Top 17 January events: Start 2025 off right with these fun family activities in the Pittsburgh area

Frick Winterfest 2023 by Nancy Andrews/Annie O’Neill Photography.

While January can be cold and bleak in Pittsburgh, it’s also a great time to enjoy many local indoor activities like theater performances, movies, and expos. For those who like to brave the temps, there are also so many ways to celebrate winter in Pittsburgh.  (Check out our latest guide to outdoor fun.)

Here are just a few of the family-friendly activities happening this January in Pittsburgh:

Saturdays and Sundays in January: Penguins on Parade at the Pittsburgh Zoo, 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

Every weekend through Feb.23, if the conditions are right, the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium’s penguins will march outside for all to see. Arrive before 11:30 a.m. to get a good viewing spot. The temperature must be between 25 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit, and other conditions may also affect the parade. So please check here for updates before you go. This activity is included in zoo admission.

Wednesdays in January: Youth Open Studio at the Andy Warhol Museum

The Andy Warhol Museum’s drop-in Youth Open Studio operates from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesdays. Middle and high school students will have access to screens, ink, transparencies, printers, and Photoshop. Send an email to whiteh@warhol.org to reserve a spot.

Jan. 4: “Mufasa” Sensory-Friendly Screening at The Lindsay Theater, 9:30 a.m.

The Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center in Sewickley is hosting a sensory-friendly screening of “Mufasa: The Lion King.” “Mufasa” is a prequel to 2019’s “The Lion King” that follows Simba’s father, Prince Taka (aka Scar), Sarabi (Simba’s mother) and more “Lion King” favorites on an epic journey across the Pride Lands. Tickets to this and all sensory-friendly screenings at The Lindsay are discounted to $8.75 each. Sensory-friendly screenings are designed so everyone can enjoy a personal, unhurried cinematic experience.

Jan 10 and 25: Dew After Dark at Seven Springs

What’s better than night skiing with older kids? Night skiing with an extra jolt of energy. Seven Springs is hosting Dew After Dark from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. twice in January (and twice in February) with free Mountain Dew for skiers, a DJ, and other entertainment, as well as a chance to win some prizes. This event is free, though a lift ticket is required to ski, snowboard, or tube. Check out the details here.

Jan. 11: Trivia for Kids Live Podcast at the Greer Cabaret Theater

This top podcast is hitting the road this winter as KC and the crew stops by Bellevue Elementary and then the Greer Cabaret for some local fun! This family-focused, fan-favorite podcast takes the fun on the road with a live, interactive show. Your kids can test their knowledge with quizzes on family-friendly topics. Admission is $20. (If you like podcasts, don’t forget to check out the Kidsburgh podcast, too!)

Jan. 15: Sensory-Friendly Time at the National Aviary

For individuals who find a typical day at the aviary too stimulating, this low-pressure event is the perfect alternative. Upon arrival, kids receive a KultureCity bag with essentials like headphones and fidget toys, which are always available to borrow at the Aviary. Kids can touch biofacts like feathers and eggs, and enjoy interactive play spaces. Registration is required for this special event.

Jan. 16: Free Puppet Workshop with the Center for Creative Reuse

The East End Food Co-Op is excited to bring the artsy expertise of the Center for Creative Reuse to this fun, free event. Attendees will be provided with all the materials to create their own rod or shadow puppets, and a character sheet to bring them to life with traits and personality. Decide the puppet’s hopes and dreams, think about their friends and enemies, and choose their favorite snack or musical performer. The only limit is their imagination! Find more details here.

Jan. 16-17: “Cat Kid Comic Club” at the Byham Theater

This hilarious musical adaptation of Dav Pilkey’s “Dog Man” spin-off series, “Cat Kid Comic Club,” is sure to entertain kids and adults alike. Cat Kid and Molly Pollywog have started an epic club to teach 21 rambunctious baby frogs how to make their own comics. Tickets range from $12-$30.

