Published by Jeremy. Last Updated on September 17, 2024.
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Since founding Discover the Burgh in 2015, we have made it our mission to visit every business, restaurant, attraction, and public space Pittsburgh has to offer. We do this not just through a Google search, but by the two of us personally trying out everything in this great city.
And what a journey it has been so far!
Pittsburgh is one of those places that has enough to keep you busy for years on end, and we've dedicated all of our free time to covering it here and on our social media channels. Even though we've been exploring for several years already, we truly have no end in sight.
As we have published hundreds of articles on Discover the Burgh about all there is to do in Pittsburgh, we wanted to give you a single resource to learn about the city and find your way around some of our favorite and most popular articles.
If you've ever wanted to learn what there is to see, do, eat, and experience in Pittsburgh, this guide is for you.
Navigate This Pittsburgh Guide
We wanted to make this one the biggest and best resource to the city, and we're well on our way to doing just that. But in doing so that means that this guide is long. Very long.
In fact, this guide is nearly 10,000 words and links out to hundreds of our most relevant articles.
To make things easier, we added this navigation feature which jumps to different sections of this guide. To jump to a specific section of interest, click the following links:
- A Brief History of Pittsburgh
- Seasonal Information
- Attractions
- Parks and Nature
- Food and Beverage
- Weekend Guides
- Sports
- Live Performances and Annual Events
- Transportation
- Hotels
- Moving to and Living in Pittsburgh
- Help Us Out!
If you find something you want to read more of, click the link (generally the attraction or business name) to be taken to our full review. We add new articles to our site and this guide weekly as we find more awesome spots in the region!
Note: This guide is meant to be a starting point for those looking to find more information about Pittsburgh on Discover the Burgh. As our site is based on our personal quest to explore everything in the city, it is always to be considered a work in progress. If you have recommendations of things for us to add, please comment below or contact us!
A Brief Pittsburgh History
The area that is now Pittsburgh, like most of North America, was inhabited by Native Americans for centuries. Some of the earliest artifacts of human settlement are found at the Meadowcroft Rockshelter located about an hour west of the city and date back 16,000 years!
Fast forwarding to western settlements, we jump to the 1700s when European colonists came into the region. Battles between the French and British ensued and control of the region swapped hands a few times. The British ultimately won, and the area around Fort Pitt, now known as Pittsburgh, grew from there.
Shortly after American Independence, Pittsburgh began carving its way into the history books through a number of events:
- In the 1790s, the famous Whiskey Rebellion took place in which locals staged an uprising against taxation on whiskey production.
- In the early 1800s, Lewis and Clark started their journey from Pittsburgh to explore the western land acquired in the Louisiana Purchase.
- In the 1810s, the city's strategic location on the banks of three rivers, known as the gateway to the west, resulted in a manufacturing boom.
Pittsburgh’s geographic distinction was key its foundation and growth, and over the years that followed the city became one of the manufacturing hubs for river boats, whiskey, glass, iron, and, ultimately, steel.
By the end of the 1800s the greater Pittsburgh region was producing a significant percentage of the world's steel, which can now be found just about everywhere. This boom brought in workers from all over the world including many Eastern European countries. Steel was the city's major industry until its collapse in the latter half of the 1900s.
During its prime, Pittsburgh was known as a city of rich industrialists and a hardened working class who, in many cases, were exploited in the name of profit. The many steel mills along the rivers produced smoke so thick you could not see the sun; the city was aptly described as “hell with the lid off.”
After the collapse of steel, Pittsburgh experienced a significant depression that displaced over 50% of its population who could no longer find work. The city has spent the last several decades reinventing itself and diversifying its economy with new and thriving industries like health care and tech.
Throw in a strong sports and tourism market, a nationally recognized up-and-coming dining scene, and the distinction of being one of the USA's most livable cities, and it should be no surprise that Pittsburgh is becoming a new force to be reckoned with- all without a single steel ingot.
Yes, some people still think of Pittsburgh as the dirty and pollution-rich monstrosity it once was. But all those who decide to visit Pittsburgh leave with the same thought: “I had no idea about the real Pittsburgh!”
And thankfully for us, the city's best days are yet to come.
Our goal at Discover the Burgh is to enable you to experience this great city and the rest of southwestern Pennsylvania first hand. This guide is our way to help you dig deeper and find a new spot to explore!
