6 NFL Draft Events You Don’t Want to Miss

It would be an understatement to say there’s a lot going on in the city during Draft weekend. 

From checking out a pop-up candle-making experience to sipping Wigle Whiskey’s new Draft-themed ready-to-drink cocktail, there is bound to be something for every fan. 

Here’s a preview of a handful of the events taking place in or around the Draft’s footprint on the North Shore.

Rebels & Rye: The Whiskey That Shaped Pittsburgh | April 21-25

This pop-up whiskey activation hosted by the Industrialist Hotel will honor the historical Whiskey Rebellion throughout Draft week. Each day from noon to 11 p.m., the hotel’s second-floor lounge will host local distilleries that are recreating the Old Monongahela Rye and offer a specialty Pennsylvania whiskey cocktail menu with creations from a variety of local mixologists. 

Each participating distillery will have a pop-up shop with merch and beverageware, in addition to whiskey tasting flights. Downstairs, The Rebel Room will offer a themed small bite pairing menu alongside tasting flights. 

With one television in the lounge and two in The Rebel Room, guests can keep tabs on the draft while enjoying an authentic Pittsburgh whiskey experience, hotel officials say. 

To top it all off, a Carnegie Mellon University professor will be in attendance educating guests on Western Pennsylvania history.

Taste of the Draft | April 20

From 4  to 7 p.m. on April 22, celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern and more than 20 local chefs will celebrate the best of Pittsburgh’s culinary heritage and diversity. Guests will also be able to mingle with Pittsburgh Steelers legends new and old, including Maurkice Pouncey, Larry Brown, Louis Lipps, Willie Parker, Will Howard, Carson Bruener, Spencer Anderson and Jack Sawyer. 

The event will also make a philanthropic impact across 91 Pennsylvania schools; through grants focused on at-risk communities, the initiative will expand access to 13.5 million school meals and distribute NFL FLAG-In-School kits to more than 50,000 students.

There will be live entertainment, a silent auction and “many surprise-and-delight moments” throughout the evening, including footballs and gift bags for all guests. This is a 21+ event.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Taste of NFL Website here.

PicksBURGH Music Crawl | April 22

The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership will host the Picksburgh Music Crawl on April 22, the day before the Draft official kicks off. 

Starting in the newly renovated Market Square, the crawl will wind through a range of local businesses across the city, all of which will host a new genre of music: take in some R&B, funk and jazz at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center; pop and rock at the Original Pittsburgh Winery; reggae at Club Cafe; punk at the Government Center; and a banjo blitz at the Elk’s Club on the North Side. 

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. 

For a full list of venues and acts, check out VisitPITTSBURGH’s website.

Steeler’s County Fan Experience | April 23-25

The “official fan destination” for Draft goers will feature a wide range of activities at Point State Park, including a Steelers-themed pop-up bar with beverages paying homage to the numerous Steelers bars around the world; a 1970s-inspired “immersive fan cave,” which recreates the look and feel of a classic Pittsburgh basement; and a display featuring large-scale replicas of the team’s six Super Bowl rings.

There will also be an art piece inspired by the famed Terrible Towel, yard games and the opportunity to participate in Q&A sessions with previous and current players.

A Lombardi Trophy exhibit will also be on view across from Steelers Country at Point State Park.

A formal ribbon cutting ceremony for Steelers Country will be held on April 22. Officials note that hours are subject to change, but plan for the space to be open Thursday, April 23 and Friday, April 24 from noon to 10 p.m. and Saturday, April 25 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Pitt Block Party x Arts Landing | April 23-25

Pitt Athletics, in partnership with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, will host a three-day celebration to welcome Pitt fans, football lovers and the entire community for the first major event at Arts Landing. The Cultural Trust’s soon-to-debut four-acre civic space will host an experiential Pitt Football museum and interactive Draft showcase; live music and entertainment; food trucks, beverages and local vendors; and an activity zone.

For a full schedule of block party events, check out the Cultural Trust’s website.

Topps Collector Celebration Day | April 25 

This free event at Acrisure Stadium aims to bring together Topps card collectors of all ages to celebrate the hobby on day three of the 2026 NFL Draft. Taking place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., it marks Topps’ official return to football trading cards. 

It will feature live stage programming, including community “pack rips” and “Pack Wars” from Fanatics Live, as well as giveaways, retail experiences and communal card trading events. There will also be a dedicated Youth Collector Zone, which will offer hands-on activities and educational resources for new fans.

The first 1,000 attendees will receive a free pack of Topps Chrome Football, along with additional prices such as hobby boxes, signed memorabilia, NFL gear and exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at the Draft experience. 

You can RSVP for the event here.

PicksBURGH Draft Day 5K | April 25

Visitors and locals alike can run or walk 3.1 miles through the North Shore and Downtown as part of the PicksBURGH Draft Day 5K, hosted by P3R. The course will begin on the North Shore near PNC park, cross the 16th Street Bridge, continue to Downtown Pittsburgh along Penn Avenue and finish near the entrance to Point State Park. After crossing the finish line, participants will be just steps away from the official NFL Fan Experience hub at the Point.

All participants will receive an exclusive PicksBURGH Draft Day 5K shirt and a finisher medal. You can register now via Race Roster.