Jan. 17-26: “Looking Forward: The Ruby Bridges Story ” at the New Hazlett Center for Performing Arts

In 1960, a 6-year-old girl named Ruby Bridges became the first African American student to attend an all-white grade school in New Orleans. Experience her remarkable journey as she blazes a trail for generations to follow. Tickets are $39 for grownups, $19 for kids. The Jan. 17 performance is pay what you can. A sensory-friendly performance is planned for Jan. 25.

Jan. 17-18: Teen and Tween Paint Parties at Vintage Max Mercantile

The region’s newest independent bookstore is hosting two painting events. On Friday, Jan. 17, kids 14 and up are welcome from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. to participate in a guided painting session where they will create a kitty-themed canvas to benefit Whisker Wonderland, a local cat rescue in Bellevue. Tweens ages 9-13 have their own event from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday Jan. 18. At the teen event, some kittens will be available to pet (there will be no kittens at the tween event, though proceeds still benefit the rescue). Heads up, parents, there’s also an adult paint night on Jan. 18. The cost of these sessions is $40. Please register here.

Jan. 18-19: Piratesfest 2025

While opening day is still months away, it’s never too soon to get hyped for the 2025 baseball season. Come to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days for autograph sessions, interactive games, bounce houses, face painting, and more family fun. Admission is free, but registration is strongly suggested.

Jan. 18-19: Winterfest at The Frick

There is no better way to celebrate snowy January than at Winterfest, The Frick Pittsburgh’s annual celebration. There are activities for guests of all ages, including live performances, artmaking activities, historic home tours, cozy treats, and warm beverages from The Café at the Frick. Check out our guide to the whole event here. Many activities are free, and tickets to tour the Clayton House are just $5.

Jan. 20: An MLK Day Celebration Through Art & Advocacy at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater

The KST’s annual day of reflection, unity, and creative expression begins with activities in the lobby, followed by performances in the theater. Included are Hill Dance Academy Theatre faculty, Guardians of Sound’s Hip Hop Orchestra, and students from Los Sabrosos Dance Company. Admission is “pay what moves you” from $0-$25. During the evening of the 20th, the 18th annual Let Freedom Sing Concert will celebrate the social justice legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through vocal and instrumental music as well as spoken word. Tickets for that event are also “pay what moves you” from $2-$50.

Jan. 20: Youth Poet Laureate Commencement at City of Asylum

Come celebrate local creativity and the 2024–2025 Youth Poet Laureate of Allegheny County, Oluwatobiloba Olaore as well as this year’s Youth Poet Ambassadors Vanshika Jain, Linda Kong, Monroe Law, and Sarah Voigt. The young poets will perform pieces they have developed and refined during workshops led by professional poets over the last several months at City of Asylum on the North Side from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Find more information about the event here. And learn about Olaore and the Youth Poet Laureate program right here.

Jan. 25: “Game Changers” board game workshop at the Kamin Science Center

Learn about board game design and the players’ place in it! From the rules to the design of the board itself, families will get to experience creating their own game that they can enjoy again and again even after the workshop is over. They will learn how math and patterns can affect a game and the players in it, as well as how to include their artistic side in the rules of the game. The cost for up to seven participants is $65 for members and $70 for non-members, so bring the whole family for that price. At least one adult is required per group. This experience is recommended for ages 6 and up. Register here.

Jan 27: Sensory-Inclusive Time at Phipps Conservatory

In collaboration with the Autism Connection of Pennsylvania, come to the Conservatory at 5:30 p.m. for a self-guided visit to enjoy Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show: A Moment of Beauty and Garden Railroad. To ensure a peaceful walk through the Conservatory, lights and sounds will be minimized. Participants will receive a social story via email detailing the experience before arrival. Please purchase tickets here. Phipps members receive a discount as well.

Jan. 28: Ink This! Comic Book Art Workshop for Teens at CLP

This workshop is for teens and adults who have begun to hone their comic drawing skills. Led by Incubator Comics, the workshop is free and runs from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Homewood branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Find more details here.

Looking for more fun this winter? Don’t miss our newsletter, and look for our great big guide to the whole winter season, coming soon!