- To learn more about Pittsburgh's rich history, we recommend Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City. This is one of the most impressive books we've ever come across because it details local history from the frontier days all the way through the 1990s. At nearly 800 pages it provides a wealth of facts, photographs, and details we haven't seen anywhere else. But be warned- this one will take you months if not years to get through (it did for us)!
- For other Pittsburgh books, click our previous link to read about the books found in our own home library!
Seasonal Information
Pittsburgh is the kind of city that has all four seasons in any given year, but also in any given week (and who are we kidding, many times in a single day, too).
Between October and April, one day might be a perfect 75°F and sunny, the next could be snowing with horrible road conditions, and the next could be 75°F again. It isn't unheard of to have weeks of below freezing temperatures then a string of gorgeous 60°F days right in the middle of February, followed up by a deep freeze with a foot of snow shortly thereafter.
Between May and September, temperatures and humidity rise, but so does the frequency of sunny days that helps encourage everyone to get out and explore. The height of summer can be hot and humid to the point of being uncomfortable (80°F+ and humid is normal), but the weather is not as extreme as you would find going just a few hours south.
It isn't unheard of for the city to experience extreme temperature swings like you'd find in the south (hot in the summer to the tune of 100°F+) or north (cold in the winter to below 0°F). But overall, Pittsburgh experiences these conditions on a limited number of days of the year and not for extended periods like you would find elsewhere. All good things in our book!
The only real downside when it comes to Pittsburgh weather? We have fewer sunny days than Seattle, so Pittsburghers soak it up whenever we can get it. A sunny day on a weekend is a cherished thing, and the city is abuzz with activity when mother nature smiles upon us.
If you are a visitor looking to explore Pittsburgh, the city presents several great opportunities year-round; however, it is worth noting that many people in Pittsburgh (especially those who don't ski) tend to hibernate in the winter months while being more active in the spring, summer, and fall due to the weather patterns outlined above.
Personally, we find great things to do in the city any day of the year, but these are important things to consider when reading the rest of this guide.
Pittsburgh is home to 90 unique neighborhoods which can be found across all sides of the city's three rivers. Our neighborhood guides describe each neighborhood in the city while sharing our personal favorite attractions, restaurants, and businesses.
Some neighborhoods have been combined into larger guides for simplicity's sake as several neighborhoods are quite small and/or primarily residential.
Our current guides are outlined below:
- Downtown Pittsburgh Neighborhood Guide – Consisting of the Central Business District.
- Mount Washington Neighborhood Guide – Consisting of Mount Washington and Duquesne Heights
- North Side Neighborhood Guide – Consisting of the North Shore, Chateau, Manchester, California-Kirkbride, Allegheny Center, Central Northside, and East Allegheny
- The neighborhoods farther north and on the hilltops will be featured in a later guide.
- South Side Neighborhood Guide – Consisting of South Side, South Shore, and South Side Slopes
- Strip District Neighborhood Guide
- Squirrel Hill Neighborhood Guide – Consisting of Squirrel Hill North and Squirrel Hill South.
- Lawrenceville Neighborhood Guide – Consisting of Lower, Central, and Upper Lawrenceville.
- East Liberty Neighborhood Guide
- Shadyside Neighborhood Guide
- Bloomfield Neighborhood Guide
- Garfield and Friendship Neighborhood Guide
It is our goal to publish guides that cover every one of the 90 neighborhoods in the city as well as the neighboring villages, boroughs, and townships.
Although we are not there yet, we will be soon so check back as we add more neighborhood guides onto this list! Current guides in the works are Oakland, Shadyside, and South Side.
Looking for the best thing to do in each of Pittsburgh's neighborhoods? Check out our Quest to Explore Pittsburgh's 90 Neighborhoods guide which features our attempt to find a cool spot to visit in each neighborhood of our city! We have just a few more to go to hit all 90!
Or if you're looking to enjoy Pittsburgh's skyline, click the previous link for our favorite public viewpoints! Can't go out and explore? Check out our Pittsburgh webcam which stream's our own view 24/7 or watch some of our favorite Pittsburgh time-lapse videos we've shot, too!
Attractions in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh may not be on the national radar for all of its museums, attractions, and other fun activities just yet, but we really think it should be as the city has far more to offer than just sporting events!
No matter where you go around the region there is always a new museum to check out- perfect for any day, in any season.
In fact, we’ve been exploring the region’s attractions nonstop for nearly three years and are just scratching the surface- there’s still so much more to see!
