17+ things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend, Oct. 22-25

What’s going on in Pittsburgh this weekend, Oct. 22-25? Find out here.

Don’t miss our monthly feature on 12 can’t-miss October events in Pittsburgh, and check out our Live Music Guide for details about festivals and concerts on the horizon this fall. For a comprehensive guide to October art happenings around the region, see our NEXT in the Gallery series.

Note: For outdoor events, please check each event’s social media pages and websites for updates about weather-related cancellations and postponements.
Have a cool event we should know about? Email us.

Thursday, Oct. 22-Saturday, Oct. 24
Pittsburgh Coffee Week at multiple venues
Various times
Keep the buzz going all week at this 12th annual celebration of our city’s coffee scene. This year, the fest takes java lovers “behind-the-brews” to explore the beloved beverage at shops all around the city. Inspired by this year’s theme of “explore the pour,” the roster of activities places special emphasis on educational events and opportunities that foster cross-shop collaboration and opportunities for learning, and connection. Discover the art behind making a coffee blend, cheer on contestants during a brewing technique competition, watch pro demonstrations and much more. Always wanted to run your own coffee business? You can even join a workshop focused on what it takes to open, manage and grow a coffee shop.

The event series spans cafes across the Burgh and is open to anyone with an interest in coffee. This weekend, check out the Filter Coffee Throwdown, a Coffee Cocktails & Dancing Happy Hour, Pizza Party and more. The community-driven series also showcases drink specials that are only available exclusively during Pittsburgh Coffee Week. Schedule and information.

Interactive Ofrenda Experience at the Greer Cabaret Theater. Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

Thursday, Oct. 22
Día de los Muertos Kickoff Lunch at Arts Landing & Greer Cabaret Theater
12 p.m.
Head Downtown to welcome this year’s Día de los Muertos festivities in the heart of the Cultural District. Join Lisa DiGioia-Nutini, owner of Mexico Lindo Mercado y Galeria de Artesanías, and artist Alison Zapatta, who created the new ofrenda in the Greer Cabaret Theater’s Kara Family Lobby. During the vibrant celebration of Mexican cuisine, culture and activities, attendees of all ages can savor authentic tacos and tamales from the Los Gallitos food truck and enjoy live music by DJ Mateo Mattos. Participate in art activities, visit the ofrenda and learn more about this authentic tradition with the artists.

The free event includes outdoor activities at Arts Landing (weather permitting) and an artist talk inside the theater. Throughout October, the public is invited to participate in the community ofrenda by contributing personal mementos and flowers to the altar to honor and celebrate deceased loved ones. Information.

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

Presented with sound, light and other special effects, the display features pumpkins and decorations provided by local favorite Soergel Orchards. The premier family-friendly event runs through Nov. 1. In addition to pumpkins of all shapes, sizes and designs, the extravaganza offers activities for children, “gently spooky seasonal displays” and seasonal food items. Don’t miss the magic moment savannah path, scavenger hunt and live pumpkin carving. Hop on the night train and carousel, watch the pumpkin smash and check out the spooky sights pack. Tickets.

Photo courtesy of Hello Neighbor.

Thursday, Oct. 22
Neighborhood Nosh at The Maverick
7-9:30 p.m.
Now more than ever is a crucial time to show up for Pittsburgh’s refugee and immigrant communities. A fantastic way to help while also experiencing a one-of-a-kind evening and savoring the culinary diversity and talents of Pittsburgh’s refugee and immigrant communities is by supporting a vital mission of Hello Neighbor. Community, cuisine and culture will converge at the chic contemporary hotel housed inside a historic former YMCA in East Liberty. Nosh on authentic dishes from local immigrant-owned restaurants including Malaysian Kitchen, Maissa and Caribbean Food Snacks showcased throughout the evening, and enjoy bar service provided by Hey Babe. Adding to the lively atmosphere will be live entertainment from the Thanakarn Limtham Trio.

Every ticket purchased directly aids Hello Neighbor’s work supporting refugees, immigrants and their families as they build new lives in the Pittsburgh region. Critical programs and services provide essential resources, mentorship, family support and more. Open to ages 21 and up, the unique evening also includes an awards ceremony recognizing community leaders, businesses and volunteers who have supported Hello Neighbor’s work across the region. Tickets.

Thursday, Oct. 22-Sunday, Oct. 25
“Othello of the End Zone, or The Steel City Tragedy” at the New Hazlett Theater
7:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m.
Experience Shakepeare and football like never before with the New Hazlett’s first-ever co-production with DEMASKUS Theater Collective. Take a seat on the North Side and “step onto the 50-yard line” for a drama that will play out on and off the field. Written by Franky D. Gonzalez, the play “follows the journey and battles of Imani Othello who must navigate the treacherous world of sports and her own insecurities after being named head coach of America’s most beloved football franchise.” Sounds like a very Pittsburgh story.

