{"id":172656,"date":"2026-04-22T09:54:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T09:54:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/172656\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T09:54:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T09:54:09","slug":"family-fun-guide-april-23-25-lots-of-weekend-options-besides-the-draft-including-free-events","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/172656\/","title":{"rendered":"Family fun guide April 23-25: Lots of weekend options besides the Draft, including free events"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve got a sporty kid, you may attempt to brave the crowds and join in the NFL Draft this weekend. For families who don\u2019t want to be in the fray, we\u2019ve got a lineup below of fun and (mostly free) family events that don\u2019t require a parking pass or major crowds.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a big weekend for Pittsburgh, but it can be a chill weekend if you want it to be!<\/p>\n

Thursday, April 23 \u2013 Saturday, April 25: NFL Draft\u00a0<\/p>\n

In case you missed the news (nearly impossible to do), Pittsburgh is home to the NFL Draft this year, which will bring thousands of visitors to the city. It\u2019s free to attend, but you need to register via the NFL One app (you\u2019ll choose a number of kids to register under each adult profile, but kids do not need their own registration). Check out Kidsburgh\u2019s guide<\/a> to experiencing (or having fun while avoiding) the NFL Draft festivities.<\/p>\n

Thursday, April 23 \u2013 Saturday, April 25: Pitt Block Party at the NEW Arts Landing<\/p>\n

Have you heard about the Arts Landing along the Allegheny River in the Cultural District? While the Draft will be the first event to utilize the space, the landing features Downtown\u2019s first playground, plus pickleball courts, a lawn and stage for entertainment, and more. The Pitt Block Party at Arts Landing will complement the Draft\u2019s nearby location and schedule, alongside other \u201cPicksBURGH\u201d attractions. The event will offer an immersive football experience that celebrates Pitt\u2019s longstanding football legacy. Admission<\/a> is free, and it\u2019s a great option if you want to experience some of the fun without venturing closer the the stadium.<\/p>\n

Friday, April 24: Wiggles and Giggles Toddler Time at Penn Hills Library, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.<\/p>\n

At this free class, kids will wiggle and giggle together as library staff share age-appropriate and developmentally-appropriate interactive stories, songs, movement activities, and finger plays. These events are designed for kids who are ages 2-3 and their caregivers. Find more information here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Saturday, April 25: Storytime at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 10 a.m.<\/p>\n

Join museum staff for this fun and free weekly activity. Hear nature and science stories read by Natural History Interpreters and get a chance to touch museum specimens. Stop by for one page, one book, or stay for the whole 45 minutes. Meets at the bench in the entrance of Dinosaurs in Their Time. Registration is not required. Find more info here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/a>Courtesy of Carnegie Museum of Natural History.<\/p>\n

Saturday, April 25: City Nature Challenge at the Frick Environmental Center, 10 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Join Naturalist Educator Stephen Bucklin and Ecological Restoration Manager Brandon McCracken on a walk to document the biodiversity of Frick Park. A smartphone or digital camera is recommended to take pictures. Expect a walk of about one mile on a paved surface and natural trail with varied slopes. Registration<\/a> is free.<\/p>\n

Saturday, April 25: AIR Workshop-Altered Books at CLP South Side, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.<\/p>\n

Families can get creative at this free, hands-on workshop at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh South Side location. Kids and teens will transform old books into unique art pieces. The workshop will start with a brief demo, and then visitors can dive into their own projects. This event is part of a six-session series, but drop-ins for just this one event are welcome. Find info here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/a>Courtesy of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n

Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26: \u201cBeauty and the Beast\u201d at the Carnegie Music Hall, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.<\/p>\n

The Carnegie Performing Arts Center presents an original ballet telling the story of \u201cBeauty and the Beast\u201d at Andrew Carnegie Music Hall in Carnegie. Shows run Saturday, April 25 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 26 at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $18\u2013$24. Follow Belle\u2019s journey through a magical castle where storybook characters come to life. Purchase tickets here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/a>Courtesy of the Carnegie Music Hall.<\/p>\n

Sunday, April 26: Little Minnows Storytime at White Whale Books, 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.<\/p>\n

Little ones can settle in for a cozy, themed storytime at White Whale Bookstore, offered every other Sunday. This story time is designed for kids ages 2 and up. The sessions feature engaging read-alouds centered on community, Black joy and seasonal themes. This event is free and welcomes families to \u00a0explore a gentle, low-key way to build early literacy. Find more info here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sunday, April 26: Breakin\u2019 for Kids at Los Sabrosos, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.<\/p>\n

These easy, fun classes are where students learn the first steps to becoming a breakdancer. Students will get the chance to explore new movements gradually as the teacher breaks down the elements of each step. Class begins with a warm-up and ends with open questions. The goal is for students to build confidence in themselves and the new moves they\u2019ve learned. This is a 60-minute class with breaks, and there are two sessions. The 2 p.m. session is for more advanced students, while the 4 p.m. session is for beginners. Classes are for kids ages 7 to 12. Find more info here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Head into summer with your bucket list ready to go! Sign up for the Kidsburgh newsletter<\/a> so you always know when events are happening.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If you\u2019ve got a sporty kid, you may attempt to brave the crowds and join in the NFL…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":172657,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[26706,60080,73,75,74],"class_list":["post-172656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pittsburgh","tag-carnegie-museum-of-natural-history","tag-penn-hills-library","tag-pittsburgh","tag-pittsburgh-headlines","tag-pittsburgh-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/172656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=172656"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/172656\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/172657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=172656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=172656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=172656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}