October is always a busy month in and around Pittsburgh, thanks to our great selection of fall festivals and farms for pumpkin picking and other activities. Whether you’re looking to spend a whole day or just stop by to grab a few pumpkins, there are lots of options. We’ve also got a great lineup of museum and library events this month. Plan your October right here:
Through Nov. 1: Fall Festival at Irons Mill Farmstead
This is one of the region’s largest fall festivals. Explore more than 40 attractions, including a Dolly Parton-themed corn maze (that was planned well before her passing), plus pumpkin picking, hayrides, farm games and fall treats. Day passes are $16–$27; kids 2 and younger and adults 80 and older are free.
Photo by Meg St-Esprit.
Through Nov. 1: Fall Festival at Soergel Orchards
Pick apples, pumpkins and flowers, take a tractor ride and enjoy games, seasonal food, cider doughnuts and drinks from Arsenal Cider. The festival runs 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is free; activities and produce are priced separately.
Oct. 1-11: Oktoberfest Pittsburgh
Oktoberfest returns for its third year with new and returning attractions, including the Ferris Wheel on the Clemente Bridge, Weiner Dog Races and Kinderplay activities for the kiddies. Find the complete schedule here.
Oct. 2-Nov. 1: Jack O’Lantern Extravaganza, Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
This family-friendly night-time event is the perfect combination of fun, the spirit of autumn and artistry. Over 3,500 hand-carved pumpkins offer a dazzling walk-through display. Tickets are $24-$26 for grownups, $18-$20 for ages 2-13.
Photo by Meg St-Esprit.
Oct. 3: Festival of Combustion at the Carrie Blast Furnaces
Is there anything more Pittsburgh than a party at a blast furnace? Rivers of Steel hosts a celebration of industrial arts and American crafts with hands-on demonstrations, live music and tours. Tickets are $25 for grownups, free for kids.
Oct. 3: Riverview Park Day, Riverview Park Activities Building
This day of celebration, community and support for one of Pittsburgh’s beloved green spaces is hosted in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh, Friends of Riverview Parks, Northside Leadership Conference and Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Riverview Park day is free to all and no registration is required.
Oct. 3-4, 10-11, 17-18: Autumnfest at Seven Springs
Seven Springs is not just for winter fun! While their ski school is great, don’t miss checking out the resort in warmer months, too. Family fun this fall includes live musical entertainment, chairlift rides, the alpine slide, pumpkin patch and the Kids Zone of activities. Admission is free, with fees for individual activities.
Courtesy of Seven Springs/Vail Resorts.
Oct. 9-11: Fort Ligonier Days
There is so much local history in and around Pittsburgh. In the Laurel Highlands, this three-day event features historic Battle of Fort Ligonier reenactments, crafts, food, local spirits, live music and a grand parade. Admission is free, with food and goods available for purchase. See the weekend schedule here.
Oct. 10: The Last Splash
Riverlife’s Shore Thing floating barge platform will welcome visitors from noon to 5 p.m. for live music and DJ sets, large-scale puppet-making, a tote bag upcycling workshop and more family-friendly activities. Visitors will be invited to try on and animate a collection of large-scale puppets and even create river creatures of their own. Details here.
Photo courtesy of Riverlife PGH.
Oct. 16-18: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at PPG Arena
The Greatest Show on Earth combines jaw-dropping moments, world-class performances and incredible sights, carrying the legacy of the classic circus that has toured the globe for over 100 years. Tickets start at $15 over three days of shows.
Oct. 17: The Frick Pittsburgh present What Do You See? at CLP
Kids in grades K–5 will have a chance to explore color, line, shape and texture through guided observation and storytelling at the Main (Oakland) branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. The program runs from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m and is free for all.
Oct. 17: Punkin Chunkin at Hartwood Acres Amphitheater
Join the Allegheny County Parks Department and SHARP Robotics from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to watch as pumpkins are launched across the amphitheater field at Hartwood Acres Park by a full-size trebuchet. This event is free and open to all ages, with fun and games for the whole family, even furry friends! (Bring pups in their best costumes to celebrate Howl-o-Ween at the free Bark or Treat event, noon to 2 p.m. at the Hartwood Acres dog park, next to the amphitheater. Expect treats, tricks and tennis balls.) Registration is recommended for Punkin Chunkin and Bark or Treat to ensure there are enough supplies.
Oct. 20: Mr. McSlithers at CLP Allegheny
At this open-to-all event, Allegheny County Park Rangers will introduce children in grades K–5 to Mr. McSlithers, an Eastern black rat snake and the city’s most famous traveling reptile. Learn about his habitat, diet, daily life and unique adaptations during an up-close encounter from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. This event is free.
Mr. McSlithers is one of the animal ambassadors that works with Allegheny County Parks rangers.
Oct. 21: Halloween Paint Your Own Pottery at North Boroughs Clay Club
This newcomer to the Pittsburgh art scene is located in Bellevue. This event is for kids and adults, and guests are invited to bring their own snacks and drinks. Choose and decorate a Halloween-themed pottery piece and come pick up your finished work at a later date. The $25 fee includes one piece, painting supplies, glazing and firing. Register here for the 6–8 p.m. event.
Oct. 22-25: Campfire Ghost Stories at Allegheny County Parks
Fall nights and the spooky season set the scene for family-friendly ghost stories and songs by the glow of a roaring campfire. Halloween costumes are encouraged. Head to North Park, Settlers Cabin Park, Boyce Park or Harrison Hills Park. No registration is required.
Oct. 24: SkyWatch: Life on Moons at the Kamin Science Center
If you’ve got a kid that is curious about the sky, this is the perfect event for them. Gaze upon the wonders of the cosmos with astronomy experts in an exciting one-on-one experience. SkyWatch features a cutting-edge planetarium, private observatory deck and professional telescopes. Registration is $12
Courtesy of Kamin Science Center.
Oct. 25: Trunk or Treat at Hartwood Acres
At this free all-ages event, kids are invited to wear costumes and collect candy from decorated vehicles during Allegheny County’s annual Halloween car cruise at the Hartwood Acres Amphitheater. The free event runs from 2–4 p.m.; registration is not required for trick-or-treaters. Find event details, including how to host a trunk and pass out candy, here.
Oct. 29: Bloomfield Halloween Parade
See some of the region’s best high school marching bands march in costume alongside costumed characters and decorated floats that take over Bloomfield for this nearly 60-year-old neighborhood tradition. The free nighttime parade steps off at 7:30 p.m. Find info here.
Oct. 31: Not-So-Spooky Storytime at Penn Hills Library
Little ones can wear costumes and enjoy gentle Halloween stories, rhymes and songs. The free 10:30–11 a.m. program is designed for children from birth to age 5 and their caregivers; registration is required.
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