along with it, comes jumping into all things ski culture with the fun events and festivities scheduled throughout each season.

But there is one that should be toward the top of your list, and that is the end of season Pond Skim. At Seven Springs, this one is quite a blast!

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The Best Trails for Beginners at Hidden Valley

Now that I have been skiing for a few years now, I am starting to feel comfortable on most of the trails at our area ski resorts.

But if you are new, you may have apprehension about determining what trails are right for your skill level. Is that green easier or harder than the green I am used to? Am I ready for a blue? These are all things that went through my own mind in recent years as I learned to ski.

So in this one, I thought it'd be fun to take a look at the runs at Hidden Valley and share what order I'd personally recommend trying them in as you get better skiing!

Note: I have received media passes from Vail resorts for visits to Seven Springs and associated properties in the region.

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The Best Trails for Beginners at Seven Springs

Ever since I started seriously learning to ski around 2021 or 2022, I wanted to work towards being comfortable on all of the greens and blues at Seven Springs.

In the first year, I got comfortable with the greens. In my second year, I tackled my first blue. In my third year, I got really comfortable riding blues regularly. In my fourth year, I moved up to hitting my first ever black diamond and really felt like I was starting to unlock the entire mountain.

So, in this one, I wanted to take a look at the trails at Seven Springs overall, and share a progression of trails beginners should try, from the easiest slopes to more challenging runs that progress into the intermediate level. So if you're looking for a guide of where to head as you grow as a skier, this one is for you!

Note: I have received media passes from Vail resorts for visits to Seven Springs and associated properties in the region.

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9 Spots Great to Enjoy Dry January in Pittsburgh in 2026

Oh dry January, you are always fun.

This annual celebration has become something of a global phenomenon, as many of us look to use the somewhat slow month as a chance to detox and get a break from indulgences (especially after the holidays).

Whatever your reason for participating in dry January is your own. But if you are looking to enjoy the flavors of your favorite beverages without alcohol, a number of restaurants, bars, breweries, and distilleries are starting to offer great options for dry January in Pittsburgh!

In this one, we thought we'd share some of the spots with the finest assortment of products. While this one is not comprehensive, we wanted to include places that have larger menus, share a variety of products, and more to give you a great cross-section of alcohol-free beverages in the city to consider if you are abstaining.

Please note: This article focuses on offerings for Dry January specifically and may not necessarily be accurate year-round. While many of the bars, restaurants, and breweries featured have great non-alcoholic products at all times, some increase their offerings for January. Likewise, cocktails, beers on draft, and other beverages are always liable to change. Please reconfirm directly with any business prior to visiting. Finally, some drink photos in this article may be alcoholic and are for illustration only.

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10 of the Best Places for Christmas Lights in Pittsburgh

There are many reasons to love the holiday season in Pittsburgh, and perhaps one of the most amazing ones is your ability to see many beautiful Christmas lights all over the region.

From the holiday displays downtown, to the many drive-thru light shows, and more, there really is no shortage of impressive Christmas lights in Pittsburgh. So in this one, we wanted to curate all the best places where you can see holiday lights and decorations in the region!

Note: Many of the experiences below are drive-thru light displays such that you can enjoy the holiday lights and decorations from the comfort of your own car. However, we felt we would be doing you a disservice if we didn't mention a few other light viewing opportunities that take place outside of your car as well!

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How to Get the Most Out of Light Up Night in Pittsburgh

In Pittsburgh, the start of the holiday season is not ambiguous.

It is not after Halloween when department stores put out Christmas decorations (or do they do it before now?). It is not the day after Thanksgiving that many traditionally observe. It is also not the first snow sighting, December 1st, the fall time change, or any other arbitrary benchmark.

This one particular instance should not be up for debate, as the start of the Christmas season in Pittsburgh is Light Up Night- the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

In this guide, we want to share some of our favorite tips on how to get the most out of what is perhaps our favorite annual event in Pittsburgh!

Note: In 2025, Light Up Night will have some slightly modified event locations due to the on-going construction in Market Square. While this article is meant to be somewhat static year-to-year, we've noted some variations for 2025's festivities in this one.

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