{"id":92770,"date":"2026-01-21T18:44:18","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T18:44:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/92770\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T18:44:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T18:44:18","slug":"12-things-to-do-in-pittsburgh-this-weekend-penguin-palooza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/92770\/","title":{"rendered":"12+ things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Penguin Palooza"},"content":{"rendered":"

What\u2019s going on in Pittsburgh this weekend, Jan. 22-25? Find out here. Know of a cool event?\u00a0Email us<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thursday, Jan. 22: \u201cIn Full Bloom\u201d at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden
5:30-8:30 p.m.
A winter\u2019s night is the perfect time to experience the vibrant art and rich tradition of quilting. Join the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden to celebrate the talented Pittsburgh-based African American women quilt artists who are \u201ctransforming fabric into a meaningful expression of culture and legacy.\u201d Meet the artists and hear them speak about their creative process, inspiration and connection to nature, and visit \u201cIn Full Bloom\u201d before the exhibition closes on Jan. 26. The Welcome Center reception includes hors d\u2019oeuvres, charcuterie, seasonal vegetables and more. Tickets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thursday, Jan. 22: Jim Daniels at Carnegie Library Lecture Hall
7 p.m.
Fans of contemporary poetry can\u2019t miss this free event presented by Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures. The reading features Pittsburgh-based writer James Daniels, author of numerous books of poetry, fiction and nonfiction. From 1981 to 2021, Daniels served on the creative writing faculty at Carnegie Mellon University. A recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Daniels has just published \u201cLate Invocation for Magic\u201d via Michigan State University Press. In the new book, Daniels \u201cfocuses on Detroit and other Rust Belt cities, where issues of class and race and justice play out in the streets and kitchens and backyards and garages of the Americans trying to live and make a living there.\u201d Register for free<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"Photo courtesy of World of Wheels.<\/p>\n

Friday, Jan. 23-Sunday, Jan. 25: World of Wheels at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Various times
Accelerate into 2026 when the convention center morphs into a four-day \u201cAutorama.\u201d World of Wheels rolls into Downtown Pittsburgh for its 65th annual showcase<\/a> of the hottest hot rods, classics, custom cars, boats, trucks, motorcycles and more. Watch the full-size MegaMorph automobile transform into a giant robot, check out the Pedal Car Challenge and explore Student Career Day. Fans of \u201cThe Dukes of Hazard\u201d should cruise over to the event\u2019s special show reunion featuring TV cousins Daisy (Catherine Bach) and Bo (John Schneider). Feast your eyes on award-winning vehicles like a 1936 Ford Roadster and a 1955 Chevrolet Nomad Gray Madder. Get your speed fix as you peruse special exhibits, meet celeb guests and see who wins the prestigious Ridler prize. Tickets<\/a>. Read more about World of Wheels<\/a> in NEXT.<\/p>\n

Friday, Jan. 23-Sunday, Jan. 25: Pittsburgh Travel Showcase at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center
10 a.m.-6 p.m. & 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
What travel destinations are on your bucket list? Beat the winter blues and turn those tourism dreams into reality at the country\u2019s largest travel booking show. Be transported to seven continents all under one roof at the region\u2019s only travel and tourism event. Presented by AAA Travel, the Showcase<\/a> boasts 100,000 square feet of displays highlighting every adventure imaginable, from scenic train rides, all-inclusive resorts and luxury cruises, to road trips and tour bus excursions.<\/p>\n

The three-day showcase also features vacation planning seminars, AAA member benefits, an on-site travel store and more. Meet with representatives from travel vendors across the world to cure your wanderlust and book your next trip. From Japan, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, to South America, Vietnam and Egypt, you\u2019ll discover how to get there. This year, the showcase welcomes Aer Lingus<\/a>, the newest nonstop service provider at Pittsburgh International Airport. That means Pittsburghers can learn about faster ways to fly and avoid layovers to Dublin, London, Paris, Rome and more. Tickets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Friday, Jan. 23-Sunday, Jan. 25: \u201cFreedom House: Giving Life a Second Chance\u201d\u00a0at the New Hazlett Theater
7:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Did you know that the country\u2019s first emergency medical service staffed by paramedics started in Pittsburgh\u2019s historic Hill District<\/a>? Prime Stage Theatre brings this remarkable story to life via the world premiere<\/a> of \u201cFreedom House: Giving Life a Second Chance.\u201d Written by frequent NEXT contributor L.E. McCullough, the play\u00a0dramatizes the 1967 creation of\u00a0Freedom House Ambulance Service. Presented with live music, this first-ever stage production depicts the true story of the country\u2019s first mobile Emergency Medical Unit, when doctors trained African American residents of the Hill District \u201cto become the first local, national and international paramedics.\u201d During its eight-year tenure, Freedom House set international standards of emergency medical care, community medicine and paramedic training that are still followed today.<\/p>\n