A list of the Pittsburgh museums we've featured to date are outlined below, starting with museums inside the city limits organized by relative popularity/name recognition. Most of the following charge admission, but some are free with recommended donations:
- Phipps Conservatory – Oakland – A 100+ year-old botanical gardens featuring over a dozen rooms and many themed flower shows throughout the year.
- Heinz History Center – Strip District – A large museum dedicated to the history of Pittsburgh and southwestern Pennsylvania.
- Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium – Highland Park – A combination zoo and aquarium with a wide range of exhibits from around the world.
- The Duquesne Incline – South Side / Mount Washington – A historic, 100+ year-old funicular that takes visitors and residents up and down Mount Washington to enjoy the stunning skyline view.
- Carnegie Museum of Art – Oakland – A premier art museum that rivals some of the world's greatest museums.
- Carnegie Museum of Natural History – Oakland – A natural history museum with many unique features. Housed in the same building as the art museum and included with the same ticket.
- Carnegie Science Center – North Side – Pittsburgh's premier science center with many exhibits ranging from life sciences to sports, including a western PA's largest IMAX screen.
- Andy Warhol Museum – North Side – One of the largest museums ever built for a single artist, celebrating Pittsburgh's famous son- Andy Warhol.
- The National Aviary – North Side – Recognized by Congress as the National Aviary of the United States- featuring many themed rooms with birds from around the world.
- Pittsburgh Children's Museum – North Side – A popular museum for children in the North Side.
- Mattress Factory – North Side – A contemporary art museum spanning three buildings in the Mexican War Streets.
- The Clayton (Henry Clay Frick House) – Point Breeze – One of the last remaining mansions from the steel industrialists; once home to Henry Clay Frick.
- Fort Pitt Museum – Downtown – A smaller museum dedicated to the early settlement days in the region, located at Point State Park. (Go to Heinz History Center on the same day and show your ticket for a discount)!
- Randyland – North Side – Often described as Pittsburgh's most colorful spot, Randyland is an art installation that features two houses and a courtyard that must be seen to be believed. Free but donation requested.
- Allegheny Observatory – Perry North – A historic observatory open for seasonal tours in the summer and fall. Free with reservation.
- Nationality Rooms at the Cathedral of Learning – Oakland – Internationally themed class rooms on Pitt's campus from different time periods.
- Bicycle Heaven – North Side – The world's largest collection of bicycles (3,000+) in a two-story show room. Free with donation requested.
- Roberto Clemente Museum – Lawrenceville – A by-appointment museum in Lawrenceville dedicated to the Pittsburgh Pirates legend, Roberto Clemente.
- Johnny Angel's Ginchy Stuff – North Side – A music museum and storefront celebrating local musician Johnny Angel (run by the man himself). Located right next door to Bicycle Heaven. Free but donation requested.
- Museum of Illusions – North Side – An international chain museum focusing on all things optical illusions.
- Moonshot Museum – North Side – Did you know Pittsburgh is home to a space museum? The Moonshot Museum features Astrobotic's work towards taking us back to the moon and beyond!
- Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens – Oakdale – An outdoor botanical garden with themed zones along many trails.
- Soldiers and Sailors Memorial – Oakland – A museum dedicated to the soldiers and sailors who have given the ultimate sacrifice in this country's many wars. Emphasis on local participants and achievements.
- Saint Anthony's Chapel – Troy Hill – A Catholic chapel that contains the second largest collection of relics in the world- just behind the Vatican!
- The Photo Antiquities Museum – North Side – Dedicated to the history of photography, featuring many historical cameras, photographs, and more. A rotating exhibit is available for private tours on a separate ticket.
- Pittsburgh Tattoo Art Museum – Shadyside – A small museum focusing on the early history of traditional American tattooing.
- Center for PostNatural History – Garfield – An unusual, two-room museum that focuses on all things genetic engineering. Go down the rabbit hole here!
- The Kelso Museum of Near Eastern Archaeology – East Liberty – Two-room museum located at the Pittsburgh Seminary focusing on the museum's many archaeological digs in the Holy Land as well as other themed exhibits.
- Troy Hill Art Houses – Troy Hill – Three unique houses in Troy Hill that have been completely re-imagined on the inside and open for tours. What are they like? Well, you have to visit to see for yourself!
- Gallery Closed – Troy Hill – A 24/7 closed, 24/7 open museum that can be enjoyed by looking in from the outside!
