{"id":306420,"date":"2026-10-14T11:48:10","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T11:48:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/306420\/"},"modified":"2026-10-14T11:48:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T11:48:10","slug":"10-weekend-events-oct-16-18-for-pittsburgh-families-a-circus-outdoor-fun-sensory-friendly-events-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/306420\/","title":{"rendered":"10 weekend events Oct. 16-18 for Pittsburgh families: a circus, outdoor fun, sensory-friendly events and more"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s hard to believe October is halfway over, but time flies when you\u2019re having fun. (And here at Kidsburgh, we think October is one of the most fun months in Pittsburgh!)<\/p>\n

This weekend, we\u2019ve got an especially great lineup of spooky and non-spooky family<\/a> fun for families of all ages, interests and budgets. Check out the possibilities for this weekend below:<\/p>\n

Friday, Oct. 16: Storytime and Crafting at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kids will get a chance to discover the wonder of nature through inspiring stories and engaging crafts. Storytime read-aloud will start at 10 a.m. and will be followed by a craft related to the story themes. This drop-in program<\/a> is included with admission.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/a>Courtesy of Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens.<\/p>\n

Friday, Oct. 16-Sunday, Oc. 18: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at PPG Paints Arena<\/p>\n

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, with multiple performances over the weekend. Tickets<\/a> start at $15.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/a>Photo courtesy of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.<\/p>\n

Friday, Oct. 16: Monster Mystery Family Night at the Kamin Science Center, 6 p.m.\u201310 p.m.<\/p>\n

A mischievous monster has stolen all the Halloween candy, and Kamin Science Center needs some young detectives to crack the case. Families are invited out to come in costume and use real forensic techniques to uncover the culprit during this evening of spooky science. Find more details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Oct. 17: Sweetwater Blooms Market in Sewickley, 9 a.m.\u20131 p.m.<\/p>\n

Take a family stroll through the final Sweetwater Blooms Market of the season, hosted by Sweetwater Center for the Arts. Browse artisan goods, flowers and food from local vendors along Bank Street between Broad and Walnut streets. Admission is free. Find more details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/a>Courtesy of Sweetwater Center for the Arts.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Oct. 17: Paws on the Farm, 11 a.m.\u20133 p.m<\/p>\n

Bring the kids and your four-legged friends to Bedner\u2019s Farm & Greenhouse in McDonald for live music, local vendors, food and a kids\u2019 scavenger hunt with prizes. Dress up your pup for the 1 p.m. pet costume parade, or stop by from 11 a.m.\u20131 p.m. for pet and family photos benefiting No Dog Left Behind Rescue. Find all the details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Oct. 17: Pumpkin Patch with a Purpose at the Plaza at the North Shore, 12 p.m.\u20134 p.m.<\/p>\n

Pick a pumpkin and do some good at The Plaza at the North Shore<\/a>\u2019s family-friendly Halloween Hangout with ScareHouse. Pumpkins cost $3\u2013$10, with purchases benefiting the Women\u2019s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh<\/a>. Families will have time to explore a spooky shipwreck setting, play among fog bubbles and enjoy free face painting, a festive photo booth and appearances by Jack, Sally and Oogie from \u201cThe Nightmare Before Christmas,\u201d Wednesday Addams and a spooky mermaid. Sugarbird will offer complimentary cider for kids and $1 Halloween donuts. No tickets or reservation needed.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Oct. 17: Community Campfire at Lower Frick Park, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Get the vibe of a campfire without having to miss bedtime! Campfire and sticks will be provided. Families can bring their own roast-ables and toast-ables. Guests are encouraged to also bring blankets and chairs, as seating is limited. The evening will feature lawn games, pumpkin painting for kids and live music. Registration<\/a> is $5 for ages 4 and older.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Oct. 17: Punkin Chunkin at Hartwood Acres, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Join the Allegheny County Parks Department and SHARP Robotics 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 from 12 p.m. 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<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Bark or Treat<\/a> to ensure there are enough supplies.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/a>Photo courtesy of Allegheny County Parks..<\/p>\n

Saturday, Oct. 17\u2013Sunday, Oct. 18: Young Playwrights Festival and Play Ground, 2 p.m.and 6 p.m. <\/p>\n

See stories by local middle and high school students come to life with professional theater artists at City Theatre on the South Side. Between shows, explore Play Ground\u2019s creative activities, games and live DJ sets. Play Ground is free from 3:30\u20135:30 p.m. both days; performances require tickets. Get all the details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sunday, Oct. 18: Sensory-Sensitive Hours at the Kamin Science Center, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Enjoy a relaxed and low-stimulus morning at Kamin Science Center. Offerings include early entry, adjusted lighting and sound effects, and flexible science shows. A Quiet Room and sensory aids are available for those who need them, as well. Activities<\/a> are included with general admission.<\/p>\n

Before you go, take a few clicks and sign up for the twice-weekly Kidsburgh newsletter<\/a>. It\u2019s a great way to get info parents and caregivers need about events, education, health, and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s hard to believe October is halfway over, but time flies when you\u2019re having fun. (And here at…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":306421,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[31492,73,26710,75,74,83189],"class_list":["post-306420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pittsburgh","tag-kamin-science-center","tag-pittsburgh","tag-pittsburgh-botanic-garden","tag-pittsburgh-headlines","tag-pittsburgh-news","tag-sweetwater-center-for-the-arts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/306420","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=306420"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/306420\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/306421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=306420"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=306420"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=306420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}