8 awesome things to do this weekend (most of them free!) with kids in Pittsburgh

Photo above by Scott Webb used by permission via Unsplash.

Looking for cool things to do this weekend with kids in Pittsburgh? We’ve gathered plenty of cool ideas (most of them free!) for you and your family:

Oct. 15 and 16, Fall Family Movies in the Park: Two family film favorites that add more silly than thrilly are set to screen this month. Catch “Nightmare Before Christmas” on Oct. 15 at Hartwood and Oct. 16 at South Park. The Hartwood location will operate as a drive-in theater. South Park invites families to bring chairs and blankets to enjoy the movies on the lawn. Free.

Oct. 15, 16 and 17, Pumpkin Patch Trolley: Why ride a wagon to the pumpkin patch when you can zip along on a trolley? The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington, Pa., offers round trip rides on its historic railroad to collect the pumpkins. After the Pumpkin Patch excursion, kids can decorate their pumpkins in the craft room, where refreshments will be served. The Pumpkin Patch Trolley is in operation on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 24. Tickets are $13 for kids, $14 for their grownups.

Oct. 15, 16 and 17, Fall fests and pumpkin picking: All weekend long, farms around the Pittsburgh region are hosting fall festivals and pumpkin picking. Get all the details here in our fall festival guide.

(Families: The Great Pumpkin Patch event listed below has now been POSTPONED due to the weather forecast. The organizers expect it to be rescheduled for next weekend. We will keep you posted!) Oct. 16, “The Great Pumpkin Patch” at SouthSide Works: Don’t miss a free outdoor screening of “Hocus Pocus,” plus pumpkins on sale from Soergals. 100% of proceeds from all pumpkin sales will benefit Community Kitchen Pittsburgh, and the nonprofit will be on-site selling fall baked goods and pumpkin spice popcorn. Check out expert pumpkin carving artists, along with face painting, caricatures and balloon artists. The Patch is free and open to all ages from 2pm-6pm, before the “Hocus Pocus” screening. All festivities take place in SouthSide Works’ new North Lot event space, located across from American Eagle’s HQ.

Oct. 16 and 17: Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkins Festival: Following last year’s drive-thru event on the North Shore, the Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkins Festival has moved to new digs in the Strip District. Monster pumpkin carving returns, along with the pumpkin pie eating contest, Monster Pumpkin Plunge, glass-blowing demonstrations and craft activities. Admission is free.

Oct. 16 and 17: Campfire Ghost Stories: Not-too-spooky stories and songs are part of the fun at this Allegheny County series. Kids and their grownups will gather around a crackling campfire on weekend evenings: Oct. 16 at White Oak Park Chestnut Shelter and Oct. 17 at Hartwood Acres Stables, where a  sign language interpreter will take part. For added fun, kids can wear costumes and compete for a prize. Registration is free.

Oct. 16, Creatures of the Night, Beechwood Farms Nature Preserve: Costumes are welcome at the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania’s annual Creatures of Night series. Guides are dressed up, too, as larger-than-life nocturnal creatures. Human-sized fireflies direct visitors along trails, where you’ll meet a storytelling great horned owl, an acrobatic flying squirrel and a somewhat batty little brown bat. Registration is $10 (free for kids younger than 2).

Oct. 16, Let’s Move Family Fun Day, The Frick Pittsburgh: Make the most of fall weather with a day of free outdoor activities. Let’s Move Family Fun Day at The Frick Pittsburgh provides opportunities for kids to test their skills at croquet and badminton. They can also climb and crawl through a cool obstacle course or visit the art activity station to combine fine motor skills with physical dexterity. No registration is required.

And for more fall fun this weekend and throughout October, check out our guide to 30 (not scary) kid-friendly events for Halloween fun!