Museums found in the greater Pittsburgh area that we've featured to date include the following:
- The Bayernhof Museum – Formerly the residence of eccentric businessman Charles Brown, this museum features elaborate designs and secret passageways as well as a large collection of self-playing music machines. Located in O'Hara Township about 10 minutes north of Pittsburgh.
- Carrie Furnaces – The remaining blast furnaces from a steel mill that are preserved by the Rivers of Steel Heritage Foundation; open for tours in the summer months. Located in Rankin about 15 minutes east of Pittsburgh.
- The Western PA Model Railroad Museum – A scale model railroad museum that features the journey from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland, as it was in the 1950s; opens only during the Christmas holiday season. Located in Gibsonia about 20 minutes north of Pittsburgh.
- Fallingwater – Often considered to be Frank Lloyd Wright's crown jewel, Fallingwater is a beautiful house built on top of a waterfall and is open for tours year round. Located in the Laurel Highlands about an hour southeast of Pittsburgh.
- Flight 93 Memorial – A somber memorial located at the crash site of Flight 93 where passengers sacrificed their lives by standing up to the 9/11 hijackers and preventing them from reaching their intended target. Located in Somerset County about 90 minutes southeast of Pittsburgh.
- Trundle Manor – A private house curated by Mr. Arm and Velda von Minx that is a mix of just about everything goth, steampunk, taxidermy, oddities, and more. Located in Swissvale about 10 minutes east of Pittsburgh.
- Pennsylvania Trolley Museum – Focusing on the history of trolley cars with a massive showroom featuring historic vehicles. You can even ride one during your visit!
- Buffalo Bill's House – A restored house where scenes from The Silence of the Lambs was filmed. Periodic tours and private rental available. Located in Perryopolis.
- The Living Dead Museum – A small museum and store dedicated to the cult classic Night of the Living Dead which was filmed just outside of the city. Located in the Monroeville Mall.
- The Maxo Vanka Murals – Historical murals painted inside St. Nicholas Catholic Church by the acclaimed artist Maxo Vanka. Recently restored and looking stunning! Located in Millvale just across the Allegheny from Lawrenceville.
As we visit more museums and attractions in and around southwestern Pennsylvania, we will update the above list. Our short-term goals have us expanding our museum list to the greater Pittsburgh region and we're really looking forward to it!
Pittsburgh also has quarterly gallery crawls in downtown Pittsburgh and First Friday events in many neighborhoods around the city (we love Garfield's First Fridays)! These events are great opportunities to explore lesser visited and independently operated galleries.
Parks and Nature in Pittsburgh
We are very fortunate to be home to numerous parks in Pittsburgh. There are hundreds of acres of parks within the city limits and over 12,000 acres of parks within Allegheny County alone. Drive just 10-20 minutes outside of the city and you can be completely surrounded by nature.
All these parks mean hundreds upon hundreds of miles of trails, such that you could go for a hike every weekend for years and not get close to hitting them all.
This is truly one of the best perks of living in southwestern Pennsylvania!
As such, Pittsburghers love to explore the great outdoors whenever the weather is nice, and in some cases even when it is not so nice. For some of our favorite spots, check out the following (organized regionally):
- Inside Pittsburgh: Emerald View Park, Frick Park, Highland Park, Riverview Park, Schenley Park, Seldom Seen Greenway, Point State Park, and Mellon Park
- Inside Allegheny County: Boyce Park, Deer Lakes Park, Harrison Hills Park, Hartwood Acres, North Park, South Park, Settlers Cabin Park, Round Hill Park, White Oak Park, Fall Run Park, Beechwood Farms, Trillium Trail, Boyce Mayview Park, Robin Hill Park, Montour Trail, Panhandle Trail, and Thornburg Conservation Area
- In winter a return trip to Boyce Park's ski resort is a must for skiing, tubing, and more.
- North: McConnells Mill State Park, Moraine State Park, Todd Nature Reserve, Girty's Woods, The Butler-Freeport Community Trail, and Buttermilk Falls
- South: Kane Woods Nature Area, Mingo Creek County Park, and Ohiopyle State Park
- In winter a special addition of the ski resorts near Pittsburgh: Seven Springs, Laurel Mountain, and Hidden Valley. The Laurel Ridge Cross Country Ski Center is also a must for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing!
