This weekend is jam-packed with family fun, both indoors and out. We’ve got so many guides to keep your summer going, including pools, movies, and playgrounds. And if you’re still feeling the America 250 energy, check out our guide to historic places and history museums in our area.

Whether you’re looking to beat the heat with a movie or theater performance, or attend a festival or other cultural event, there’s a wide range of options this weekend in Kidsburgh.

Here’s what’s happening: 

Thursday, July 9-Saturday, July 10: Steeples & Stacks Heritage Weekend

Celebrate local history, art and community during Downtown Butler’s inaugural Steeples & Stacks Heritage Weekend. Inspired by the photography of Ben Hughes and held as part of the America 250 celebration, this free event brings together artists, performers, creators and neighbors to honor the stories, landmarks and industrial heritage that shaped the region. Explore downtown Butler, enjoy creative programming and experience a community-wide celebration of the people and places that make Western Pennsylvania unique. Find more info here. 

Friday, July 10: Town Square Market Cranberry Township, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

The Cranberry Town Square Market is a collaboration between the Township and the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber that features farm-fresh produce, homemade crafts and goods, and many artisanal items. There are kid-friendly activities as well, so bring the family out for dinner, shopping, and an evening of family fun. Find more info here. 

Courtesy of Cranberry Township.

Friday, July 10-Saturday, July 11: Whiskey Rebellion Festival

This annual festival in Washington offers a weekend history lesson packed with reenactments, theater performances, music and food. In the Li’l Rebels area, kids can try their skill at writing with a quill and play old-timey games like rolling hoops, quoits, cup-and-ball and stilts. Festival admission is free.

Friday, July 10-Saturday, July 11: “Disney’s Fantasia” at Heinz Hall

This performance by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra features highlights from “Fantasia” (1940) and its sequel “Fantasia 2000,” shown on the big screen as the score is performed live by the symphony. Tickets start at $36.

Friday, July 10: Kickoff of Neighbor Days at Idlewild Park and Soak Zone, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Meet special characters from shows inspired by Fred Rogers, and enjoy fun entertainment and dance parties on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Aug. 2 at Idlewild. Find the schedule here, with activities included with general admission.

Saturday, July 11: Breakfast with the Animals at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. 

Walk on the wild side with a grab-and-go breakfast, followed by a guided tour of your selected animal section: Mammals, the Aquarium, or Kids Kingdom. These tours focus on a more personal, guided experience allowing for one-on-one learning. Tickets are $60, or $20 for those younger than 5.

Courtesy of Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium.

Saturday, July 11: Inside Out at the Carnegie Museum of Art, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

Carnegie Museum of Art’s Inside Out series turns the museum’s Sculpture Court into a lively outdoor gathering space with music, art and community activities. Running on select Thursdays and Saturdays throughout July and August, these events invite families to spend an afternoon enjoying creative programming in a relaxed museum setting. Inside Out is free and more info can be found here.

Photo by Bryan Conley, courtesy of Carnegie Museum of Art.

Saturday, July 11: Sensory-friendly “Minions & Monsters” at The Lindsay Theater, 11 a.m. 

Bring your wiggly ones to a sensory-friendly screening of “Minions & Monsters,” giving families a more comfortable way to enjoy a trip to the movies. The screening is designed with a gentler theater environment for kids and guests who benefit from adjusted sound, lighting and a more relaxed atmosphere. Find ticketing info and details here. (Click here for more summer movie info from the Lindsay.)

Saturday, July 11: “The Spongebob Movie” at Grandview Park, at dark

The Dollar Bank Cinema in the Park series brings a family-friendly favorite (for free!) to the top of the city this weekend. Bring a blanket, some snacks, and swing by early for ice cream at DiFiore’s. Find the full summer movie schedule, as well as other summer outdoor movies, here. 

Saturday, July 11-Sunday, July 12: Union Pacific “Big Boy” Steam Engine Stops

The Union Pacific Big Boy 4014, the only Big Boy engine still running under it own power, will run through the Pittsburgh and Beaver County area this weekend. You may be able to catch a glimpse along the route, but there are two scheduled stops. The train will be in Leetsdale from 6:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. on Saturday evening, and at Conway Yard until 9 a.m. on Sunday. Pittsburghers can also take the one-hour drive to Struthers, Ohio, to view the Big Boy from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Sunday. Find the full schedule here. (Listen to Kidsburgh Events Editor Meg St-Esprit discuss the history of the train (and other train-related family activities in the area here.) 

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