Also don’t miss the In Dead by Ten Halloween dance party, Art for Change and Row House of Horrors.
byJennifer Baron
What’s going on in Pittsburgh this weekend, Oct. 17-20? Find out here. Know of a cool event?Email us.
Thursday, Oct. 17-Sunday, Oct. 20: Fall Fest at Pittsburgh Playhouse
Various times
Forbes Avenue becomes Fright Avenue when Pittsburgh Playhouse’s first ever Fall Fest sets up shop this month. The spooky street fest boasts fall-themed bites, carnival booths and the “Boo’s Halloween House Party” parody show. Pop into BOO’ze Bar for tarot readings, check out music by the Hauntones, make creepy crafts and much more. Information.
Thursday, Oct. 17: Geek out Gall at Carnegie Science Center
6-10 p.m.
Add a jolt of fun to your weekend when cutting-edge science and high-energy revelry collide along the riverfront. Enjoy an evening of fall food and drinks, interactive science demonstrations and music by Big Fat Mallard and DJ Loyal — all while supporting the science center’s mission. Tickets.
Thursday, Oct. 17: “Nosferatu” at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall
7-9 p.m.
Is Halloween even scary without the vampire who launched horror cinema? Experience F. W. Murnau’s 1922 classic like never before, with a live score performed and composed by renowned pianist Tom Roberts as part of a Pittsburgh Silent Film Society’s celebration of the film’s centennial. Journey into misty 19th-century Transylvania to encounter the inimitable Count Orlok in this unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.” Tickets.
Thursday, Oct. 17-Saturday, Oct. 19: Grand Opening at the Illustrious Order of Makesmiths
12-6 p.m. & 12-8 p.m.
If you love Squonk shows, you’ve got to visit this new “immersive gallery” created by company co-founders Chief and Steve O’Hearn. Blawnox becomes eclectic with I.O.O.M., where curious customers will find handmade art and “treasures” both made and found by the duo. Steve says it’s “Pittsburgh’s only source for wall pies, prehensile pencils, phone monstrances and gluppets.” Find out what all of these things are as you watch objects being made. The space will also host show-and-tell evenings, classes, commissions and demonstrations. Information.
Friday, Oct. 18: Art for Change at Stage AE
6:30 p.m.
Art can change lives, as Persad Center – the region’s oldest LGBTQ+ nonprofit – knows firsthand. Funds raised at the North Shore party support mental health services for Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ community. Acclaimed Pittsburgh artist Mia Tarducci has curated 100 original works donated by a community of local and national artists. Tickets.
Friday, Oct. 18-Sunday, Oct. 20: Row House of Horrors at Row House Cinema
Various times
There’s something for every thrill seeker at this spooky cinema series running Oct. 18-31. From horror flick icons like “Night of the Living Dead,” “Halloween” and “The Exorcist,” to more lighthearted frights from “Addams Family Values” and “Hocus Pocus,” the series pairs on-screen classics with special offerings. On Oct. 18, celebrate the 50th anniversary of “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” with a burlesque performance and fruit leather masks. Tickets.
Friday, Oct 18, & Saturday, Oct. 19: “Stomp” at the Benedum Center
7:30 p.m. & 2 p.m.
What began as a DIY street performance in the UK is now an international sensation that has wowed 26 million people in 50 countries. Created by Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas, the show combines explosive percussion, expressive movement and visual comedy. Watch as everyday objects morph into rhythmic musical instruments — from synchronized brooms to Zippo lighters to suitcases. The updated touring show features two new routines, utilizing props like tractor tire inner tubes and paint cans. Tickets.
Friday, Oct. 18: Haunted Museum After Dark at Carnegie Museum of Natural History
6-10 p.m.
Slip into a creative costume to explore fantastical specimens and lurk inside the museum’s haunted halls after hours during this 21+ Halloween party. Watch the Pittsburgh Pumpkin Guy carve jack-o’-lanterns, sip Vampire Kiss cocktails and make a Halloween mosaic. Take a virtual ghost tour with Haunted Pittsburgh, mix up 1990s-themed mocktails and explore mollusks, insects and invertebrate paleontology. Tickets.
Saturday, Oct. 19: Sistas Who Pickleball at The Pickleball Warehouse
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Don’t know a dink from a cookie? Sistas Who Pickleball — whose mission is “to corral Black/African-American women in the Pittsburgh area interested in playing pickleball and building a community” is here to help. During this beginner-level clinic, an experienced instructor will guide participants through the basics of pickleball, from rules and techniques to strategy and gameplay. Refreshments will be provided so that attendees can also spend some time getting to know each other off the court. Tickets.
Saturday, Oct. 19: Women & Non-Binary Bike Summit at Hosanna House
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
This community cycling summit rolls into a new location in Wilkinsburg. The goal? To empower trans and cis women, non-binary, genderqueer, agender and gender variant people of all ages and abilities to feel comfortable and confident riding bikes around the Burgh. Produced by Bike PGH, the day features a well-rounded mix of workshops, presentations, activities and community discussion sessions focused on building a connected and inclusive cycling community. Keynote speaker is Paralympic Games cyclist Josie Fouts. Tickets.
