From indie bands and art galleries to major concert acts and food festivals, there’s something for everyone in this ultimate guide to things to do in Pittsburgh this summer. Our city has some amazing things to offer all year round, but the long days of summer are when it shines the most.
31 Things to Do in Pittsburgh This Summer (July 18 – Sep 1)
Picklesburgh
July 18-21, Various Locations and Times (Festival Map)
Local favorite Picklesburgh never disappoints. It’s a classic for a reason. Sample all kinds of briny vegetables in the downtown sunshine this summer!
Fatine Violette-Sabiri at Romance
July 19 6:30-8:30PM, 5429 Howe Street
If you’d rather be at home than at an art museum but still want to see art, curator Margaret Kross’s Romance is the place for you. An art gallery located inside a cozy Shadyside apartment, this summer Kross will be exhibiting Moroccan Canadian artist Fatine-Violette Sabiri.
Sunset Photo Safari
July 21, 6PM-9PM, 801 Carrie Furnace Blvd
Nothing gets you an Instagram like faster than a sunset photo (except maybe a cat). Whether you’re a social media addict or not, sunsets are incomparably beautiful, and Rivers of Steel has you covered for one of the best photo spots.
Vibes Under the Bridge
July 20, 5PM-9PM 149 W Bridge St
Beer garden for the adults, food trucks for the kids, and music for everybody underneath the historic Homestead Grays Bridge!
Sad Summer Festival
July 23, 1PM-10PM, 400 N Shore Dr
Relive your emo days with pop-punk and rock bands: Mayday Parade, The Maine, The Wonder Years, We The Kings, Real Friends, Knuckle Puck, Hot Milk, Daisy Grenade, Diva Bleach and Like Roses. promowestlive.com
Downtown Gallery Crawl
July 26, 5:30-9PM, Various Locations
Explore new exhibitions at Wood Street Galleries, 937 Galleries, and SPACE Galleries for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s summer crawl.
National Aviary Night in the Tropics
July 26, 700 Arch St
Head to the National Aviary for an Island Oasis getaway right here in Pittsburgh for one of the summer’s hottest parties. Live music, signature island cocktails, and a variety of local bites to choose from.
Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix
July 26-August 4,
Ten days of classic cars, races, car shows, and parties alongside the Race Weekend in August at Schenley Park! Free to spectate with a suggested donation.
Carnegie Museum of Art Film Series – Power Plays
July 27, 2PM, 4400 Forbes Ave
In the second year of its revived film series, the Carnegie Museum of Art kicks off its summer season with a Pittsburgh-favorite topic: Sports. Explore the aesthetics of sports fandom, and the global sports-media complex with the upcoming film, Power Plays.
Antique Skyscrapers Rooftop Tour
July 27, 10AM, 1PM, 4PM
See Pittsburgh from new heights in this two-hour housertalks.org interactive tour featuring the Koppers Building, Oliver Building, Clark Building, and Benedum-Trees Building with skyscraper expert, Mark Houser.
Openstreets Bike PGH
July 27, 10AM-2PM Various Locations in East End & Homewood (Course Map)
Run, bike, skate or stroll your way through the Historic Hill District to Northside this summer with BikePGH’s OpenStreets 2024. BikePGH is a nonprofit of Pittsburgh that works to make the city’s streets vibrant, accessible, and safe to bike or walk.
Sleater-Kinney Little Rope Tour
July 29, 7PM, 400 Lincoln Avenue
Alternative rock act Sleater-Kinney visits one of Pittsburgh’s must-see music venues, Millvale’s Mr. Smalls Theater.
Hozier
July 29, 7:30PM, 665 PA-18
Irish heartthrob Hozier brings his soul-blues-folk sound and mind-bending lyrics to Star Lake Pavilion for his Unreal Unearth tour. livenation.com
Comedy Bang! Bang!
July 30, 7:30PM, 425 Chartiers Avenue
Scott Aukerman and Paul F. Tompkins are taking their comedy podcast on the road with a stop at McKees Rocks’ Roxian Theatre. Stop by whether you’re a devout listener or just looking for a laugh.
Warhol Sound Series – Hatis Noit
July 31, 8PM, 117 Sandusky Street
All the way from the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido the now London-based singer, Hatis Noit, blends avant-garde soundscapes with hauntingly beautiful melodies.