- East: Cedar Creek Park, Braddock's Trail
- West: Raccoon Creek State Park, Cross Creek County Park, and Hillman State Park
All parks and green spaces featured above are located within an hour drive of downtown Pittsburgh. Most all can be explored in an easy day trip; however, spots like Ohiopyle State Park, McConnells Mill, Moraine State Park, and Raccoon Creek State Park are so large that multiple visits are required to even make a dent due to their sheer size.
Keep an eye out for the wildflower blooms at Raccoon Creek State Park's wildflower reserve (home to the most diverse collection of wildflowers in the state) as well as the Trillium Trail each spring- they are truly must-see events. The large wildflower bloom typically occurs in April, and Raccoon Creek State Park has a second, significantly smaller bloom each August.
Don't forget your furry friend when exploring the great outdoors, too; be sure to check out some great Pittsburgh dog parks as well!
Food and Beverage in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh's food scene has evolved from two major objectives from the steel era:
- To feed hungry steel workers massive, easy-to-eat portions (mainly meat and carbs).
- To feed hungry steel workers food from their own heritage (often Eastern European).
The first objective gave the city the likes of Primanti Brothers (founded in 1933), the famous sandwich shop that is known for putting coleslaw and french fries on their rather large sandwiches. A hearty meal, easy to eat with one hand, and perfect for a steel worker coming off shift all hours of the day (the original location in the Strip District remains open 24 hours to this day).
The second objective gave the city a love affair with pierogi, haluski, cabbage rolls, and other hearty dishes of Eastern European origin. Many of these can be found on menus all over the city, even if the establishments do not serve anything remotely European. Pierogi on burgers? Check. On pizza? Check. On hot dogs? Check. You name it, you can probably put a pierogi on it in Pittsburgh (and when you can’t, putting french fries on it will do the trick, too- thanks to the first case above).
But since the collapse of the steel industry, Pittsburgh's food scene has evolved far beyond sandwiches and French fries. Just as the city’s industries have diversified, the city’s chefs have diversified and innovated.
In recent years Pittsburgh has been fortunate enough to be called one of America's top food cities, and those who eat their way around the region are sure to tell you why we earned that distinction: the dining options are near endless, creative, and delicious.
We now have cuisine styles from countries all over the world, and just when you think you've gotten through the bulk of the city's restaurants dozens more have opened that are worth a try.
At Discover the Burgh, eating and drinking our way through every bar, restaurant, and street food vendor in the city is one of our most ambitious goals, and it’s one we're constantly working on thanks to many new establishments opening up each and every week. (As such, our list of places to go only gets longer- never shorter.)
To help you tackle this, we've put together a few comprehensive guides to eating, drinking, and snacking around Pittsburgh:
- For a complete list of every restaurant we've reviewed on our site, ranked in order of our preference, check out our Pittsburgh restaurants guide. When reading, click on the restaurant name to be taken to a more detailed review from there!
- For a breakdown of every craft brewery we've visited, check out our craft breweries in Pittsburgh guide.
- For great cocktails and spirits, check out our favorite Pittsburgh cocktail bars and distilleries.
- For the best happy hours in the city, check out our Pittsburgh happy hours for local beer and Pittsburgh happy hours for cocktails guides. Only the best menus and prices are featured here!
- For a compilation of local coffee shops, check out our coffee shops in Pittsburgh guide.
- For a directory of every ice cream vendor we've visited, check out our ice cream in Pittsburgh guide.
- For a summary of every street vendor and food truck we've enjoyed, check out our Pittsburgh street food guide (note that only our favorites make this one!).
- For a collection of every local winery we've sampled, check out our Pittsburgh wineries guide. Keep in mind that Pennsylvania is known for predominately sweet grapes and fruit wines! (For everything else, check out great Pittsburgh wine bars!)
We are also on a quest to find the best of specific food styles in the city. For more information on these, check out our guides to the best Reubens, tacos, and pizza in Pittsburgh. These posts rank all the spots we've visited to date as we try and find the city's very best of each cuisine style (and we have new quests coming soon)!
Please keep in mind the above links are considered works in progress, so if your favorite is not in any of the above articles, it is likely we have not visited yet but are planning to visit soon. Please comment below or contact us!
Pittsburgh Weekend Guides
Are you only visiting Pittsburgh for a weekend? We've got you covered with our Pittsburgh weekend guide series. This series covers in-depth weekend itineraries for those who want to fill up nearly every minute of the day from Friday evening until Sunday night.