Directed by Shaunda Miles McDill, the “hard-hitting adaptation centers on a Black woman calling the plays at the height of her power, confronting ambition, betrayal and relentless doubt.” Reimagining the bard’s iconic 1603 tragedy set in Venice and Cyprus, “Othello of the End Zone” stars Cynthia Dallas and Michael Patrick Trimm. With a contemporary take on the play’s language and setting, the bold adaptation explores the play’s timeless themes such as emotional truth, power, ambition, gender roles and more. For budget tickets, don’t miss the Pay-What-You-Can night starting at $20 on Thursday, Oct. 22. Tickets.

Friday, Oct. 23-Sunday, Oct. 25: Tours at Buffalo Bill’s House in Perryopolis
Various times
Are you feeling that crispness in the air and hearing the leaves crunching beneath your feet? This can only means it’s time to supercharge the spooky season with one of the most terrifying films ever made. This Halloween, make Jonathan Demme’s 1991 film, “The Silence of the Lambs” even more unforgettable by visiting the actual home of fictional serial killer Buffalo Bill. You heard us right: Step into the spine-tingling 1910 Victorian manse, immortalized during the cinematic climax of the five-Oscar-winning horror film starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins.

Dubbed Buffalo Bill’s House, it’s the real film location inhabited by the fictional serial killer portrayed unflinchingly by Ted Levine. And this season, the creepy dwelling is celebrating the milestone 35th anniversary of the monumental film. Don’t miss your chance to experience the filming location where the movie’s finale was shot, as the final guided tours of 2026 take place this weekend. Largely unchanged since the movie was made, the creepy abode is located just 31 miles south of Pittsburgh in Fayette County. It’s a rare chance to experience cinematic history nestled off the Great Allegheny Passage at mile marker 102. Book now if you dare.

Friday, Oct. 23-Sunday, Oct. 25: Fall Fest at Pittsburgh Playhouse
Various times
Forbes Avenue transforms into Fright Avenue for the Pittsburgh Playhouse’s multi-week Fall Fest. Stroll along the spooky street to enjoy seasonal bites and beverages, play games, paint pumpkins, win prizes and more. With various dates running through Nov. 1, the third annual fall extravaganza is free for all ages. For extras thrills, get tickets to see “Boo’s Halloween House Party,” with performances running in the Highmark Theatre. Created by Point Park alumnus Ahmad Simmons and written by Simmons and Lazlo Graves, the “frightfully fun family musical is filled with music, dancing, laughter and Halloween thrills for little monsters, grownup ghouls and everyone in between.” Schedule and information.

Friday, Oct. 23
7-10 p.m.
Color is Life Grand Reopening Party at ALMA | LEWIS
Be among the first to experience the beautiful new home of ALMA | LEWIS along Lynn Way in Point Breeze. Named in honor of trailblazing abstract artists Alma Thomas and Norman Lewis, ALMA | LEWIS serves as an “experimental, contemporary art platform for critical thinking, constructive dialogue, and creative expression dedicated to Black culture.” The center’s $1.2 million expansion includes doubling the size of its gallery space, façade and HVAC upgrades, increasing visibility and accessibility and expanding arts programming. Attendees will be treated to an exclusive preview of “The American Beauty,” the first U.S. survey exhibition presenting the work of photographer Cecil McDonald Jr. Black Radish Kitchen provides the night’s menu with curated selections by award-winning chefs Kate Romane and Tunde Wey. Sip libations from Allora Wine Group and enjoy music by DJ Nate Da Barber. Tickets. Read more about the event in NEXT.

Photo by Justin Merriman.

Friday, Oct. 23-Sunday, Oct. 25
“Giselle” with the PBT Orchestra at the Benedum Center
7:30 p.m. & 2 p.m.
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre opens its 2026-27 season in a very grand way. Audiences will be entranced with the breathtaking dancing and moving narrative in what has been called “one of the oldest and most demanding works in the ballet repertoire.” Renowned for its “emotional depth, technical rigor and theatricality,” the classic work first premiered in Paris in 1841 at the beginning of French Romanticism, a literary and artistic movement that appeared in France in the late-18th century. Experiencing the impact of “Giselle” in person is a must, with its “iconic choreography, sweeping costuming and ethereal aesthetic.”

PBT’s production features new staging by the company’s artistic director Adam W. McKinney, based on the original choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot. Six PBT artists are starring in the lead roles of Giselle and Albrecht. The PBT explains that the “title role of Giselle is considered one of ballet’s greatest challenges, requiring the artist to move seamlessly from innocent protagonist to heartbroken spirit, all while demonstrating accomplished technique and expressive storytelling.”

