12+ fun things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Nov. 4–8

What’s going on in Pittsburgh this week, Nov. 4-8? Find out here.

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.

Wednesday, Nov. 4-Sunday, Nov. 8
Three Rivers Film Festival at the Harris Theater, Lindsay Theater & Row House Hollywood
Nov. 4-15
Twelve jurors sequestered in a hotel room. A hen’s escape from a chicken farm. A young Romanian housekeeper who joins an amateur theater troupe in Bordeaux. These are just some of the compelling stories coming to the big screen during the 44th annual Three Rivers Film Festival. Presented by Film Pittsburgh, this year’s festival showcases 28 features and 120 shorts in-person and online, including world premieres and buzz-worthy releases being picked up for distribution ahead of award season.

The dynamic lineup is augmented by panels, parties and special events. Local cinephiles and music fans alike have a lot to be excited about because 3RFF kicks off with the world premiere of “Louder Than the Odds: The Mr. Small’s Story,” a long-awaited documentary about the family-owned music venue founded by Rusted Root’s Liz Berlin and pro skater Mike Speranzo. Opening night includes a post-screening Q&A with the filmmakers and an after-party at The Sanctuary.

Not to miss is a behind-the-scenes look at the phenomenon of American Girl dolls featuring never-before-seen footage. Trans filmmaker Ro Haber presents a liberating portrait of Pat, the 1990s pop culture character made famous on “Saturday Night Live” by Julia Sweeney. Beyond the screen, 3RFF provides invaluable opportunities for artists through the sixth annual Script Competition and Filmmaker Conference. Schedule and tickets. Read more about 3RFF in NEXT.

Keyboardist Greg Lewis. Photo courtesy of the Pitt Jazz Seminar & Concert.

Thursday, Nov. 5-Saturday, Nov. 7
Pitt Jazz Seminar & Concert at multiple venues
Various times
The longest-running academic jazz event of its kind in the U.S. is underway at multiple venues across Pittsburgh. For the 56th edition of the esteemed Pitt Jazz Seminar & Concert, the spotlight shines on the “rich and rhythmic sound of the jazz organ.” Dubbed the “Organ Summit,” the series includes lectures, workshops, films, community concerts and discussion programs. On Thursday, there’s a free Jazz Salon at Bellefield Auditorium directed by A.J. Johnson. Friday’s lineup features a panel discussion exploring “Jazz on Every Corner: The Popularity of Organ Jazz” as well as a musician seminar with drummer Kobie Watkins.

The week culminates with the signature Pitt Jazz Concert at Bellefield Hall Auditorium in Oakland. Featured guest musicians include: Cliff Barnes (organ), Bobby Broom (guitar), Peter Bernstein (guitar), Greg Lewis (organ), Ben Paterson (organ), John Shannon (guitar), Yoko Suzuki (saxophone), Chad Taylor (drums), Kobie Watkins (drums) and Raina Welch (vocals). Schedule and tickets.

Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Pet Expo.Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Pet Expo.

Friday, Nov. 6-Sunday, Nov. 8
Pittsburgh Pet Expo at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center
5-9 p.m., 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Did you know that Pittsburgh is home to the largest pet expo in the U.S.? Gather the entire pack — plus the family pets on a leash — and head Downtown for three days celebrating animals of all types – from dogs and cats to birds and fish, plus snakes, turtles, rabbits and even pigs. Join fellow pet people from all across the Burgh to experience 2 acres of animal fun for the entire family, including more than 300 exhibitor booths and numerous shelter and rescue organizations.

Be dazzled by high-flying acrobatic canines, watch adorable pigs performing in the Pork Chop Revue, cheer on racing turtles and more. Try yoga with friendly goats and pose for a holiday keepsake with your beloved pet and Kris Kringle. Don’t miss the Doxie Downs National Dachshund Races, guinea pig agility courses and the rabbit-hopping demonstrations. The event offers helpful animal resources under one roof, including a vaccine clinic and microchipping, dog training group classes and pet first aid. Friday evening offers a special opening night discount. Kids 12 and younger are admitted free all weekend. Schedule and tickets.

Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer.Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer.Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer.

Beyond nostalgia, the event also fosters reuse, sustainability and the spirit of giving well-made and well-loved products a new home. Hate crowds? Get first dibs at the exclusive Night Owl VIP shopping event with bar access on Friday night (advance tickets required). Tickets. Read more about the Vintage Mixer in NEXT.

