What’s going on in Pittsburgh this weekend, April 9-12? Find out here. Know of a cool event? Email us.

Thursday, April 9: “Images” at Rodef Shalom Congregation
7 p.m.
Confluence Ballet Co. fuses engaging storytelling, creative communication and dramatic music for the premiere of its new work, “Images.” The live music and dance event opens with Joshua Malavé’s piano concerto performed by Amaury Morales. For the second half of the production, the featured composers each chose “a work of visual art from history and used it as a point of departure — bringing the image to life through original composition and movement.” Weaving live music, dance and movement together on stage, the moving work will explore shared humanity, emotional experiences, hope, the act of making art and more. Tickets.

Thursday, April 9-Sunday, April 12: The Second City at City Theatre Co.
7:30 p.m. & 2 p.m.
What do John Belushi, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Joan Rivers and Keegan-Michael Key have in common? These comedy superstars all launched their careers with The Second City. Don’t miss this chance to catch one of the world’s most influential and prolific comedy troupes when they return to Pittsburgh for the first time since 2021.

We could all use a hefty dose of hilarity right now, and The Second City’s newest interactive revue, “Laugh Harder, Not Smarter,” will deliver the goods. Called a celebration of “legendary American comedy 65 years in the making,” the LOL show runs through April 18 with just nine performances. Audiences can expect a “hilarious array of classic sketch comedy and songs from the company’s rich history, fresh new favorites, as well as the signature brand of irreverent improv.” Directed by Jeff Griggs, the innovative show features Zoe Agapinan, Grace Goze, Phylicia McLeod, Kevin Noonan, Dominic Rescigno and Cat Savage. Tickets.

Photo courtesy of Steel City Con.

Friday, April 10-Sunday, April 12: Steel City Con at Monroeville Convention Center
10 a.m.-8 p.m. & 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where can you meet the real voice of SpongeBob SquarePants and rub shoulders with everyone from William Shatner and Patricia Arquette to Josh Duhamel and Kevin Nealon? The star power will converge at one of the country’s largest comic conventions. Step into a 100,000-square-foot pop culture playground bustling with 600 vendors, 30 special guests and a one-stop shop for discovering comics, collectibles and memorabilia. Meet your fave TV and film celebrities, attend Q&As, panel discussions and photo ops and visit the Artist Alley. There’s an attraction for every pop culture fanatic, from cosplay, trivia and costume contests to the Charity Quick Sketch benefiting Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. Schedule and tickets. Read more about Steel City Con in NEXT.

Photo courtesy of Kamin Science Center.

Friday, April 10: 21+ Night: Tailgate Party at Kamin Science Center
6-10 p.m.
Looking for the best place to pre-game the football festivities before the NFL Draft takes over the North Shore? Don your loudest and proudest black-and-gold attire for a tailgate-themed party near where the highly anticipated sports event will take place near the end of April. Get kid-free access to Sports360, the Science Center’s newest and largest exhibition, and enjoy specialty tailgate snacks. Step up to the plate with the nostalgic video game series: Backyard Sports, made by Pittsburgh’s own MegaCat Studios. Watch the new NFL Films’ documentary “The Football Town” on Pittsburgh’s biggest movie screen, and roam through all five floors of the science center after-hours. Explore the science behind sports medicine and beer fermentation, and dance the night away with the official DJ for Pitt’s football and volleyball teams. Arrive early, because the first 100 visitors will receive an official Terrible Towel. Tickets.

John Edgar Wideman will receive the inaugural Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures Literary Achievement Award. Photo courtesy of Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures.

Friday, April 10: Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures: Off the Page at Pittsburgh’s Grand Hall at The Priory
6-10 p.m.
Step into your finest literary chic look and head to the North Side landmark for a night of “off the page” revelry with Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures. Marking the nonprofit’s 35th anniversary and its inaugural Literary Citizen Award, the festive fundraising event aims to “celebrate the many gifts we all take from great books and writers.” The evening includes the presentation of the organization’s first Literary Citizenship Award to novelist and Carnegie Mellon University professor Jane McCafferty. An after-dinner program will feature McCafferty in conversation with Pittsburgh literary luminary John Edgar Wideman, recipient of the nonprofit’s first Literary Achievement Award. Gala-goers can bid on novel packages and experiences in the silent auction and enjoy a dance party with DJ Loyal. Tickets. Read more about Off the Page in NEXT.

Gentoo penguins. Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium.

Friday, April 10: Sip & Swirl: Wine & Dinos at Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
6:30-9:30 p.m.
Experience one of Pittsburgh’s treasures after hours while supporting vital local and international conservation programs. Sip wines and spirits from more than 12 regional and national vineyards as you welcome spring with creatures great and small. Explore the zoo’s Water’s Edge and Aquarium habitats as you sample libations from Deadhead Winery, Derailed Distillery, Lucky Sign Spirits and many more. Attendees can even bid on artwork created by resident animals during the event’s one-of-a-kind auction. Enjoy visits with small animals, check out live music by Zig Daniels and be treated to delicious bites. Tickets. Read more about Sip & Swirl in NEXT.