Featuring a Adolphe Adam’s captivating score performed by the PBT Orchestra, the monumental work is known for “elevating the ballerina’s role and introducing new techniques and stylistic elements that continue to influence the field of ballet today.” Go beyond the stage at one of the PBT Connects Programs, including Opening Night Preview with Rehearsal Director Barbara Bears, an Artist Q&A, Curtain Up! discussions with Costume Director Kristin McLain and Guest Conductor Ormsby Wilkins, and Tea with Artistic Director Adam W. McKinney. Tickets.

Andy Warhol, “Electric Chair, ” 1971 © The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh; Founding Collection, Contribution The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.
1998.1.2398.8.

Friday, Oct. 23
8 p.m.-midnight
Night of Death and Disaster at The Andy Warhol Museum
Craving something a little more wicked this Halloween? Don’t miss this eerie revelry exploring the “darker side” of the Pop Art King. Dubbed a “Night of Death and Disaster,” the event puts a new spin on the museum’s annual Halloween celebration. Arrive decked out in your most “macabre couture” to dance zombie-style to spooky, goth and darkwave sounds by Second Skin DJs Erica Scary and Huck Finn. Sit for tarot readings, have your own spooky poems composed on a vintage typewriter and visit the galleries to see iconic works from Warhol’s “Death and Disaster” series. Other-worldly theremin performances will set the scene, and floral arrangements will provide evocative selfie-scapes. Tickets. Read more about the event in NEXT.

L-R: Melinda Nanovsky, Siovhan Christensen and Treasure Treasure in Quantum Theatre’s “radio island.” Photos by Beth Barbis.

Friday, Oct. 23- Sunday, Oct. 25
Quantum Theatre’s “radio island” at Rockwell Park
8 p.m. & 2 p.m.
Just in time for Halloween, Quantum Theatre will transform Rockwell Park into the setting for a world-premiere Gothic thriller. Written by Liza Birkenmeier, the work “tells the story of an international hostage negotiator who returns to her childhood home where global and local worlds collide as memory, family and buried histories surface.” Get ready to question the very reality that’s right in front of your eyes. Audiences will experience an “unsettling journey” as family drama fuses elements of humor and suspense.

The staging of “radio island” at the historic industrial park in North Point Breeze marks a new era for the homegrown company. Taking the director’s seat is Katie Brook, who will begin tenure as Quantum Theatre’s new artistic director on Jan. 1, 2027. A director, producer and educator with strong ties to Pittsburgh, Brook worked closely with Quantum founder Karla Boos when she directed “The Cherry Orchard” in 2022. On opening night, join a post-show gathering with champagne, hors d’oeuvres and time to mingle with the actors and creative team. Get a behind-the-scenes look at “radio island” further during the Q Behind the Curtain event on Saturday, Oct. 24. Stay after the show on Sunday, Oct. 25, for a discussion with the design team and crew. Tickets.

Photo courtesy of the Dirty Dozen Bike Ride.

Saturday, Oct. 24: Dirty Dozen Bike Ride starting in Highland Park
8 a.m.
For some, it’s an epic challenge to tackle every fall — and with every fall — while for others, it’s a bucket list goal. For still many others, it’s a nail-biting spectator sport. During one of Pittsburgh’s most unusual, extreme and momentous outdoor events, bikers traverse open urban roads attempting to conquer Pittsburgh’s 13 steepest hills. The ride’s nine competitive heats include a women’s division, handcycling competition, rouleur, fan club, nonbinary competition and more. There’s even a party bus heat if “competing is furthest thing from your mind.”

The ninth hill puts the “dirty” in Dirty Dozen, taking riders up the world’s steepest public street — Beechview’s Canton Avenue, with its staggering 37% gradient — where Audi famously filmed a high-octane car commercial. Registration for the 43rd annual ride starts at 8 a.m. at the Rhododendron Shelter on Lake Drive in Highland Park. Groups of riders depart from 9 to 10 a.m., with competitors heading out first. Soothe those sore muscles at the after-party and awards ceremony at East End Brewing. Proceeds from the event’s signature jerseys benefit event co-founder Danny Chew, a member of the UltraCycling Hall of Fame who was paralyzed in a 2016 accident. Register.

Vera the Eurasian Eagle Owl at the National Aviary. Photo by Mike Faix.

Saturday, Oct. 24, & Sunday, Oct. 25
Owl-O-Ween at the National Aviary
11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Step into your most charming or spellbinding Halloween costume and flock to the National Aviary for some fall fun of the feathered kind. As the leaves on the trees start to turn vivid colors, it’s time for this signature celebration of “fantastic birds that soar through the night” on the North Side. Be entranced by our mysterious nocturnal neighbors during Sp-OO-ky Meet and Greets with owl animal ambassadors and aviary experts. Explore the “spooky foods” that owls eat and how you can help protect their habitats. Test how wise you are during owl trivia games, and strike your own hoot-iful pose at the selfie station. Visit the Owl Discovery Zone, make fall crafts and cozy up in the book nook. Join the Shake Your Tailfeather Costume Dance Party, collect Halloween treats and hand in your completed scavenger hunt for special prizes. Tickets.

