Thanksgiving weekend means different things to different people, and in a college town like Pittsburgh, it can feel a little dead. If you’re home from college, suddenly you have access to your parents’ fridge again. If you’re a parent yourself, especially of younger children, you may be wrangling those kids to keep them entertained while school is out. Whether you’re a young professional whose parents are in town or a family looking for some daytime activities to get your kids some culture, we’ve got some suggestions for what to do in Pittsburgh for this holiday weekend.
What to See in Pittsburgh Over Thanksgiving Weekend
Song Shop at the Pittsburgh Opera
Bitz Opera Factory, 2425 Liberty Avenue. November 23, 12PM-1PM
See some opera for free on Saturday, November 23rd with the Pittsburgh Opera’s “Song Shop” series. Bring a friend and some lunch and enjoy a serenade from the Pittsburgh Opera resident artists to kick off Thanksgiving break. This is the Opera’s last public event of the fall, so head over to Bitz Opera Factory while you can!
Beate Kuhn: Turn
Carnegie Museum of Art, 4400 Forbes Avenue. Through December 1, Museum Hours 10AM-5PM Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 10AM-8PM Thursday
Catch this expansive career survey of German sculptor Beate Kuhn’s work before it closes on December 1. If you roll your eyes at the idea of a museum day, hear us out. In a time full of so much division, Kuhn’s work carries a message of unity and coherence delivered in simple and beautiful forms. A closing concert will bid farewell to the exhibition on December 1.
A Celebration of Strauss: Thanksgiving Weekend at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Avenue. November 29 7:30PM, December 1 1:30PM
Saxophonist Steven Banks makes his debut with the PSO at this jubilant musical celebration. Every year, the symphony plays Strauss on Thanksgiving weekend, but the twist of a saxophone performance adds a bit of jazzy flavor to it. A nighttime performance and matinée make this a great Thanksgiving weekend outing for a date night or a relaxing family afternoon.
girl in red in Concert
Stage AE, 400 North Shore Drive. November 29, 7PM-9PM
This is a good one for the back-in-town college students who want to spend Friday night doing something other than watching TV on their parents’ couch. Norwegian singer-songwriter girl in red, known for her love songs about queer relationships and confessional ballads about mental health, will be playing at Stage AE over Thanksgiving weekend.
Drawn Together
Ron Donoughe Studios, 208 Main Street. Saturday, November 30, 3PM-8PM, Sunday, December 1, 10AM-5PM.
This art exhibition celebrates four decades of friendship between a group of Pittsburgh artists, including renowned plein air painter Ron Donoughe, who organized it and is housing it at his Lawrenceville studio space. The show also features Ed Charney, Scott Hunter, Duncan MacDiarmio, Mike McSorley, Stuart Smith, Patrick Ruane, Victor Capone, Rick Landesberg, and John Ritter. A perfect outing for celebrating gratitude and friendship over Thanksgiving break.
Story by Emma Riva / Photo by Zachary Riggleman
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