\u201cFreedom House\u201d is directed by Scott Calhoon and includes in its cast: Willa \u201cKaty\u201d Cotten, Cynthia Dallas, Justin Mohr, Darrin Mosley Jr., Anne Rematt, DeVaughn Robinson and Ryan Warsing. With seven shows running from Jan. 23 through Feb. 1, it will give audiences \u201cuniquely Pittsburgh story of innovation, compassion and civic empowerment.\u201d At a time when \u201cAmerica\u2019s public health resources face an ongoing wave of new challenges,\u201d the powerful production seems even more relevant. For Preview Night on Friday, Jan. 23, at 7:30 p.m., the production offers pay-what-you-can admission. On Saturday, Jan. 24, the post-play discussion will feature special guests Dr. Rickquel (Ricky) Tripp of UPMC, and Beatrice Charles, wife of board president of Freedom House Enterprises Inc., Edward Charles. Tickets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Friday, Jan. 23: Farm Fresh Trivia at Goodlander Cocktail Brewery
6-9 p.m.
Love trivia, have a green thumb and want to support Pittsburgh\u2019s urban gardens? Have we got an event for you. Join Drew\u2019s Clues to test your garden smarts during this lively trivia fundraiser supporting Grow Pittsburgh<\/a>. Form a team with up to six members, or get assigned to a team at the event. Bring your appetite, because tickets include a meal catered by El Burro, with vegan and vegetarian options available. Event proceeds support Grow Pittsburgh\u2019s mission to \u201cteach people how to grow food and to promote the benefits that gardens bring to our neighborhoods.\u201d Tickets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"Photo courtesy of Jellyfish.<\/p>\n

Friday, Jan. 23: Jellyfish at Spirit
8 p.m.-2 a.m.
Pittsburgh\u2019s premier queer dance party is kicking off 2026 with an extra special lineup filling both floors of Spirit. So leave the stress of the world at the door and get ready to dance your way into the new year as Jellyfish welcomes a lineup of DJ luminaries from all over North America \u2014 from Guadalajara and San Francisco to Brooklyn and the Burgh. Joining resident Jellyfish DJs Formosa and Ricky Mawzlin on the decks will be Mystery Affair, Dat Kat (Analog Soul) Jumpr, and Jack M. Groove, along with hundreds of your new besties to six hours of retro disco, italo, new wave, house and any other global sounds that inspire. The night gets even sweeter with a special performance by hometown poetess Rachel Ann Bovier. Jellyfish is dedicated to presenting events for all across the queer and trans spectrum and allies. Tickets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"penguins\"\"penguins\"Photo courtesy of the National Aviary.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Jan. 24, & Sunday, Jan. 25: Penguin-Palooza at The National Aviary
10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Waddle into 2026 with everyone\u2019s favorite flightless feathered friends. Even if you dread gloomy winter, you can\u2019t help but perk up with a smile and feel warm inside when penguins become your new besties. Fresh on the (webbed) heels of International Penguin Awareness Day<\/a>, the North Side becomes penguin central. Meet the resident colony of African Penguins and hear insightful talks by avian experts. Pop into the Penguin Discovery Zone to explore what makes these aquatic avians unique, learn about penguin adaptations and play trivia. Make penguin-themed crafts, join a scavenger hunt and do your part to help protect marine life. Watch a penguin feeding, mingle with other bird nerds and experience a day in the life of a penguin with a park ranger. Tickets<\/a>. Read more about Penguin-Palooza<\/a> in NEXT.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Jan. 24, & Sunday, Jan. 25: \u201cTapescape\u201d Opening Weekend at the Children\u2019s Museum of Pittsburgh
11 a.m .-4 p.m.
Have kids who are experiencing cabin fever this winter? Starting this weekend, they can climb, slide and roll inside an art installation made of 50 miles of packing tape! Join in on all the sticky fun when the Children\u2019s Museum<\/a> opens its fourth version of the indoor installation dubbed \u201cTapescape.\u201d Stretched over a steel frame, the multisensory experience was designed by Los Angeles-based artist Eric Lennartson. During opening weekend, families will experience exclusive tape-themed activities and hands-on projects. Make a duct tape wallet, maneuver through a tape obstacle course and add to a colorful, collaborative art piece. While exploring, kids can crawl through the \u201ctwisting tunnels and curving walls\u201d of this \u201cunique climbing terrain showcasing an unexpected and delightful use\u201d of an everyday material we all have around our homes. Tickets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Jan. 24: The Black Archive Speaker Series at Alma l Lewis
2-4 p.m.
A new speaker series pairing Black material culture with talks by scholars, writers and artists invites the public to take part in \u201cthoughtful conversation, collective learning and community rooted in care.\u201d Don\u2019t miss the inaugural edition of The Black Archive winter speaker series at Alma l Lewis in Point Breeze. For its kickoff, the free series welcomes the award-winning cultural worker and writer Lissette Norman, author of picture books such as \u201cMy Feet Are Laughing,\u201d \u201cPl\u00e1tanos Go with Everything\u201d and \u201cAbuela\u2019s Library.\u201d Norman, whose practice examines \u201cfamily, memory, place and the diverse textures of Black life,\u201d will introduce her new body of work titled, \u201cBlack is My Luck.\u201d Joining Norman in conversation by Alma l Lewis alumni Kleaver Cruz. Register for free<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"Photo courtesy of Con Alma.<\/p>\n

