{"id":2039,"date":"2025-10-15T16:53:12","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T16:53:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/2039\/"},"modified":"2025-10-15T16:53:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T16:53:12","slug":"15-things-to-do-in-pgh-this-weekend-monster-pumpkins-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/2039\/","title":{"rendered":"15+ things to do in PGH this weekend: Monster pumpkins & more"},"content":{"rendered":"

What\u2019s going on in Pittsburgh this weekend, Oct. 16-19? Find out here. Know of a cool event?\u00a0Email us<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thursday, Oct. 16-Sunday, Oct. 19: Fall Fest at Pittsburgh Playhouse
Various times
Forbes Avenue transforms into Fright Avenue for Pittsburgh Playhouse\u2019s multi-week Fall Fest<\/a>. Stroll the spooky street to enjoy seasonal bites and beverages, play games, visit vendors and get creative with arts and crafts activities. Find even more Fall Fest activations throughout the Playhouse. Running through Oct. 26, the second annual festival is free to all ages. For extras thrills and chills, get tickets for rolling performances<\/a> of the family-friendly hit, \u201cBoo\u2019s Halloween House Party,\u201d conceived by Point Park alumnus Ahmad Simmons and written by Simmons and Lazlo Graves. Schedule and information<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thursday, Oct. 16, Saturday, Oct. 18, & Sunday, Oct. 19: Brushes and Birds Evening Edition and Owl-o-Ween at the National Aviary
5:30-8 p.m. & 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
You\u2019ve got two chances to explore one of Mother Nature\u2019s most mysterious and beloved birds of prey this week. First up for adult owl lovers is Thursday\u2019s special evening edition of Brushes and Birds (get tickets before it sells out<\/a>) led by Pittsburgh artist Maria DeSimone Prascak. During the class designed for all abilities, you\u2019ll learn step-by-step instructions to paint your own owl portrait.<\/p>\n

Don your Halloween costume and head back to the Aviary with the entire flock for their signature Owl-O-Ween series<\/a>. Enjoy a weekend of fall fun as you collect Halloween treats and create owl crafts. Learn all about magnificent owls, from the \u201cspooky foods\u201d they eat to tips for protecting their habitats. Strike a \u201choot-iful pose\u201d at the selfie station, play owl trivia games and join the \u201cshake your tail feather\u201d costume dance party. Fly over to Canary\u2019s Call to meet another Halloween icon \u2014bats! Explore incredible bio-facts, join a scavenger hunt and get cozy in the Book Nook. Information<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"Photo courtesy of Carnegie Museum of Natural History.<\/p>\n

Friday, Oct. 17: Haunted Museum (21+) at Carnegie Museum of Natural History
6-10 p.m.
A haunted house is frightful but a haunted museum is extraordinary. Discover what lurks in Carnegie Museum of Natural History<\/a>\u2019s haunted halls as you make your way through the galleries to \u201cmeet eccentric spirits and have a screaming good time.\u201d Watch an animal brain dissection, encounter monstrous mollusks like the vampire squid and observe specimens of actual blood-eating creatures. Mix-your-own potions with Songbird Artistry, hold a gooey brain in your hands and compete in monster movie trivia games. Make your own vampire protection kit, delve into scientific mysteries with museum experts and watch the \u201cPittsburgh Pumpkin Guy\u201d carve a gorgeous gourd. Tickets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"Photo courtesy of the Balafon West African Dance Ensemble.<\/p>\n

