All The Winter Events You Need to Know About in Pittsburgh for the Best Season Ever
The Kidsburgh lineup of winter events features plenty of fun family activities to enjoy all season long.
Prepare for the revolution of the “Hamilton” national tour.
Jan. 1-27: “Hamilton,” Benedum Center. The story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary.
Jan. 5: “Destination Moon Family Day: All Things Armstrong,” Heinz History Center. Join in Destination Moon-themed activities throughout the museum, explore space in a mobile planetarium, and learn about Neil Armstrong and life in zero-G with experts from the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta, Ohio.
Jan. 5: “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live! King for a Day,” Byham Theater. Daniel invites the audience on an interactive musical adventure as he and his friends explore their much-loved Neighborhood of Make-Believe.
Jan. 6: Erin Entrada Kelly, Carnegie Library Lecture Hall, Oakland. Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures’ Words and Pictures series presents the Newberry Award-winning author of “Hello, Universe” and “The Land of Forgotten Girls.”
The Tammy Sauer storybook comes alive onstage in “Your Alien.”
Jan. 6-14: “Your Alien,” Byham Theater on Jan. 13-14 and other school performances. Your Alien touches down with a stranded alien who strikes up a fabulous friendship with a boy who finds him.
Jan. 9: “Hop into History: Destination Moon Splashdown,” Heinz History Center. Hop into a fun exploration of the past as kids play and explore together in this hands-on session designed for 2- to 5-year-olds and their caregivers.
Jan. 11-13: “Paw Patrol Live, the Great Pirate Adventure,” PPG Paints Arena, downtown. The popular pups from the animated series embark on a pirate-themed adventure to uncover hidden treasure.
How did pioneers get through the winter without cable TV or WiFi? Find out at Pioneer Games and Stories.
Jan. 12: Pioneer Games and Stories, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. During the long winters, pioneer families passed the time with games and stories. Visit a historic log house to play games and hear stories from a bygone era. Suitable for families with ages 5 and older.
Jan. 12: Second Saturday Studios, The Frick Pittsburgh. Collecting: Create, collect and exchange one-of-a-kind artist trading cards.
Jan. 12-13: Locomotion Weekend, Carnegie Science Center. Explore a rail yard full of guest train displays owned and operated by local hobbyists. Bring your own model trains for a free checkup at the “Loco Doctor” table, which includes basic repairs, cleaning, and oiling; experience the Miniature Railroad and Village.
Jan. 16-20: Cirque du Soleil: Corteo, PPG Pains Arena. Corteo, which means cortege in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown. Expect a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity.
How do they do that? “Moon Shot” players reenact the Apollo 11 moon landing is a tiny space the size of a Mercury capsule.
Jan. 18-19: “Moon Shot,” Byham Theater. Theatre Unspeakable recreates the story of America’s Apollo 11 lunar landing, seven actors squeeze onto a 21-square feet stage nearly as tight as NASA’s original Mercury capsules.
Jan. 19-Feb. 24: “Where Do We Sit on the Bus?,” City Theatre. A hip-hop autobiography about the power of family and growing up Latinx in a world that categorizes everyone in black and white. Best for middle school age and older.
Jan. 19-Feb. 3: “Peter Pan,” Gemini Children’s Theater. Neverland is a place of imagination, mystery and adventure in this classic adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s “Peter and Wendy.”
Jan. 21: “Let Freedom Sing,” Byham Theater. A musical celebration of Martin Luther King presented by the Heritage Gospel Chorale.
Jan. 23 and 31: Owl Prowl, National Aviary. Join National Aviary ornithologist, Bob Mulvihill for a guided, after-dark nature walk to look and listen for owls in our local parks.
Jan. 26: SnowFest, Boyce Park Ski Slopes. A day of winter fun for the whole family. Skiers and non-skiers will enjoy indoor and outdoor games and activities.
Kids with big dreams can get a fun workout at NFL PLAY 60 Training Camp at Heinz History Center.
Jan. 26: “NFL PLAY 60 Training Camp,” Heinz History Center. Get off the couch and get active at this year’s PLAY 60 training camp. Enjoy a mini NFL combine, meet local professional athletes, join in drills with local coaches, and explore the History Center and Sports Museum during this day of football fun.
Kids explore crazy tunnels made from miles and miles of tape in “TapeScape 3.0” at the Children’s Museum. Photo by Renee Rosensteel.
Jan. 26-May 12: “TapeScape 3.0,” Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. Play exhibit and art installation designed by Eric Lennartson uses more than 50 miles of tape stretched over two-story steel frames to create twisting tunnels and curving walls for kids to crawl through and explore.
Jan. 26, 27: Party with the Penguins, National Aviary. See a colony of penguins up close, make penguin-themed crafts, enjoy fun, educational activities and find out what you can do to help save penguins and other seabirds.