Photo courtesy of the Kamin Science Center.Photo courtesy of the Kamin Science Center.

Friday, Nov. 6
21+ Night: Science After Dark at Kamin Science Center
6-10 p.m.
There’s no reason to feel gloomy just because daylight saving time has ended when you can experience mind-bending fun after dark on the North Shore. Turning the “lights down and the curiosity up,” this night of hands-on science activations is designed strictly for the 21 and up set. Embark on a trippy audiovisual journey set to Pink Floyd’s classic discography during a laser show at Buhl Planetarium. Relive those “science fair days by diving deeper into classic experiments such as elephant toothpaste and Alka-Seltzer rockets.”

Swing by the new Science of Speed attraction to cruise around an all-electric kart track, challenge your friends on racing simulators and chill out at the Pit Stop lounge. Keep Halloween alive at the Rangos Giant Cinema with a screening of “Queens of the Dead” plus a talk exploring the brain’s response to fear. Directed by George Romero’s daughter, Tina, the new film follows drag queens and club kids as they battle brain-craving zombies in Brooklyn. Tickets.

Friday, Nov. 6, & Saturday, Nov. 7
HUMP! Fall Film Festival at The Parkway Theater and Film Lounge
6:30-9 p.m.
Please note: The Friday screening is now sold-out
With titles like “Backroom Cowboy,” “Naughty Patient” and “Puritan Pastures” — it can only mean one thing: the HUMP! Film Festival is back, baby. Sex-positive storytelling comes to the big screen for just two nights in McKees Rocks, and you won’t be able to avert your eyes. Founded in 2005 by sex advice columnist, author and LGBTQ community activist Dan Savage, HUMP! is a one-of-a-kind independent film festival exploring the intersection of “intimacy, humor and art.” Riding back into town with 24 new short films, the amateur erotica festival is a one-of-kind cinematic celebration of sex, love, kink, humor, fantasy and human creativity. The repertoire showcases all body shapes, ages, colors, sexualities, genders, kinks and fetishes. HUMP is all about championing diversity, communal joy and boundary-pushing cinema. These “erotic films by real people for real people” are sure to spark conversations afterward over drinks. Tickets. Read more about HUMP in NEXT.

“chronicles of a crazy girl,” lys scott. Photo courtesy of the Kelly Strayhorn Theater.

Friday, Nov. 6, & Saturday, Nov. 7
“chronicles of a crazy girl” at KST’s Alloy Studios
7:30-9 p.m.
It’s very rare for audiences to have the opportunity to explore what goes into creating a live production before the curtain rises. With the Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s Freshworks program, resident artists gain a platform for showing works-in-progress and leading post-show discussions with audiences. Next to share a behind-the-scenes look at the Freshworks creative process is the first-generation LGBTQIA+ Thai American artist lys scott. A self-described “small-town dreamer turned fearless storyteller,” lys has performed at venues and festivals including The Andy Warhol Museum, Mattress Factory, Three Rivers Arts Festival, Millvale Music Festival and Pittsburgh Pride.

Exploring identity, resilience, self-discovery and emotion, the in-progress production incorporates elements of improvisational music, multidisciplinary theatrical performance and media design. Audiences will be invited “inside lys’s inner world – a whimsical, nonlinear journey exploring the liberation of individuality, sexuality and relationships with their immigrant family.”

Saturday, Nov. 7
I Made It! for the Holidays at The Block Northway
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Whether you dread it or embrace it, if you’re looking for ways to take the stress — and the monotony — out of the annual holiday shopping process, Pittsburgh’s nomadic craft market is here to help. Head north to kickstart your shopping early with 110 makers and micro-businesses filling two floors of the mall. Find everything from handmade goods and gifts, small-batch foods and baked items, local libations and artwork, plus food and coffee trucks on-site. The event is free, family-friendly and offers free parking. Information. Read more about the market in NEXT.

Saturday, Nov. 7, & Sunday, Nov. 8
“As Others Have Before” at the Peirce Studio
7:30 p.m. & 2 p.m.
Before seeing the new Greer Lankton photography exhibition, “Could It Be Love,” opening on Nov. 14 at the Mattress Factory, be among the first to experience this premiere production running for just one weekend in the Pittsburgh Cultural District. Created and performed by B Kleymeyer, “As Others Have Before” is based on the life and legacy of trans artist Greer Lankton (1958-1996) — one of the most significant artists who was active in the pioneering art scene of New York City’s East Village during the 1980s. Threading together stories from the Greer Lankton archive at the Mattress Factory with contemporary stories from trans women, the production is co-directed by Jasmine Roth.

