Published by Jeremy. Last Updated on April 3, 2025.
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Although spring starts in March, Pittsburgh in April is when the season really starts to shine as the snow showers taper off and temperatures rise.
As such, this is the month where we start thinking of heading outdoors to enjoy the warming weather as best as possible.
In this one, we share several great things to do if you decide to visit Pittsburgh in April!
Kennywood Opens for the Season
Pittsburgh's historic theme park, Kennywood, returns for another season in 2025 starting on weekends on April 12th. So go ride the Jack Rabbit as many times as you can and finish it out with an order of potato patch fries!
CMU Spring Carnival and Buggy Race
CMU hosts many great events during the year, but their annual Spring Carnival is often a crowd favorite for the rides, food trucks, music, and more. But to us, the most impressive part of this particular event is the 100+-year-old tradition of the buggy race.
In its original design, the buggy races were exactly what you would imagine- carts with a driver would race around campus to try and achieve the best time. Today, the race looks a little different with the engineers of CMU designing some of the most aerodynamic racers piloted by some of the lightest students they can find on campus. This one really needs to be seen to be believed, and you can in 2025 during Carnival from April 3rd to 6th.
Vintage Pittsburgh
Love retro and vintage products? The Vintage Pittsburgh event at the Heinz History Center is not to be missed with dozens of vendors selling their wares right inside the museum (which you can also explore with your ticket!).
In 2025, the Vintage Pittsburgh event runs on April 5th from 10 am to 3 pm.
Hit a Bike Trail
With the warming temperatures, we find ourselves working on our bikes to get them ready for another season of exploration around the region. So on a warm day, why not hit an area bike trail like the GAP, the Butler-Freeport Community Trail, the Westmoreland Heritage Trail, or our absolute favorite for a long ride, the Ghost Town Trail near Indiana, PA!
After, end your ride at one of the many area breweries near bike trails for a post-ride brew.
Three Rivers beer Week
We are so lucky to have many great breweries in Pittsburgh, and during Three Rivers Beer Week (running April 9th to 13th in 2025), you can get to enjoy many special events at our area breweries!
Events include various beer specials at area breweries, a sensory panel and brewery tour at Cinderlands, an Imperial Brunch with Dancing Gnome at Piper's Pub, a Pedal Pale Ale Keg Ridge, $4.12 drafts at ACB on 4/12, Archer's Birfday at Eleventh Hour Brewing, and so much more.
Art All Night
Art All Night is one of our favorite shows of the year for a number of reasons. First, true to its name this one runs overnight for a 22 hour, non-stop show. Want to see the show at midnight? You can. Five AM? That too.
The second is that this monster show is without a jury and without censorship. Thousands of artists submit a piece of work that adorn a massive warehouse, and the event makes a great way to check out many styles of art all in a single stop.
2025's Art All Night will take place on April 26th to 27th (4pm to 2pm the next day) at 929 Beaver Avenue in Chateau in the North Side.
Raccoon Creek Wildflower Reserve
Our final two activities to recommend for April require the caveat that you need to time it right for the best experience, and we cannot predict that too well. The reason for this is because they are the spring wildflower blooms!
Throughout April, the parks around Pittsburgh come to life with gorgeous wildflowers, and one of the best places to check them out is the wildflower reserve at Raccoon Creek State Park (to the west of the airport). This massive reserve is often thought to have the most diverse collection of wildflowers in the state and is truly a must-see at its peak!
Note: While Raccoon Creek State Park is pet friendly, the wildflower reserve is not. So leave your furry friends at home when visiting this one.
Trillium Trail
One other gorgeous trail of note to check out during the wildflower bloom is the Trillium Trail near Fox Chapel. This particular trail is on the smaller side and can be visited in about a half-hour, but if you time your visit right towards the end of April odds are good you'll see what we think is one of the largest amounts of trillium in southwest Pennsylvania!
And if you want some more hiking while you're in the area, head over to Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve for more.
Note: Much like the wildflower reserve at Raccoon Creek, these trials are not pet-friendly.
• 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!
Shows in April
There are a number of great shows to check out throughout April if you want some indoor fun.
PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh will be bringing Peter Pan on April 1st to 6th and Some Like It Hot from April 15th to 20th. Jerry Seinfeld will be performing at the Benedum on April 10th and Brit Floyd will be here on the 11th and 12th.
The Pittsburgh Opera will be starting its run of “Woman With Eyes Closed” on April 26th and 29th.
Quantum Theatre will be hosting “The Scarlet Masquerade” ball on April 5th.
Finally, Pittsburgh Public Theater will be winding down its run of “Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” through the 6th.
Sports Events in April
For those who want to check out a sporting event in April, there is no shortage of great action to check out.
The Pirates are back for another season at PNC Park with opening day taking place on April 4th at 4:12 pm, fireworks night on April 18th, and Dollar Dog promotions on the 17th. Pick up tickets on Ticketmaster or Stubhub here!
The Penguins regular season is winding down with the final regular season games taking place on April 8th, 13th, and 17th. Cheer on the Pens one more time and pick up tickets on Ticketmaster or Stubhub!
Do you have a favorite experience in Pittsburgh in April? Comment below to share!