Friday, Oct. 17, & Saturday, Oct. 18: Black River African Dance Fest at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater
Various times
Experience immersive African dance and culture during this two-day festival<\/a> in East Liberty. Presented by Balafon West African Dance Ensemble<\/a>, the festival provides audiences with the exciting opportunity to experience \u201cthe orchestral complexity of West Africa through the spirited drums and the haunting melodies of the ancient balafon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Legendary artists who have shaped global African dance theater will perform alongside Pittsburgh\u2019s own Balafon West African Dance Ensemble. Featured artists are Mouminatou Camara, Famoro Dioubate and Tacko Sissoko, who are \u201camong the pioneering generation who brought traditional village rhythms to international concert stages.\u201d Performances spotlight classic and contemporary pieces spanning Guinea, Senegal and Liberian traditions. Along with the productions, the festival includes an African marketplace, workshops and postshow receptions. Schedule and tickets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Friday, Oct. 17: Phipps After Dark: House of Haunts at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
7-10 p.m.
Get into the Halloween spirit at this \u201cglowing gathering under glass.\u201d As daylight turns to dusk, Phipps transforms into a thrilling \u201chouse of haunts,\u201d illuminating the night sky in Oakland<\/a>. Arrive shrouded in your creative costume to sip seasonal libations and snap Halloween selfies with the lush gardens as your backdrop. Dance into the witching hour with music by DJ Melkie and explore handwriting analysis and other creative stations. Don\u2019t miss this chance to explore the new \u201cFall Flower Show: Visions of Japan\u201d exhibition<\/a> after hours, for the rare chance to see vibrant chrysanthemum displays never before available to the public. Tickets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Friday, Oct. 17: Mr. Smalls Horror Film Festival at Mr. Smalls Theatre
6-11p.m.
Pittsburgh is the place where iconic auteur George Romero<\/a> created the zombie, so it\u2019s no surprise that our city\u2019s horror film game<\/a> is strong. Experience short horror flicks made by local artists during this showcase of creepy cinema in Millvale. With such evocative titles as \u201cA Canadian Weresphynx in London, Ohio\u201d to \u201cThe Hammer-Handed Hitchhiker\u201d to \u201cCrawl If You Can,\u201d this fright fest will have you on the edge of your seat. Judging the submissions will be Samantha Stowe, Justin Gizzi, Mark Whitehead and Derek January. Hosted by event organizer Elaina Walters<\/a>, aka the \u201cGirl After Dark,\u201d the haunted happening also features craft vendors, tattoos by Izzy Zappia and seasonal libations. Tickets are available at the door. Information<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Oct. 18, & Sunday, Oct. 19: ZooBoo at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Trick-or-treating through your neighborhood is fun, but trick-or-treating with animals is a total thrill. Enjoy daytime trick-or-treat throughout the zoo while saying hi to your favorite animal friends enjoying their own Halloween goodies. Show off your creative outfit during a Halloween parade at the Lower Aquarium Patio and a costume contest at the Water\u2019s Edge Pavilion. Snap selfies with your favorite costumed characters, support local businesses and enjoy fun giveaways. Tickets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Oct. 18: Radiant H\/\/ALL Month in Lawrenceville
1-4 p.m.
October is not only for carving pumpkins and sipping pumpkin spice lattes. As part of its ongoing Open Studios October series, Radiant Hall<\/a> invites the public to go behind the scenes at 4514 Plummer St. Step into 23 art studios to meet the makers and see the creative process in action. Discover firsthand how ideas take root and how sketches evolve into finished works of art \u2014 from paintings to pottery to sculpture and more. Offering exclusive discounts, the studio sale is a fantastic chance to support local artists and score an original piece for your own collection. You\u2019ll feel good putting your dollars back into the local creative economy. The free series includes light bites, drinks and special activities. Information<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"Photo courtesy of the Monster Pumpkins Festival.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Oct. 18, & Sunday, Oct. 19: Monster Pumpkins Festival at The Stacks at 3 Crossings
Various times
You know it\u2019s officially Halloween season in the Burgh when the \u201cmost prodigious breed of pumpkins on the planet\u201d rolls back into the Strip. These are not your grandma\u2019s gourds; these are colossal cucurbita with record weights topping 2,500 pounds. See what happens when a one-ton pumpkin dropped 200 feet splatters on the pavement (why not?!), then hop on an enchanting horse-drawn carriage ride. Try pulling a 1,000-pound pumpkin, compete in the pie-eating plunge and cheer on skillful squash slingers. Don\u2019t miss the 30-foot-long courtyard, where talented carvers and graffiti muralists work their magic transforming pumpkins into pieces of art. Dress up for the Costume Caper 5K Run\/Walk and snap selfies with a ginormous jack-o\u2019-lantern. Schedule and information<\/a>. Read more about the festival in NEXT<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Oct. 18: Smoketoberfest at East End Brewing\u2019s Pop-Up Beer Garden
12-4 p.m.
Savor all things smoked along the Ohio River. Before East End Brewing closes its pop-up beer garden<\/a> for the season, enjoy smoked brews and bites under the festive striped tents at 1836 Oxline St., in Chateau. The mouth-watering lineup boasts award-winning smoked beers from Late Addition Brewing, Golden Age Beer Co., Spoonwood and Burghers Brewing.<\/p>\n

East End will tap their own smoked suds, including an acclaimed beer from their You Are Here Neighborhood series. Sip Arlington, a smoked wheat ale also known as a \u201cGrodziskie,\u201d with two fruit-forward versions only available at the festival<\/a>. Nosh on smoked plates provided by Sahar\u2019s Food Truck and Blowfish BBQ and check out local bands. Ticket holders<\/a> will get a souvenir glass mug.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Oct. 18, & Sunday, Oct. 19: LitFest at City of Asylum
1-9 p.m.
World-class authors, translators and performers take the mic this weekend at City of Asylum. For its 2025 edition, LitFest<\/a> is presenting programs that examine a timely question: \u201cWhen we are faced with a rift \u2014 amid societal change, cultural differences, language barriers \u2014 how can we riff on that perceived separation and invite connection, collaboration and conversation?\u201d<\/p>\n

