10 cool events this weekend in Pittsburgh and beyond, many of them free!

Photo above courtesy of the Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Looking for fun family events this weekend in Pittsburgh and the surrounding region? There’s plenty happening. Check out these great ideas:

March 12 and 13: Maple Weekend Taste and Tour, Somerset County

It could be your sweetest road trip ever! The Somerset County Maple Producers Association has grown to 15 sugar camps, all of which are open to visitors on March 12 and 13. Download the brochure for a self-guided tour to learn about maple syrup production firsthand and sample a variety of products like maple barbecue sauce, maple balsamic vinaigrette and maple taffy. There are so many maple syrup events planned: Hillegas Sugar Camp will offer samples of maple cotton candy and maple syrup beer from Whitehorse Brewing. Emerick’s Maple includes horse-drawn carriage rides and Wagner’s Sugar Camp will demonstrate the art of coopering. And plan a stop at Somerset Alliance Church, where Listie Volunteer Fire Dept. will serve up sourdough buckwheat cakes, pancakes and local sausage served with pure maple syrup. Find all the details here.

Saturday, March 12: Nature Photography Walk at Frick Park,  9:30 am – 11:30 am

Join professional photographer Don Orkoskey in Frick Park for his free monthly nature photo walk. This is an all-ages and all-skills level event open to everyone. Come out and safely socialize, learn about photography, nature, and nature photography and see all of the amazing nature and wildlife photography opportunities that abound in Frick Park. 

Saturday, March 12: St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Downtown, 10 a.m.

After being canceled twice during the pandemic, the city held a “halfway to St. Patrick’s Day Parade” in September. This weekend, you can enjoy the real thing!  There’s nothing like standing curbside and feeling the bass drum vibrations from a passing marching band. That’s just one reason to head to Pittsburgh’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which lays claim to being the third-largest in the country. The parade begins at 10 a.m. at 11th St. and Liberty Ave., heads to Grant St., turns onto Blvd. of the Allies, then marches to the reviewing stand on Stanwix St. Your kids will be entertained by high school marching bands, dance troops, kilted bagpipers and lots of clowns.

Saturday, March 12: A Day of Irish Culture at Carnegie Science Center, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Kick off your St. Patrick’s Day celebrating with acclaimed Irish writer, traveler and TV host Manchán Magan. In his theatrical performance, “Arán & Im,” Magan will bake sourdough bread while sharing insights about the language, landscape and culinary traditions of Ireland. Magan also stars in the new 3D documentary, “Ireland,” showing now at The Rangos Giant Cinema. Buy tickets here.

Saturday, March 12 (also: April 16, May 21, June 4): 2022 Youth Writers Camp, August Wilson Center for African American Culture, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

August Wilson’s literary legacy is at the core of the center’s 2022 Youth Writers Camp. Educators Carla Knight and Dionna Westry will lead middle and high school kids through Zoom sessions that emphasize the American Dream, as depicted in Wilson’s play “Jitney.” Included in the four-part camps are play excerpts, analysis, writing prompts and discussions on current social justice issues. By the end of camp, kids will select from their writing samples to perform in a virtual poetry slam. Registration is $20.

Saturday, March 12, Embroidery Sewing at Trust Arts Education Center, 2 p.m.-4 p.m. 

Using Pfaff sewing machings, high school students (and adults) will learn some foundational skills of maching sewing before diving into and practicing more advanced features of the machines, including embroidery. Students will create an original monogrammed item that they can take home with them at the end of the workshop. This workshop is a great fit for beginner and advanced sewers alike! Tickets are $25. Register here.

Saturday, March 12, Getting Into Character at Trust Arts Education Center, 3 p.m.-5 p.m. 

At this acting class for grades 6-8, students can prepare for their next big role on the stage by digging into character development. Using a variety of monologues, including ones they use already, kids will learn about new approaches to getting into character. Tickets are $25. Register here.

Saturday, March 12, African “Praise Poetry” performance workshop at Trust Arts Education Center, 3 p.m.-5 p.m. 

High-schoolers (and their adults, too) will learn about and experiment with the various literary/compositional techniques used in southern African “praise poetry,” which commemorates life events, achievements, and qualities of the speaker or others. This workshop will help participants cultivate skills in public speaking, acting, and creative writing while also helping to promote positive self-esteem and community-building. Tickets are $25. Register here.

Sunday March 13: Printmaking Workshop at MuseumLab, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Kids ages 10-15 will develop new skills in a pair of printmaking workshops at MuseumLab this month. The March Watercolor Woodcuts class on March 13 instructs kids step-by-step to create a design, carve a wooden block and make prints with multiple watercolor hues. Additional MuseumLab workshops in March include Linocut, Metal Cutting, Copper Enameling and Fantastic Creature Egg Prop Making. Workshop registration is $20.

Sunday, March 13: Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Story Hike at the Frick Environmental Center, 10-11:30 a.m.

How do those pesky squirrels stay active all winter? Families are invited to listen to a reading of April Pulley Sayre’s book, “Squirrels Leap, Squirrels Sleep,” and then hike into Frick Park to watch these furry acrobats in the wild. Register for free.

Looking for more fun family events this weekend in Pittsburgh? Check out Kidsburgh’s daily events calendar.