Jan. 29-Feb. 3: “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” Benedum Center. Roald Dahl’s amazing tale is the perfect recipe for a delectable musical treat.
Kids will craft Valentines with botanical themes at Pittsburgh Botanical Garden.
FEBRUARY
Feb. 2: Botanical Valentine Cards, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. Love is in the air, create a botanically themed Valentines card and show someone you love them. Suitable for families with kids ages 5 and older.
Feb. 2: “Peg + Cat Live,” Byham Theater. Based on the PBS Kids show, this musical features wild comedy and countless favorite songs.
Feb. 8-10: Monster Jam Triple Threat, PPG Paints Arena. Catch monster truck favorites Blue Thunder, El Toro Loco and Soldier Fortune in a roaring competition.
Kids of all ages bring their creativity to the Frick Pittsburgh for the monthly Second Saturday Studios.
Feb. 9: Second Saturday Studios, The Frick Pittsburgh. Paint: Brushes, cotton swabs, and Popsicle sticks. Find creative ways to paint something one of a kind.
Feb. 9-10: “American Girl Live,” Byham Theater. When girls head to sleepaway camp, American Girl characters lend a hand through story and song.
Feb. 9: “Destination Moon Family Day: Women in Space,” Heinz History Center. Special activities will include a special performance of Pittsburgh CLO’s “Beyond the Moon,” a celebration of Neil Armstrong’s history-making moonwalk featuring a 16-year-old girl with “astronaut-ical” dreams of being the first person to set foot on Mars.
“The Case of R.G.B. vs. Inequality” is a recent title by children’s author Jonah Winter.
Feb 10: Jonah Winter, Library Lecture Hall, Oakland. Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures’ Words and Pictures series presents the award-winning author of more than 30 nonfiction, children’s picture books that promote social justice and artistic expression.
Feb. 13: “Hop into History: Cooking Up History – Mid-Century Treats,” Heinz History Center. Step back in time into a 1950s kitchen to cook recipes from that era. Hop into a fun exploration of the past in this hands-on session designed for 2-5-year-olds and their caregivers.
Feb. 16-Sept. 2: “Da Vinci the Exhibition,” Carnegie Science Center. Explore the complex beginnings and lifetime achievements of Leonardo da Vinci, interact with Leonardo da Vinci’s machines, explore his world-renowned paintings, and discover his innovations in flight, hydraulics and music.
Last chance! Be sure to visit “Destination Moon” one more time before the exhibit moves out of Pittsburgh.
Feb. 16-17: Final weekend of “Destination Moon”, Heinz History Center. Help send off the Destination Moon in style and take a look at the future of spaceflight and interstellar exploration during the exhibition’s final weekend at the History Center.
Feb. 17-24: “Flight School the Musical,” multiple locations. On the first day of Flight School, where birds learn to fly, Penguin is ready to take flight, but there are some technical issues. Based on the best-selling book by Lita Judge.
Feb. 22-23: Engineer the Future, Carnegie Science Center. Coinciding with National Engineers Week, celebrate the science of engineering and our region’s achievements in architecture, building and construction. Enjoy activities designed to inspire young people to explore engineering.
Feb. 23: Fiddlesticks: Art All Around Us, Heinz Hall. Highlights the collaboration of music, art, movement and design. Recommended for ages 3-8 years.
Pull out the tropical shirts and enjoy the heat at the National Aviary’s Flamingo Fest.
Feb. 23-24: Flamingo Fest, National Aviary. See flamingos up close and enjoy games, fun crafts, a story time and other fun flamingo activities as you learn what you can do to help protect flamingos and other wetlands species.
Feb. 24: International Polar Bear Day, Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. See polar bears receive special treats and learn about all the ways to help make a difference for polar bears who live in the wild.
Favorite Disney character lace up their skates for “Disney On Ice: Mickey’s Search Party.”
Feb. 28-March 3: Disney On Ice presents Mickey’s Search Party, PPG Paints Arena.
MARCH
March 2-3: Cirque Mechanic, Byham Theater. A “Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels” is the latest invention from the creative minds of Cirque Mechanics.
March 3: Jennifer L. Holm, Library Lecture Hall, Oakland. Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures’ Words and Pictures series presents the three-time Newberry Medalist and author of the hilarious “The Third Mushroom.”
Get your green on at the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
March 16: St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Downtown. The 149th annual parade begins at 10 a.m., sun, rain or snow.
March 29-30: “Leo,” Byham Theater. This surprisingly touching theater work challenges the senses and tests perceptions of reality through the interplay of live performance and high-tech video projection.
March 31-April 7: “Rosie Revere, Engineer,” multiple locations. This fun, new musical spotlights STEM learning and out-of-the-box thinkers, based on author Andrea Beaty’s series of books.
And for even more fun stuff happening around town, be sure to check the Kidsburgh events listings for new listings.
Sponsored content is created and paid for by the marketer.
