Pittsburgh weekend family fun guide: Free dance parties, a Twister Talk, Goat Fest and more

Above image courtesy of Carnegie Science Center.

This last weekend in July is full of fun things to do both indoors and out, ranging from theater performances to dance parties. It’s also a great weekend to check out some ongoing local favorites like Kennywood and Idlewild, so don’t miss our guide to taking kids to amusement parks.

Your weekend entertainment with Pittsburgh kids starts early (check out this Thursday night event!) and there’s fun to be had all weekend long:

Thursday, July 25: BLOOM Summer Wonderland at the Children’s Museum, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Summer Wonderland is a family friendly art festival including music, flowers and whimsical art activities. Tickets are $5 and include entry to selected areas of the first floor of the Children’s Museum in addition (weather permitting) to the outdoor festivities that include a Garden Tea Party with light refreshments, hat upcycling with artist Cathy Oliver, a Double Dutch Swing Squad performance and instruction, face painting with Beanie Paints and Paint by Chrissy, six local artisans with demonstrations and hands-on activities, family portraits by OPYA studios, yoga in the park (7-8 p.m.) and an art showcase by museum staff.

Friday, July 26 – Sunday, July 28: “Be More Chill” by Attack Theater Company

The Alumni Theater Company Teen Ensemble is excited to present their 100th show, Joe Tracz’s “Be More Chill.” Catch the show at their home theater, the Bill Nunn Black Box. As a spectacular conclusion to her 16-year tenure with ATC, fearless founder Hallie Donner directs 16 Pittsburgh teens in this campy sci-fi adventure about an undeniably average nerd scaling the harrowing heights of high school social hierarchy. Tickets are $25. Read more about the play and purchase tickets here.

Friday, July 26: Dance Party in the Park with Robinson Township Library, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

This family-friendly event will have music, games, crafts and more. It’s totally free and a great way to get your groove on and get outside this summer. Find more details about this epic dance party here.

Friday, July 26: Twisters Talk with Scott Harbaugh and Ron Smiley, 7 p.m. 

The Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center in Sewickley is excited to be presenting this exclusive (and free) event featuring two accomplished and beloved local meteorologists. Join KDKA’s Ron Smiley and WPXI’s Scott Harbaugh this Friday for a wide-ranging conversation about the art of weather forecasting, the Pittsburgh area’s unexpected summer of tornados and their thoughts on the original 1996 Twister. Find details here.

Friday, July 26: Vision to Learn eye exams at CLP, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

An estimated 30,000 kids throughout the Pittsburgh area do not have the glasses they need to see the board, read a book, or participate in class. Vision to Learn provides free eye exams, new glasses and replacement glasses to kids throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. This free event will take place at the Allegheny branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. An appointment is required, so please contact the branch to schedule. This event is for children ages 4-18, caregivers must sign permission forms before the appointment. Find more details here.

Friday, July 26: Youth Flag Football Tournament at North Park Sports Complex, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

North Park Sports Complex will be hosting a one-day Youth Flag Football tournament this weekend. The tournament will be a competitive 5 vs. 5 format with games beginning at 10:00 a.m. All registered teams must have a minimum of five players per team with a max of 10 players per team, and each team is guaranteed minimum of three games. If you have any questions please contact Sports Programming Manager Marty Steele, msteele@northparksports.com. The cost of this event is $150 for a team of five. More info can be found here.

Saturday, July 27: Celebrate the Bloom at Jennings Environmental Center, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Celebrate the Bloom is a free annual event held at Jennings Environmental Education Center on the last Saturday in July. Celebrating the state’s only prairie (and the eastern-most prairie in the nation), the festival includes nature explorations (i.e. bird, butterfly and wildflower walks), engaging demonstrations, local artisans and food, and musical guests. Find more details here.

Saturday, July 27: Open Streets: East End & Homewood 

Come out for the final OpenStreetsPGH event, where you can walk, run, bike, skate, roll, dance and enjoy the road at your own pace. You can find free fitness classes at the wellness hub, learn how to bike at the Kids’ Hub, grab food from local vendors, and enjoy a variety of activities hosted by local organizations. This event series is organized by Bike Pittsburgh, a non-profit working on behalf of the Pittsburgh community to transform our streets and communities into vibrant, healthy places by making them safe and accessible for everyone to bike and walk. The full schedule for Saturday is right here.

Saturday, July 27: Goat Fest PGH 2024, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Friends of South Side Park Present Goat Fest PGH 2024, a free community event where families can see working goats in action, enjoy live music, games and activities, enjoy a petting zoo, buy some snacks, and learn about their forest restoration efforts. Find more details here.

Saturday, July 27: Mad Science Presents Dinosaurs at CLP, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

This free event at the Carnegie Library’s Southside location lets kids investigate the habits, needs and characteristics of dinosaurs that lead to the exploration of the fossilization process. Hands-on activities will assist students with their understanding of fossils and dinosaurs. Students make a cast of a dinosaur tooth. This activity is best for kids in elementary school. Find all the details here.

Saturday, July 27: SkyWatch at the Carnegie Science Center, 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

This event gives families access (weather permitting) to the Buhl Observatory to gaze at the sky with their powerful telescope. Hands-on education and guidance by experienced CSC staff will help kids understand what they are seeing. This event costs $12 ($10 for members) and tickets can be purchased here.

Sunday, July 28: Pressley Ridge Ice Cream Fundae at the Pittsburgh Zoo, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Pressley Ridge fundraiser. Held at the Pittsburgh Zoo, visitors stroll through the zoo, stopping at stations along the way, where sponsors compete for your vote for best flavor. Tickets are $25, $10 for ages 4-17, free for ages 3 and younger. A Family Four Pack runs $50.

Looking for more fun things to do each week, delivered right to your inbox? Don’t miss our newsletter. Sign up here!