Sunday, Jan. 25: Fundraising Gala at Con Alma
5:30-9 p.m.
Con Alma has emerged as a regional destination for experiencing innovative cuisine, world-class jazz and an artistic ambience. If you\u2019ve enjoyed nights there in Downtown Pittsburgh, then consider supporting the cultural hub during this immersive fundraising gala. This is not just another fundraiser, because the evening will feature live jazz with star trumpeter Sean Jones along with friends. While being treated to a \u201cone-of-a-kind jazz experience rooted in spontaneity and collaboration,\u201d attendees will enjoy chef-driven cuisine and handcrafted cocktails. The event\u2019s silent auction supports the legacy of live jazz and independent hospitality in Pittsburgh with thoughtfully curated offerings, including an exclusive \u201cvinyl vibe gift basket.\u201d Emceed by Pittsburgh media personality Bill Crawford of \u201cThe DVE Morning Show,\u201d the gala aims to present. Tickets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"Nadine Strossen and Jacob Mchangama. Photos courtesy of City of Asylum.<\/p>\n

Sunday, Jan. 25: On Topic: Free Expression with Jacob Mchangama & Nadine Strossen at Alphabet City
3-5 p.m.
The fascinating history and vital importance of free expression in society takes center stage when City of Asylum<\/a> welcomes Nadine Strossen and Jacob Mchangama for this timely discussion on the North Side. Strossen is New York Law School Professor Emerita and former president of the American Civil Liberties Union, while Mchangama is founder and executive director of The Future of Free Speech and a Senior Fellow at The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. The thoughtful discussion will span the origins of free speech during the Enlightenment to the history of the First Amendment to \u201chow the Supreme Court has applied these timeless principles to thorny legal issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

Led by these two free speech experts, the conversation will provide audience with \u201csalient background and context to current controversies and highlight the centrality of free expression to the maintenance of democratic government.\u201d The free program is presented in partnership with the National Constitution Center. Make a day or night of it on the North Side at City of Asylum\u2019s in-house restaurant, Cucina Alfabeto<\/a>, which is open for brunch from 9:30 to 2 p.m. and for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Register for free<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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

Thursday, Jan. 22: Rachel Ann Bovier One-Woman Show<\/a> at Club Cafe, 7 p..m.<\/p>\n

Friday, Jan. 23: The Alien Everywhere Tour \u2013 An evening of standup with TJ<\/a> at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub, 8-9:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Friday, Jan. 23: Donora\u2019s album release party for \u201cOut Here Bleeding Again\u201d<\/a> at The Original Pittsburgh Winery, 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Jan. 24, & Sunday, Jan 25: Penn Avenue Closing Sale & Winter Garage Sale<\/a> at Workshop PGH, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Jan. 24: Pittsburgh Opera presents \u201cCurlew River<\/a>\u201d at Calvary Episcopal Church, 7 p.m.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Jan. 24: Eddie Griffin<\/a> at the Byham Theater, 9 p.m.<\/p>\n

Sunday, Jan. 25: Steel City Horror Show<\/a> at the Harris Theater, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

For more\u00a0things to do<\/a> with NEXT, don\u2019t miss our January Event Guide<\/a>, NEXT in the Gallery<\/a>\u00a0series Date Night<\/a> series.<\/p>\n

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