Saturday, Oct. 24
Millvale Fright Night Market
4-9 p.m.
Head up the Allegheny for some frightful localvore fun. Millvale gets in on the Halloween action with activations throughout the borough. More than 60 makers and bakers will line the town’s main streets, selling everything from goods and gifts, to artwork and homemade treats. Join a salsa dancing street party, go trick or treating throughout the borough and pop into local Millvale businesses offering “scary great specials.” Test your knowledge answering fun Halloween trivia questions and you just might win a gift card and candy bar from a friendly zombie! Providing the night’s spooky soundtrack will be DJs from the Attic Record Store. Information.

Saturday, Oct. 24
“Speed the Musical” at The Glitterbox Theater
7:30 p.m.
Still kicking yourself for missing the show’s first sold-out run in 2025? If you loved Jan de Bont’s action thriller starring Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper and Sandra Bullock, and you’re in need of your next speed fix, don’t miss this musical phenomenon when it returns to the DIY Homestead venue. Rolling into the town for a limited engagement through Nov. 7, the musical “takes the iconic 1994 film and sends it careening onto the stage in a wildly campy, high-octane parody.” Hop aboard the runaway bus and hold on tight for a wild ride packed with “everything you love about the ’90s classic with a whole lot more singing, dancing and theatrical chaos.” Created and written by Chris St. Pierre, the show features original music and choreography and a live band. Several performances are already sold out, so get those tickets soon.

Saturday, Oct. 24, & Sunday, Oct. 25
“The Creation: When Man Plays God” at Row House Hollywood
7:30 p.m. & 4 p.m.
You haven’t truly experienced Frankenstein in all of its Gothic glory until you’ve seen the classic 1931 film starring Boris Karloff as the monster. Even better? Watching it on the big screen accompanied by a live musical score. You have only two chances for this rare cinematic experience that arrives just in time for Halloween. The Bach Choir of Pittsburgh teams up with Row House Cinemas to present Frankenstein with a thrilling live score. With newly unveiled Metropolis-themed environs, The Hollywood Theater in Dormont will make for the perfect setting for the 1931 film. This Universal Monsters classic will be reimagined through an original R&B-inspired soundtrack by Artistic Director Thomas W. Douglas, performed live by the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh and band. Based on the classic 1818 Gothic novel by Mary Shelley, the film is directed by James Whale. Watch and listen from the edge of your seat as an obsessed scientist assembles a living being from human remains only to create a monster. Tickets.

Fall Flower Show at Phipps. Photo by Paul g. Wiegman.

Sunday, Oct. 25
Queen of Hearts Royal Tea at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
at Phipps
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. & 2-3:30 p.m.
Sipping tea on your porch is relaxing but sipping tea inside a landmark Victorian greenhouse is absolutely fabulous. Slide down the rabbit hole woith Alice and the Mad Hatter to spend your Sunday sipping a variety of blends of tea. Inspired by the current “Alice’s Adventures in Autumn” displays, the elegant affair will be a teatime journey through Wonderland. Savor tasty treats and beverages with the Fall Flower Show as your breathtaking botanical backdrop. The tea service served by Oh So Frilly Events will be complemented by brunch menu items from Big Burrito. While sipping, nosh on tea sandwiches, curried egg salad, quiche, apple tarts, pumpkin whoopie pies and more. Tickets.

12 more things to do in October

Thursday, Oct. 22: Witches Night Out double feature screening of “Practical Magic” and “The Craft” at The Halloween Hangout at The Plaza at North Shore, 6 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 23: Beers of the Burgh Beer Market at Streets of Cranberry, 5-8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 24, & Sunday, Oct. 25: ZooBoo at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 24: PGH Social Club Halloween Bar Crawl in Lawrenceville, 5-10 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 24: Night of the Living Compost at the Hazelwood Food Recycling Site (4501 Sylvan Ave.), 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 24: Halloween Extravaganza and 7th Anniversary at Redfishbowl Studios, 8 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 25: CLUB A.M. at Ineffable Cà Phê, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 25: Haunted History Center Halloween at the Heinz History Center, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 25: FosterCat Bingo Fundraiser at Salvatore’s Restaurant in Baldwin, 1-5 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 25: Disco Sunday Disco under the Bloomfield Bridge, 3-9 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 26: Northside Sandwich Week at The Priory, 6-9 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 26: Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures presents Michael Lewis at Carnegie Music Hall, 7:30 p.m.

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