Saturday, Oct. 19, & Sunday, Oct. 20: Spooktacular Weekend at SouthSide Works
5-9 p.m. & 12-4:30 p.m.
A spooky weekend of free activities awaits as SouthSide Works transforms into an all-ages Halloween HQ. On Oct. 19, the first-ever Neighborhood Flea Night Market presents 70 local makers while the Women Who Rock Pop-Up Shop hosts a GHOULS Night Out event with DJ Madame Trio and pumpkin bedazzling activities. Return on Sunday for Howl-o-ween at the South Side Dog Park and Levity Brewing trailer. Sunday’s fun also includes the Great (Pink) Pumpkin Patch, music by Grace Campbell, a Little Kids Disco dance party and a Halloween pop-up bar. Information.
Saturday, Oct. 19: BOOM Concepts Legacy Gala at The Maverick Hotel
5-11 p.m.
Help BOOM Concepts welcome its next catalytic decade at this intimate evening gala in East Liberty. Emceed by Pittsburgh comedian and “Drinking Partners” co-host Ed Bailey, the night illuminates BOOM’s role within Pittsburgh’s arts ecosystem. Gala-goers will be treated to a cocktail hour and dinner by Roxanne’s Catering followed by special musical guests and a dance party. Tickets.
Saturday, Oct. 19: Three Stooges Festival at the Harris Theater
7 p.m.
Calling all Moe, Larry, Curly — and let’s not leave out Shemp — fanatics to the Cultural District. Find out if the beloved Three Stooges will ever find true love during this mini-fest showcasing six short films spanning 1939-1957. Adding to this year’s “Stooges In Love” theme will be trivia, audience polls and prizes. More great news? Kids 12 and younger are admitted free. Tickets.
Saturday, Oct. 19: Hellbender Ball at Thunderbird Café & Music Hall
7:30-11:30 p.m.
Named for Pennsylvania’s state amphibian — aka the Eastern Hellbender salamander — WYEP’s annual Halloween showcase features Pittsburgh bands covering music by their favorite musicians. This year’s lineup includes: Clinton Clegg as Joe Cocker, Surefire as No Doubt, Orange Music as OutKast, Zinnia’s Garden as Fleetwood Mac and Boy Wonders as R.E.M. Tickets.
Saturday, Oct. 19: SpaceBurgh in Market Square
12-8 p.m.
Pittsburgh’s newest festival is set to launch as a celebration of our region’s pivotal role in space exploration and science. Experiment with robotics demonstrations, interactive displays and cool experiments, explore sci-fi phenomena through cosplay, comics and light saber battles and savor space-age refreshments. Information.
Saturday, Oct. 19: In Dead By Ten at This is Red
5-10 p.m.
You won’t turn into a pumpkin after this event! Dance your way into the spookiest season — and be home in time to finish your favorite show — when Pittsburgh’s favorite early-bird dance party teams up with Hidden Harbor to offer sinister spirits, ghoulish tunes, costume contests and a Scream-o-Rama video collection. Tickets.
Saturday, Oct. 19: Live Benefit Auction at Silver Eye Center for Photography
5:30-8 p.m.
The best place to jumpstart your own photography collection, Silver’s Eye’s most important annual event showcases 65 pieces hosted by auctioneer Alison Brand Oehler of Concept Art Gallery. Spanning a range of mediums, the auction represents prolific and creative artists working in photography today. Sale prices typically to range from $500 to $1,500. Tickets.
Saturday, Oct. 19 & Sunday, Oct. 20: Monster Pumpkins Festival at the Stacks at 3 Crossings
10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where can you play tug-o-war with a 1,500-pound gourd, compete in pie-eating contests and hop on a horse-drawn carriage ride in the the Strip District? This signature Fall Festival Fantasia has all the pumpkin fun you can imagine — and it’s all free. Pumpkins carvers will work their magic in a 30-foot-long courtyard of sculptors and graffiti muralists. Information.
Saturday, Oct. 19: Corningworks 15th Anniversary Celebration at Carnegie Stage
7-11 p.m.
Ever wonder how a dance production is created? Go behind the curtain to get a rare glimpse of the artistic process with Corningworks. Dubbed “A (not so) Quiet Evening” with company founder Beth Corning, the cabaret-style event highlights 15 years of Corningworks productions via props, costumes, videos and more. The evening kicks off with a dinner crafted by top Pittsburgh chefs. The next course serves up an exclusive performance of solos drawn from 24 original productions. Tickets.
Find more things to do in Pittsburgh, including family activities, fall festivals, outdoor recreation and more.
Jennifer has worked at the Mattress Factory, Brooklyn Museum of Art and SLB Radio Productions. She is co-author of the award-winning book, "Pittsburgh Signs Project: 250 Signs of Western Pennsylvania." For 15-plus years, she was co-coordinator and marketing director with Handmade Arcade, Pittsburgh's first and largest independent craft fair. She makes music as The Garment District and is a founding member of Brooklyn's The Ladybug Transistor.
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