Once finals week ends and most of the college students leave for the summer, Pittsburgh turns into a completely different city. During the school year, it’s easy to think that Pittsburgh is just bridges, hills and windy weather, but the summer allows you to discover the fun and warmth of the city without any stress. Whether it’s your first summer staying in the city or you consider yourself a full-on Pittsburgher, the city has tons of exciting, new experiences. Ranging from Pittsburgh classics to hidden gems, this list rounds up 10 things to do here this summer.

Watch a movie at your local park

Every summer, Dollar Bank sponsors movie nights at various local parks, including Flagstaff Hill, Highlight Park, Riverside Park and more. Though the official schedule hasn’t come out for this year, last year’s roster featured a wide variety of movies, from classics like “O Brother, where art thou?” to new releases such as “The Minecraft Movie.” Admission to these movie nights is completely free, and they offer audio descriptive service on site. 

Explore a local farmers market

What better way to get to know Pittsburgh and its people than by supporting a bunch of local businesses at your local farmers market? All summer long, and continuing into October, multiple farmers markets open weekly in the city. There are markets all over the city, so pick whichever one is closest to you. 

Try yummy International coffee

If you love treating yourself to a coffee in the afternoons, Yemeni coffee could be an exciting new experience. Step out of your comfort zone and try a new drink like a Mufawar

or a Tahini Date Affogato. My favorite international coffee spots in Pittsburgh are Shibam Coffee on Center Avenue and Afters Cafe in Squirrel Hill, a locally owned and operated shop.

Explore wildlife at The National Aviary

If you’re looking for something a bit different from your typical museum day, the National Aviary is an awesome way to switch things up. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the aviary offers different ways to explore natural habitats and learn about the plants and birds that live there. You can view a feeding, walk around the aviary or have a special animal encounter. There are also special exhibits and seasonal events that are constantly changing, so everyone can experience something new. 

P.S. — the aviary even has a livestream all spring and summer showing the Peregrine Falcon nest on top of the Cathedral of Learning! 

See the stars on a tour of the Allegheny Observatory

If you’re a fan of history or a fan of the stars, then the Alleghany Observatory is the place for you. Their free evening tours of the observatory are held all summer long from Wednesdays to Fridays and give visitors a chance to explore a special part of Pittsburgh history. If you’re lucky enough to go on a night when the skies are clear, you can go into the telescope dome and catch a glimpse of the starry night sky. Reservations are required, so make sure to register for a tour ahead of time.

Picklesburgh: It’s kind of a big dill 

A Pittsburgh classic, everyone knows and loves Picklesburgh. Even if you don’t like pickles, the festival has a fun and energetic atmosphere that makes attending at least once worth it. It’s a good way to spend the day — enjoying the city landscape and eating good, local food. This year, the festival will be held from July 16-19, and admission is free.

Spend the afternoon at Color Park

If you want a relaxed, chill afternoon with your friends or family, Color Park in South Side is the place to go. Not only does it have one of the best views of Pittsburgh, but graffiti is legal within the park, so it showcases local art. Take a look at other people’s art, or make your own!

Find your favorite art piece at Randyland

Randyland is one of the coolest places you can go to in this city — it is unreal. The house-turned-art museum tells the story of its founder, Randy Gilson — a Pittsburgh native. The museum is open year-round, but it comes to life in the summer, accompanied by the gorgeous greenery surrounding it. Tickets are required for this experience, so make sure to buy them beforehand.

Attend the Three Rivers Art Festival

Though the Three Rivers Art Festival happens every year, this year’s festival is special because it marks the grand opening of Arts Landing, a new outdoor civic space in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District that will be a long-term home for the festival. This is a perfect place to spend hours walking around, taking in all of the wacky art pieces, and getting to know Pittsburgh through its artists. This free event will run for seven days this summer, June 5-7 and June 11-14, so you have plenty of time to go check it out.

Eat a turkey leg at the Renaissance Festival

Last, but not least, is my favorite of all of these activities. Though the festival doesn’t start until the end of the summer, it’s held every weekend from Aug. 22 to Sept. 27. The Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival is an all-ages event that offers a variety of Middle Ages themed food and drinks, like tavern beer and turkey legs, entertainment, like sword swallowing and a plethora of stores with every knick knack and accessory you can imagine.