Headlining writers include MacArthur Genius Awardee Anne Carson, deaf comedian NuNu Davis, Booker Prize shortlist novelist Kiran Desai and many others. Compelling topics include Black Womanhood in Pittsburgh, Books From My Country You Should Know and Trans\/Nonbinary Ecopoetics in the Garden. Additional sessions will explore Poetry, Comedy & Storytelling in American Sign Language, Bringing Chinese Literature to America and Indigenous Language Acts. All LitFest events are free. Schedule and information<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"A spooky cocktail available at In Dead By Ten. Photo courtesy of This Is Red.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Oct. 18: In Dead By Ten Halloween Time Machine at This is Red
5-10 p.m.
It\u2019s always a grand slam when Squirrel Hill\u2019s beloved Tiki bar Hidden Harbor teams up with the city\u2019s popular In Bed by Ten Dance Party. See and be seen when they unveil their biggest collaboration to date. You might have to permit yourself to stay up a bit past 10 p.m. for this epic night transforming the 128-year-old former St. Michael\u2019s Slovakian Roman Catholic Church into a five-hour Halloween happening. Providing ghoulish grooves inside the dramatic space will be DJ Formosa, DJ Rojo and DJ EZ Lou. Sip conjured cocktails at themed bars, watch horror flicks in the \u201cScream-o-Rama\u201d collection, and strike a pose during the costume contest hosted by Rick Sebak<\/a>. Tickets<\/a>. Read more about the event in NEXT<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sunday, Oct. 19: Spooktacular Family Day at Schenley Plaza
11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Looking for wholesome Halloween fun for the entire family? Join the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy for this family day in Oakland\u2019s tranquil green space<\/a>. Take a whirl on the historic PNC Carousel, which will be decorated for the haunting season. Come dressed in costume to join \u201cghoulish guests\u201d and meet frightful friends Jack, Sally and Mr. Oogie for photos and treats. Don\u2019t miss the Azure Monster Bash Concert under the big tent, where Anton DeFade\u2019s Half Step All-Stars will perform classic spooky tunes. Following the dance party, make your own noise using instruments in the interactive petting zoo. No registration is required for this free event<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Sunday, Oct. 19: Paws & Pours at Iron City Distilling\u00a0
12-4 p.m.
Raise a glass for a very good cause \u2026 and some very sweet paws. Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh (HARP) is debuting a brand-new dog-friendly event \u2014 and you and Fido don\u2019t want to miss out. Enjoy whiskey tastings from seven of the region\u2019s top distilleries, delicious bites from local food trucks, and live music from The Impossible Burghers \u2014 all while enjoying a crisp fall afternoon with your four-legged bestie. Proceeds benefit HARP\u2019s lifesaving programs for domestic pets and injured or orphaned wildlife. Tickets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"Flamenco Pittsburgh. Photo by Beth Barbis.<\/p>\n

Sunday, Oct. 19: Gala Baila at The Original Pittsburgh Winery
6:30-8 p.m.
Experience an evening of spectacular flamenco in Pittsburgh\u2019s historic Strip District. Kicking off Flamenco Pittsburgh\u2019s new fundraising campaign, the evening also marks the end of the organization\u2019s inaugural 2025 season. Gala-goers will be dazzled by a Flamenco Pittsburgh Ensemble show featuring soloists Valentina Beltr\u00e1n, Flor Isava-Machi and Carolina Loyola-Garcia. Also performing will be virtuoso flamenco artists from around the U.S., including dancer\/choreographer Edwin Aparicio, singer B\u00e1rbara Mart\u00ednez and guitarist Alex Jordan. Funds raised support Flamenco Pittsburgh\u2019s dynamic slate of performances and programs with nationally recognized guest artists. Tickets<\/a>. <\/p>\n

10 more things to do this weekend<\/p>\n

Thursday, Oct. 16 & Friday, Oct. 17: Food Rescue Virtual Conference<\/a>, 8:45 a.m.<\/p>\n

Thursday, Oct. 16: University Art Gallery (UAG) Opening Celebration<\/a> in the Frick Fine Arts Building, 5-7 p.m.<\/p>\n

Thursday, Oct. 16: \u201cOff the Record XXV: Burgh to the Future<\/a>\u201d at the Byham Theater, 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Friday, Oct. 17: \u201cNight of the Moth Man<\/a>\u201d at Arcade Comedy Theater, \u20288 p.m.<\/p>\n

Friday, Oct. 17: \u201cRot And Resurrection: Films On Future Hauntings<\/a>\u201d by Rebecca Shapass at the Mattress Factory, 8-10 p.m.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Oct. 18: The Last Splash<\/a> at Shore Thing and Allegheny Landing and Shore Thing, 12-5 p.m.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Oct. 18: Pittsburgh Sound + Image presents \u201cRose Lowder: A Bouquet of 16mm<\/a>\u201d at Carnegie Museum of Art Theater, 2 p.m.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Oct. 18: In Good Spirits: A Celebration of Western PA Distilleries & Lew Bryson Book Release<\/a> at Iron City Distilling, 3-8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Oct. 18: Prime Stage Theatre presents \u201cAn Evening of Poe Pourri<\/a>\u201d fundraiser at The Whitehall House, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n

Sunday, Oct. 19: HOWL-o-Ween<\/a> at the SouthSide Works Dog Park, 12-4 p.m.<\/p>\n

For more\u00a0things to do in October<\/a>\u00a0with NEXT, don\u2019t miss our\u00a0Fall Concert Guide<\/a>,\u00a0Halloween Guide<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Fall Home and Garden Tours<\/a>.<\/p>\n