From a River Circus to Art Olympics, check out these 10 kid-friendly weekend events in Pittsburgh

Above image courtesy of the Westmoreland Museum of American Art.

With summer officially winding down and schools gearing up to open over the next few weeks, it’s easy to feel a bit melancholy about how fast yet another summer break has gone by (and maybe a little bit relieved that the summer childcare shuffle is almost over). Don’t worry, though — we’ve still got plenty of great activities to make the most of the remaining sunny weekends.

Check out what’s happening across the region this weekend:

Friday, Aug. 16-Sunday, Aug. 18: Flotsam River Circus

Get ready for a splash of excitement! Riverlife has partnered with Flotsam River Circus to bring a series of enchanting riverfront performances to Pittsburgh that feature aerial artists, creative performances, and more. Find all of the details here. This incredible event will take place over three days at the following locations:

Friday: Point State Park (Allegheny River side)
Saturday: South Shore Riverfront Park (Monongahela River)
Sunday: Great Lawn (North Shore, Ohio River)

Saturday, Aug. 17: Youth Skoot with Friends of the Riverfront, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

For this new event, run by Friends of the Riverfront, a section of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail will be managed by volunteers, so that young scooters can enjoy this busy section of the trail safely. Adult volunteers will be holding “stop” and “slow down” signs to manage the bike traffic on the Trail. This will emphasize the need for safety around children on the Trail and ensure Trail users go slowly around the event. Meet up at the new segment of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail that comes out of Allegheny RiverTrail Park.

Saturday, Aug. 17: Vintage Base Ball Game at Meadowcroft Shelter & Historic Village, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Check out what base ball (originally two words) was like during the 1860s. Pack a picnic lunch, peanuts, and Cracker Jacks and enjoy the game. All of the activities included with general admission.

Saturday, Aug. 17: Hummingbird Day at Powdermill Nature Center, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Celebrate the world’s smallest birds! Spend the morning at Powdermill Nature Center learning about colorful, tiny, fast-flying hummingbirds and their important place as pollinators in their ecosystems. Go on a guided hike, learn how to take care of bird feeders, and find out which plants in our area are perfect for pollinators. You may just get to see some hummingbirds up close. This is a family-friendly event open to all ages. Registration required.

Saturday, Aug. 17: Kindergarten Here I Come at the Children’s Museum, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

It’s time for the class of 2037 to start their school career! This event, which is free for one child and one adult from each family (and $8 for each additional attendee), will help kids ease anxiety about this big transition. Kids can make crafts, learn about local resources, and even ride a school bus to ease those first-day jitters. Tickets can be reserved here.

Saturday, Aug. 17: It’s Cool to Go Back to School with CLP, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

At the Main (Oakland) branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, students are invited to drop by for fun resources and activities to get them pumped up for this new school year. This event is free and open to all ages, but is geared towards kids in grades K through 5. Find more details here.

Saturday, Aug. 17: Super Science Saturday, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. 

At the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s South Side location, librarians will pair a science-themed read-aloud with hands on activities. These events, which are always free, are designed to encourage a love of both reading and science. No registration is necessary. Find all of the details here.

Saturday, Aug. 17: Rhythm & Brews Festival, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

It’s time for Bellevue’s annual celebration of local craft beer and talented musicians. Hosted by Lincoln Avenue Brewery, this event is fun for both kids and adults. With plenty of food vendors and non-alcoholic drinks available, it’s a great way to pass an evening. Grab your wheeled toys — nearby Bayne Park, which made Kidsburgh’s top playground list, is just two blocks away and features a great skate park and play structures.

Saturday, Aug. 17-Sunday, Aug. 18: Stickball at Fort Pitt, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Learn about the native American game of stickball, one of the oldest organized sports played in America. Historically, the game was used to resolve conflicts within tribal communities and between tribes from other towns and regions. Pick up techniques and test your skills at stickball on the Fort Pitt lawn. Admission is free for outdoor activities.

Sunday, Aug. 18: Art Olympics at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Head out to Greensburg to bid farewell to the Summer Olympics with an artistic twist on their regular Sunday Fun Day activities: Art Olympics! Families can enjoy art activities, food trucks, obstacle courses, caricature drawings, a live DJ, and performances throughout the museum and grounds at this fun, family-friendly free event.

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