7 Things to Do in September
Head to the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, A Fair in the Park or Phantom Fall Fest.
PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK
1.
The 16th Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival returns Sept. 17-20 for a weekend of free, family-friendly fun. Themed “Our America250” in honor of the nation’s semiquincentennial, the event explores how jazz, blues, rock, soul, gospel, hip hop and jazz-adjacent musical styles have shaped American culture and global trends.
On Thursday, the event’s signature Jazz Train leaves a New York City station and “jams on the rails” with Orrin Evans and company all the way to Pittsburgh.
Attendees will also get a chance to hear local legends at Friday’s Jazz Crawl while a street party to celebrate the genre takes place Saturday and Sunday.
Sept. 17-20 | Downtown | pittsburghjazzfest.org
PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK
2.
Nothing says fall more than football — and adding savory ribs makes the season even better.
That’s the idea behind the annual Kickoff and Rib Festival. The event highlights local and national chefs smoking all styles of ribs throughout Acrisure Stadium. A midway along Art Rooney Avenue will be filled with rib vendors, festival foods and beverages, games and rides.
The FedEx Great Hall will also be open for fans to view the team’s Super Bowl trophies, Hall of Fame Museum, Steelers memorabilia and the Terrible Towel Wall.
Sept. 3-7 | Acrisure Stadium | acrisurestadium.com/ribfest/
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PITTSBURGH IRISH FESTIVAL | LÚNASA IS PUT ON BY THE IRISH PARTNERSHIP OF PITTSBURGH, WHICH ALSO HOSTS THE IRISH FESTIVAL EACH YEAR
3.
The luck of the Irish will be on full display at the annual Pittsburgh Irish Festival.
Always held the weekend after Labor Day, this year’s event takes place at Carrie Blast Furnaces and features a robust lineup of food and drink vendors, artists, musicians and other activities, including Irish trivia and a hands-on floral arrangement workshop with Essers Floral in the Five Farms Celtic Kitchen. If you’re feeling really lucky, you can even enter a raffle to win a trip to the Emerald Isle itself.
Sept. 11-13 | Carrie Blast Furnaces | pghirishfest.org
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CRAFTSMEN’S GUILD OF PITTSBURGH/A FAIR IN THE PARK
4.
Now in its 57th year, A Fair in the Park, sponsored by the Craftsmen’s Guild of Pittsburgh, returns to Mellon Park.
From live demonstrations by Woodturners Anonymous to a marketplace of locally made art, the event leans into themes of community, curiosity and creativity. When spoken aloud, A Fair in the Park can be interpreted as an “affair in the park,” creating a mysterious allure that the original show organizers hope to capitalize on.
Sept. 11-13 | Mellon Park | craftsmensguild.org/a-fair-in-the-park/
PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER
5.
Summer may be coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean you’ve missed your chance to spend time at Kennywood Park. Starting Sept. 12, Phantom Fall Fest returns, bringing Halloween vibes to the local landmark. Come early for family-friendly fun, including rides, festive food and a colorful autumn atmosphere.
When the sun goes down, the Phantom takes screams to the extreme with haunted houses and numerous scare zones.
Sept. 12-Nov. 1 | Kennywood Park | kennywood.com
PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK
6.
Grab your camera and head to Carrie Blast Furnaces for a Sunset Photo Safari. Offered only a few times per year, the event allows new photographers and those with prior low-light photography experience to see the historic site through a unique lens.
According to Rivers of Steel, attendees can expect an open shooting experience with very little interruption, guidance or interference as the industrial remnants serve as a muse
for dramatic photos. Tickets are $40, reserved in advance.
Sept. 17 | Carrie Blast Furnaces | riversofsteel.com/event/
PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK
7.
Stormy Oaks Nature Conservancy celebrates wildlife education and rehabilitation with Fall Migration Festival. Held at the conservancy in Valencia, the fundraiser invites attendees of all ages to spend time outdoors
and enjoy savory bites while learning about different aspects of the region’s wildlife.
Keynote speaker Kimberly Vensel will teach about butterflies; there will also be educational booths about bats, native plants and more.
Sept. 20 | Stormy Oaks Nature Conservancy | wildbirdrecovery.org/fall-migration-festival/