Check them out at the following links:
Much like our neighborhood guides above, we have dozens of weekend guides in the works that we will be rolling out in the coming months. Check back for more soon!
Looking for more weekend recommendations but do not want to pack it all in on a full itinerary?
Check out our Things to do in Pittsburgh guide which gives one recommendation of something to do every day of the year without repeats! Or, for other interests, check out our Pittsburgh day trips and weekend trip guides!
Pittsburgh Sports
There are only a few cities in the country that can claim to be as strong of sports fans as Pittsburgh is, and as a spot known as the “City of Champions,” it doesn't take much to see why that is.
We have the Pittsburgh Steelers– six time Super Bowl winners that have been playing since 1933. We have the Pittsburgh Pirates– five time World Series winners that have been playing since 1881. We have the Pittsburgh Penguins– five time Stanley Cup winners that have been playing since 1967.
Going further, we also have the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (part of the USL and a staple for over 20 years), a plethroa of college sports, as well as many more sports teams in secondary leagues that play throughout the year.
In fact, we find that last bit to be most impressive because in Pittsburgh, even for just the four largest teams mentioned above, odds are good you can find a game going on any week of the year. That is why Pittsburgh is one of the best places for sports, and why we can't get enough of it.
Live Performances and Annual Events
Pittsburgh has am outstanding performing arts scene, with many types of performances ranging from the opera, the symphony, the ballet, to live jazz, touring Broadway, or even your favorite mega-musician rolling through to play at one of our many arenas.
The venues, music experiences, and performances we've reviewed to date include the following:
- The Pittsburgh Opera at the Benedum Center and CAPA Theater
- The Pittsburgh Ballet at multiple theaters around the city.
- Performances by the Pittsburgh CLO at the Byham Theater
- The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at Heinz Hall
- The Pittsburgh Banjo Club practices at the Elks Lodge in the North Side each Wednesday
- Pittsburgh Public Theater at the O'Reilly.
- MCG Jazz at the Manchester Crafstmen's Guild
- Mega bands at PNC Park and Acrisure Stadium
- Major artists touring at Star Lake
- Major artists touring at PPG Paints Arena
- More major artists touring at the indoor/outdoor arena Stage AE
- Mid-level famed musicians at the Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks
- Rising artists touring at Club Cafe in South Side
- Rising artists touring at Mr. Small's Theater in Millvale
- …and more are coming soon including touring Broadway shows and smaller venues you may not even know exist!
Pittsburgh is also home to many annual and seasonal events that take place in and around the city. Whether you're looking to eat a great meal at Restaurant Week, drink a few beers at Beerfest, watch a load of fireworks shows, or meet a furry at Anthrocon, Pittsburgh has an event for you.
The following list is a collection of some of the most popular Pittsburgh events and seasonal activities (organized by month that they historically have taken place):
- January: Winter Restaurant Week, Downtown Gallery Crawl, Messfest
- February: Winterfest, Pittsburgh Beerfest Winter, Imbibe North Side
- March: Phipps Spring Flower Show, St Patrick's Day Parade, Fish Fries
- April: Art All Night, Fringe Festival, Downtown Gallery Crawl, CMU Spring Carnival, Farm to Table Food Show, Banff Mountain Film Festival, Pirates Fireworks Nights
- May: Pittsburgh Marathon, Maifest, Pittsburgh Wine Festival, Open Streets, Millvale Music Festival, Kayafest, North Side Sandwich Sampler, Zoobrew, Pirates Fireworks Nights
- June: Pirates Fireworks Nights, Three Rivers Arts Festival, Beers of the Burgh, Pittsburgh Magazine's Best Restaurant Party, Three Rivers Film Festival, Open Streets, PrideFest, Jazz Fest, Cinema in the Park
- July: Fourth of July, Sunflower Festivals, Anthrocon, Deutschtown Music Festival, Vintage Grand Prix, Picklesburgh, Open Streets, Best of the Burgh, Pittsburgh Beerfest Summer, Downtown Gallery Crawl, Ukrainian Fest, Night in the Tropics, Cinema in the Park, Imbibe North Side, Pirates Fireworks Nights
- August: Summer Restaurant Week, Little Italy Days, Sunflower Festivals, Renaissance Festival, Rose All Day, Millvale Brew Fest, Corks & Kegs, Cinema in the Park, PedalPGH, Pirates Fireworks Nights
- September: Renaissance Festival, Downtown Gallery Crawl, Thrival, Great Race, Pierogi Fest, Autumnfest at Seven Springs, Oktoberfest, VegFest, Barrel & Flow Fest, Steel City Big Pour, Reyna's Pepper Festival, Lebanese Festival, Pirates Fireworks Nights
- October: Autumnfest at Seven Springs, Zombie Fest, Step Trek, Whiskey Festival, Dirty Dozen, Maker Faire, Zoo Boo, Hundred Acres Manor, ScareHouse
- November: Light Up Night, Ten Miler, Next 3 Days
- December: Christmas Market, Phipps Christmas Flower Show, Highmark First Night, Christmas in Pittsburgh, Kennywood Holiday Lights, Overly's Country Christmas, Lawrenceville Cookie Tour, Handmade Arcade, Cathedral of Learning Open House, Pirates Fest
Click the links above to read our full reviews (when applicable). New reviews are added as we check out the events above!