Friday, April 10: Anthony Elms + Hamza Walker at the Mattress Factory
7-9 p.m.
There’s only one place in Pittsburgh — and perhaps around the globe — where you can enter a mirrored chamber populated by mannequins and polka dots, sit alone in the dark exploring human perception and see installations made from excavated apartments and gardens. These transformative experiences — and countless others — have been dreamt up, constructed and shared with the public in one of the world’s leading centers for contemporary art.

To accomplish it all, the Mattress Factory has empowered artists to experiment, take risks and think way outside four gallery walls. Since 1977, the North Side museum has produced ambitious cutting-edge work by thousands of artists from around the world — from Cuba to Czechoslovakia — as part of its pioneering residency model. Approaching five decades of “saying yes to artists,” the museum invites the public to join a discussion about its curatorial history, institutional future and creative influences. The Mattress Factory’s new artistic director, Anthony Elms, will be joined by curator Hamza Walker, who leads The Brick in Los Angeles, for an evening of conversation and community. Tickets.

Photo courtesy of Attack Theatre.

Friday, April 10-Sunday, April 12: “212 Stories” at Attack Theatre Studios
7:30 p.m. & 2 p.m.
Movement, music and stories will converge when Attack Theatre teams up with MCG Jazz and Lawrenceville United to present its newest production. Described by the Pittsburgh-based company as a “dance event inspired by the rich history of the building that we now call home,” the world premiere runs for three special performances. Formerly a YMCA and Pittsburgh Boys Club dating back to the early 1900s, Attack’s HQ at 212 45th St. becomes “both the venue and the impetus for a performance that honors the stories that have echoed through its halls for over a century.”

From housing a gym for dancing and dating to a basement for boxing and bowling — and so much more in Lawrenceville — the space has served to bring communities together. Audiences are invited inside to experience stories new and old and explore a sense of place. Original live music and jazz standards will provide “the sound score for the decades” as part of the special partnership with MCG Jazz. Tickets.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s “Monger.” Photo by Michael Henninger.

Friday, April 10-Sunday, April 12: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s “Spring Mix” at The August Wilson African American Cultural Center
7:30 p.m. & 2 p.m.
Springtime for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre brings this annual mixed repertory program featuring classical and contemporary works from some of the world’s most exciting choreographers. On stage for just one weekend, the newest “Spring Mix” showcase highlights a variety of diverse, dynamic and thought-provoking works.

Kicking off the electrifying program is the Pittsburgh premiere of Mark Godden’s moving work, “Angels In the Architecture.” Audiences will experience “a tribute to the dreams of Shaker communities” set to Aaron Copland’s Pulitzer Prize-winning orchestral music, “Appalachian Spring.” Also featured will be a new staging of the iconic “White Swan” pas de deux from from PBT Artistic Director Adam W. McKinney.

Audience favorite “Monger,” by award-winning choreographer Barak Marshall returns to examine “the dynamics of hierarchy, power and dignity.” The work combines “innovative, fast, sharp dancing paired with theatrical elements and an eclectic mix of music ranging from Gypsy and Balkan to folk and Baroque.” Closing the production will be a world premiere of “Meet You at Midnight” by acclaimed choreographer Garrett Smith. Tickets.

Photo courtesy of East End Brewing Co.

Saturday, April 11: Pedal Pale Ale Keg Ride at East End Brewing Co.
9 a.m.
Hop on two wheels to help kick off the happiest, hoppiest time of year. Join legions of local thirsty cyclists to deliver the first fresh kegs of Pedal Pale Ale en masse to a secret destination during this ceremonial riding ritual hosted by East End Brewery during Three Rivers Beer Week. Ushering in the start of the spring cycling and outdoor drinking season in the Burgh, the leisurely ride traverses approximately 10 miles. All your pedaling will help raise funds to support Casa San Jose. Cap off the ride with a fresh pint of “a classic American Pale Ale that delivers just the right kind of hoppiness for that early spring weather.” Read more about the Keg Ride and Three Rivers Beer Week in NEXT.

“Scraposaurs” at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. All photos by Scott Goldsmith.

Saturday, April 11, & Sunday, April 12: “Scraposaurs” at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is about to welcome its biggest residents ever, and they’re arriving just in time for spring. Stroll throughout nature to encounter 15 colossal creatures installed throughout the 65-acre site. From a playful baby muskox to a giant dragonfly to an 11-foot-tall T-Rex, the sculptures are sure to delight visitors of all ages. Appropriately dubbed Scraposaurs, the imaginative works were created by artist Dale Lewis. Discover how Lewis transformed old scraps of steel, recycled metal and found objects into engaging, whimsical and fascinating works of art.