Title Town Soul & Funk Party
August 3, 9PM 242 51st Street
Heat up your summer and get a little funky with Title Town a monthly soul, funk, and Motown party at Lawrenceville’s Spirit Lodge!
Azza El Siddique at the Mattress Factory
August 9, 6PM-8PM, 500 Sampsonia Way
Join Mattress Factory for the opening of a new solo exhibition from artist Azza El Siddique at 500 Sampsonia Way. Siddique is part of the museum’s International Open Call.
Veg Fest
August 10, 11AM-5PM Allegheny Commons Park
For all the plant-based or vegan-curious out there, veg fest has you covered with all things green eating in Allegheny Commons Park.
Barrel & Flow
August 10, 2875 Railroad St
The #1 Brew Fest in America two years in a row is back! With live music, live painting, a craft market, and a spirit of inclusivity, Barrel & Flow is one of the best festivals of the year.
Pittsburgh Restaurant Week
August 12-18, Various Locations and Times
The city’s top restaurants debut new dishes on limited-time menus in this summer’s must-taste event for Pittsburgh foodies.
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
August 15, 7:30PM, 1001 Fifth Avenue
Rescheduled from last fall! If you missed the Boss in September, here’s your chance to see him live at PPG Paints. ticketmaster.org
Michael Fratangelo – Refugee
August 17, 1020 N Canal St, 6PM-8PM
Local painter Michael Fratangelo revisits the themes of his 2005 show Iraq: Paintings of War with this year’s Refugee, an exhibition inspired by the masses crossing the Mediterranean from Northern Africa, at Atithi Studios.
Sloth Birthday Party
August 24, 10AM-3PM, 400 Arch St
The National Aviary is throwing an epic sloth birthday celebration in honor of their beloved two-toed sloths, Vivien & Wookiee. These sloths are Leo babies! aviary.org
Ballet Under the Stars
August 25, 4000 Middle Rd
Bring your blanket and chairs! The free, outdoor, performance by Pittsburgh Ballet Theater is back this year at Hartwood Acres. Perfect for a date night or some family fun—register online for your free registration. pbt.org
Oddities & Curiosities Expo
August 24-26, 10AM-6PM, 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd
Halloween might not be until the fall but get ready early at the Oddities & Curiosities Expo. Peruse original artwork, horror/ Halloween inspired pieces, antiques, handcrafted oddities, quack medical devices, creepy clothing, odd jewelry, skulls/ bones, funeral collectibles and more for any and all your curious needs. Pittsburgh itself is . . . strange and unusual.
Water Lantern Festival
August 24-26, 5:30PM-9:30PM, Allegheny Commons Park
Craft your own lantern to float into the night on the Allegheny River and experience a meditative moment for the summer.
John Burt Sanders – Dark Mode
August 27, 5PM-8PM, 904 Main St
If you’re searching for a new art piece for your home, curator and art consultant, Jeff Jarzynka’s gallery in Sharpsburg, PA is the place to be. This summer’s show will feature work by abstract minimalist painter, John Burt Sanders.
Women Who Rock
August 28, 6:30PM, 400 N Shore Dr
Have a good time for a good cause at Women Who Rock’s annual benefit concert supporting women’s health research. This year featuring Melissa Etheridge!
Treasured Ornament at the Frick
August 18, 10AM-5PM, 7227 Reynolds St
The Frick Pittsburgh presents a collection of fine glassware, ceramics, metalwork, painting, weaponry, weaving, and much more from the Islamic World, evoking rich history and the shared human experiences that bind us. frickpittsburgh.com
Carnegie Museum of Art Film Series – A Spell Against Amnesia
August 31, 2PM, 4400 Forbes Avenue
Museums and movie theaters have some of the best air conditioning during the summer heat. So, why not see a movie at the museum? The Carnegie continues its film series with a program themed around memory and history in A Spell Against Amnesia. Run time: 1 hour 11 min.
Green Day – The Saviors Tour
Sep 1, 5:30PM, 1001 Fifth Avenue
Grab your eyeliner and your Hot Topic t-shirts because Green Day is rocking out again. American Idiot was twenty years ago, but maybe it’s a good primer for election season?
Story by Emma Riva / Photo courtesy of Rivers of Steel
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