Throughout the unique performance, documents, photos and ephemera from Greer’s archive are “put directly into the hands of audience members.” When Greer passed away in 1996, the Mattress Factory worked with her family to create an archive of her life, and the installation is part of the museum’s permanent collection. Tickets are free or pay-what-you-want admission.

Title Town co-founders DJ Gordy G and DJ J. Malls. Photo courtesy of Chris Sprowls.

Saturday, Nov. 7
Title Town Soul & Funk Party at Spirit Lodge
9 p.m.-2 a.m.
Dance your way into November at one of the country’s leading soul and funk revival events. Expect five hours of feel-good funk, soul, disco, boogaloo and more, spanning the early 1960s through the late 1980s, including hand-selected 45 rpm rarities from regional soul scenes around the U.S., including songs from the Burgh. This is one edition not to sleep on, because Title Town maestros J. Malls and Gordy G are welcoming special guest DJ Julio Fernandez from Lancaster, Pa.

Fresh off the heels of hosting Pennsylvania’s own Keystone Soul Weekender, Julio will bring along record cases packed with 1960s and crossover soul, some 1970s funk and plenty of “sweaty grooves that keep you dancing ‘til the lights come on.” A prolific DJ and drummer, Julio cut his teeth in Spain as co-organizer of Segovia’s Boss Sounds to Beat the Ground and Madrid’s Cool Reggae Nights. In Lancaster, he also created the monthly Red Rose Soul Club. He has appeared at Philly Soul Club, DC’s TNT, Toronto Soul Weekender, LA’s Soul Invasion, Mexico’s Rock Your Soul, Gijón’s Euro Yeyé and more. Don’t miss the $5 early bird price at the door before 10 p.m. Tickets.

Photo courtesy of P3R.Photo courtesy of P3R.

Boasting scenic routes with unparalleled views, the outdoor spectacle appeals to participants and spectators alike. Kicking off near Station Square, the 10-mile course crosses three of Pittsburgh’s yellow bridges and travels through the West End, North Side and Strip District. Rousing cheer zones with 20 DJs, musical acts and inspiring scenery keep participants pumped up. Both routes culminate by sharing the same dramatic finish line in Downtown Pittsburgh. Register.

Sunday, Nov. 8
WMNBikePGH Scavenger Hunt Ride + Party starting at Grist House Craft Brewery
12:30-6 p.m.
If you’re feeling the itch to hop on a bike, but maybe feel excluded from cycling culture, then this is the event for you. Rolling back into fall, this community cycling event is here to help trans and cis women, nonbinary, genderqueer, agender and gender variant people of all ages and abilities to feel comfortable and confident riding bikes around the Burgh. Hosted by BikePGH, the “choose your own adventure” style ride is a welcoming way to ride into fall. From riding rookies to cycling veterans and everyone in between, the rain-or-shine ride welcomes all skill levels.

Bring your bike or rent one from POGOH and meet at Grist House in Millvale, where the ride map and clues will be distributed. Don’t forget to hit the checkpoints along the way: The more stops you hit, the more raffle tickets you accumulate. Most checkpoints are accessible via on-street infrastructure like bike lanes, trails or neighborhood ways. At 3 p.m., head back to Grist House for the festive after-party with free pizza and drinks, activities and raffle prizes from tons of local businesses. New to the event? Register.

6 more things to do this weekend

Thursday, Nov. 5-Sunday, Nov. 8: Pittsburgh Musical Theater presents “Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical” at the Byham Theater, 7:30 p.m. & 2 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 6: Coco Live-to-Film Concert at Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall, 6 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 6: Jellyfish queer dance party at Collapse, 10 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 7: The Pittsburgh Veterans Day Parade in Downtown Pittsburgh, 10:30 a.m.

Monday, Nov. 9: Sad Karaoke at Spirit, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 10: Skyscraper Stories: Pittsburgh’s Place in the History of Highrises at Liberty Magic, 7 p.m.

November 2, 2026November 2, 2026

October 29, 2026October 29, 2026

October 28, 2026November 2, 2026