While experiencing the beautiful blooms and changes of the new season, visitors will also take a unique prehistoric journey through the artist’s creative process. The Scraposaurs will be on view through October. Also offered will be new drop-in programs and a variety of native plantings. Tickets.

Saturday, April 11: Wildlife Baby Shower at HARP’s East Side Shelter
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
After several false starts — and a sudden dose of summer — spring is in full bloom around the Burgh. This means that an influx of thousands of orphaned, injured and vulnerable wild animals will soon arrive at Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in need of lifesaving care. So how can you help support the tiniest patients this season? The adorable animals arriving at the center will require specialized feeding, housing and care, making community support critical during this peak season. That’s where HARP’s unique Wildlife Baby Shower and Registry come in.

Check out the wish list and bring much-needed supplies that will help baby wildlife — from raccoons, bunnies and squirrels to owlets and fox kits — have the chance to grow strong and return to the wild. In addition to collecting donations to “Fill a Nest,” the furry, fun-filled event offers animal encounters, crafts and snacks. Animal lovers can also drop off donations of paper towels, canned fruit, sweet potato baby food and unsalted nuts or host their own “Fill-a-Nest” Donation Drive. Information.

TacoMania: Brawl at the Brew House takes place at Pittsburgh Brewing Co. on April 11 from 3 to 9 p.m.

Saturday, April 11: TacoMania: Brawl at the Brew House at Pittsburgh Brewing Co.
3-9 p.m.
The hot sauce and the hops will flow along the Allegheny on Saturday. They sling fresh brews and spirits at signature festivals around the city, and now they’re transforming Pittsburgh Brewing Co.’s Creighton HQ facility into a taco emporium. Produced by the Beers of the Burgh and Spirits of the Burgh crew, TacoMania showcases the mouthwatering flavors and aromas of 12 of the city’s top taco chefs. From authentic classics to innovative creations, it’s your chance to savor offerings from La Palapa, Los Gallitos, Taqueria El Pastorcito, Tocayo Taqueria and more. For dessert, don’t miss the decadent Chocolate Moonshine Fudge. Stay refreshed with brews from Pittsburgh Brewing Co. and margaritas from Iron City Distilling. Putting the “mania” in TacoMania, the event is teaming up with Enjoy Wrestling to present unforgettable matchups. Keeping the party vibes strong will be music by DJ Zano and Missing Link. Tickets. Read more about TacoMania in NEXT.

Sunday, April 12: Earth Month Hays Woods Spring Ephemeral Hike with Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, 9-11:30 a.m.
Here at NEXT, we know there are endless ways to honor Mother Nature and have fun outdoors all year round. Highlighting the vital role of parks as community gathering spaces, while encouraging sustainable lifestyles, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy offers free Earth Day experiences throughout April, from festivals to forest bathing. Wind down from the weekend and get recharged for the week ahead as you explore Pittsburgh’s newest — and second-largest — park. Join Ecological Restoration Coordinator Jared Belsky for this free morning hike through Hays Woods to “spot early blooming wildflowers and other signs of spring.” As you stroll, you’ll “observe the urban forest floor and understory as it awakens from its long winter slumber.” The slow hike will traverse approximately 2 miles with some up and downslopes. Register.

10 more things to do this weekend

Thursday, April 9: Bands & Bids online auction opens to benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

Thursday, April 9: End Street Harassment Pittsburgh presents “Not a Compliment: Envisioning a World Without Street Harassment” documentary film premiere at Point Park University’s Center for Media Innovation, 6-8 p.m.

Friday, April 10: Just Harvest presents the Ending SNAP Benefit Theft! JUST Ideas policy discussion & fundraiser series at the UPMC Neighborhood Center, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Friday, April 10: 11th Anniversary Event at Spirit, 7 p.m.-2 a.m.

Saturday, April 11: Pittsburgh Record & CD Convention at the Ross Township Community Center, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Saturday, April 11: at Contemporary Craft, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Saturday, April 11: Chatham Baroque presents “Let’s All Sing Like the Birdies Sing” Peanut Butter & Jam Sessions at The National Aviary, 10 a.m.

Saturday, April 11: Tony Buba and Marcus Rediker present the world-premiere documentary film, “Becoming Benjamin Lay” at 419 Library St. in Braddock, 4 p.m.

Saturday, April 11: In Bed by Ten Dance Party at Spirit, 6-9 p.m.

Saturday, April 11: Stranger Spring Pizza Party & Gift Fair at Antonio’s Pizzeria, 6-10 p.m

For more things to do with NEXT, don’t miss our Weekend Event Guides, NEXT in the Gallery series and Date Night series.

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