9 things to do with kids this week in Pittsburgh, from Halloween comedy to electrifying theater
There’s no end to the family fun and revelry to be found in Pittsburgh. Whether you decide to venture out or stay at home, these things to do with kids are guaranteed to entertain.
1. Mix costumes with comedy (in person)
Penny Arcade will bring an outdoor Halloween party to the Trust Oasis, Downtown, on Saturday, Oct. 24. Halloween Costumes & Comedy will wow kids with a new show filled with silly improv games and activities. Kids can show off their costumes to win prizes for most cool and creative outfits. The Penny Players will keep safety precautions in place throughout the event. Tickets are $5 for kids, $10 for adults, or use the pay-as-you-wish option.
2. Go fly a kite! (at home)
Carnegie Science Center and KidsVoice team together every year for Kites for Kids. On Saturday, Oct. 24, the fun comes via FacebookLive. The session includes kite-flying experiments kids can do at home. Build a paper helicopter and learn the science behind lift and drag with a sled kite activity. You’ll also learn about the impressive child advocacy work happening at KidsVoice.
3. Collect acorns for a purpose (in person)
Take little kids outdoors, and their pockets inevitably end up filled with acorns. The Squirrel Program & Acorn Event in North Park on Saturday, Oct. 24, gives them a legitimate reason to collect those cute nuts. Humane Animal Rescue partners with Allegheny County Parks in an activity where participants gather enough acorns to feed squirrels that will spend the winter at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Kids will learn about squirrels and meet a chattering resident squirrel, too. Register here for your family’s time slot.
4. Celebrate fall the old-fashioned way (in person)
Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village ends its season with the annual Fall Finale on Saturday, Oct. 24. Along with Meadowcroft’s usual historical programming, the day will be filled with fall-themed activities reflective of the good old days. Kids can check out cornhusk crafting and 19th-century cooking demonstrations. Readings from Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven” will inject a creepy, seasonal tone to the proceedings. Kids 17 and younger are free.
5. Get zapped by ‘Miss Electricity’ (at home)
Mariposa Theatre for Young Audiences continues its series of virtual performances this weekend, Oct. 23-25. In “Miss Electricity,” 10-tear-old Violet gets struck by lightning – twice! – giving her control over everything electrical. She zaps her way through bullies and tests, but might power go to her head? You’ll need to buy a ticket to access the YouTube screening to find out. Tickets are $30 per household, but Mariposa also offers a pay-what-you-want option if money is tight.
6. Relax with a sensory-free Halloween event (at home)
The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh’s annual Boo to You,Too sensory-friendly Halloween party returns on Sunday, Oct. 25, in virtual form. The free program is intended for all ages with sensory sensitivities and includes lots of fun activities. Make homemade slime, dance with Pittsburgh Ballet educators and check out a collection of off-screen things to do. Register here for all the treats without the tricks.
7. Get RADical (in person and at home)
Check out this week’s free RADical Days virtual and in-person offerings. View the complete calendar here.
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre hosts a virtual tour of its costume shop featuring exquisite pieces from “Dracula.” Register for the Oct. 27 Zoom event here.
The Frick Pittsburgh takes participants on a virtual insider’s tour of spots where visitors rarely venture. Each day, Oct. 26-30, a new spot will be explored, from the collection’s storage space to the Clayton vault to the playhouse. Register here.
8. Make college plans (at home)
High school seniors are invited to the annual Pittsburgh Promise Preferred College Partners Fair on Oct. 22. Operating virtually this year, the fair will include dozens of college reps on hand to answer questions about their schools. Just like at an in-person college fair, students can choose the schools they’re interested in. Preferred College Partners are the 35 Pennsylvania colleges that offer Pittsburgh Promise scholars an additional housing grant of at least $2,000 per year (in addition to the $5,000 Promise scholarship). Click here to register.
9. Make a movie about your favorite movie (at home)
Row House Cinema gives families a perfect outlet for silliness with its Sweded Film Festival for Creative Re-Creations. The concept comes from the 2008 movie “Be Kind Rewind,” in which dopey video store clerks accidentally erase all the movies, then recreate and record them in spectacularly terrible and funny ways. You and yours have until Nov. 15 to pick a favorite movie to film and submit. The rules: Keep it cheap, short (no more than 5 minutes) and out of control. We can do that! The best shorts will be compiled into a feature-length film. Check out past winners and find your inspiration.