For upcoming events, check out our Pittsburgh events calendar!
November 2024
Phipps Holiday Magic
December 2024
Wild Illuminations at the Pittsburgh Zoo
Handmade Arcade at the Convention Center
AllClad Factory Sale at Washington County Fairgrounds
The Nutcracker at the Benedum Center
Allegheny County Holiday Laser Show at North Park
Santa Trolley at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
Celestial Choreography: A Drone Extravaganza
Steelers vs Browns at Acrisure Stadium
Allegheny County Holiday Laser Show at North Park
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for December
1st
MJ the Musical at the Benedum CenterExpired
Phipps Holiday MagicOngoing
Santa Trolley at the Pennsylvania Trolley MuseumExpired
Wild Illuminations at the Pittsburgh ZooExpired
Events for December
2nd
Phipps Holiday MagicOngoing
Wild Illuminations at the Pittsburgh ZooExpired
Events for December
3rd
Phipps Holiday MagicOngoing
Events for December
4th
Phipps Holiday MagicOngoing
Wild Illuminations at the Pittsburgh ZooOngoing
Events for December
5th
Phipps Holiday MagicOngoing
Wild Illuminations at the Pittsburgh ZooOngoing
Events for December
6th
Phipps Holiday MagicOngoing
Handmade Arcade at the Convention CenterOngoing
AllClad Factory Sale at Washington County FairgroundsOngoing
The Nutcracker at the Benedum CenterOngoing
Allegheny County Holiday Laser Show at North ParkOngoing
Wild Illuminations at the Pittsburgh Zoo
Events for December
7th
Phipps Holiday Magic
Handmade Arcade at the Convention Center
AllClad Factory Sale at Washington County Fairgrounds
The Nutcracker at the Benedum Center
Allegheny County Holiday Laser Show at North Park
Santa Trolley at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
Celestial Choreography: A Drone Extravaganza
Wild Illuminations at the Pittsburgh Zoo
Events for December
8th
Phipps Holiday Magic
The Nutcracker at the Benedum Center
Allegheny County Holiday Laser Show at North Park
Santa Trolley at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
Steelers vs Browns at Acrisure Stadium
Wild Illuminations at the Pittsburgh Zoo
Events for December
9th
Phipps Holiday Magic
Wild Illuminations at the Pittsburgh Zoo
Events for December
10th
Phipps Holiday Magic
Events for December
11th
Phipps Holiday Magic
Allegheny County Holiday Laser Show at North Park
Wild Illuminations at the Pittsburgh Zoo
Events for December
12th
Phipps Holiday Magic
Allegheny County Holiday Laser Show at North Park
Wild Illuminations at the Pittsburgh Zoo
Events for December
13th
Phipps Holiday Magic
Highmark Holiday Pops by the PSO
The Nutcracker at the Benedum Center
A Musical Christmas Carol at the Byham Theater
Allegheny County Holiday Laser Show at North Park
Wild Illuminations at the Pittsburgh Zoo
That Curry Smell x Dough Daddy Brewing Dinner (21+)
Events for December
14th
Phipps Holiday Magic
Highmark Holiday Pops by the PSO
The Nutcracker at the Benedum Center
A Musical Christmas Carol at the Byham Theater
Allegheny County Holiday Laser Show at North Park
Weihnachtsmarkt at Eleventh Hour Brewing's German Village
Santa Trolley at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
Fire Fest at Grist House
• Traveling to Pittsburgh soon? Find a flight deal.
• In need of a room? Check out hotel and apartment prices.
• Don't overlook picking up a rental car or day tours as well!