How to Celebrate Father's Day in the 'Burgh

Want this Father’s Day to be a special one? These local events will make his day one he won’t forget.
Gabriella DiPietro,


photo courtesy kennywood park

 

There are a wide variety of events in Pittsburgh this Father’s Day, which means lots of options to please just about any dad. Whether he’s the outdoorsy guy, artistic type or a full-fledged nerd, taking him to one of these activities is a surefire way to make you your dad’s favorite.

Dads can enjoy some perks such as free admission to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium when accompanied by their child. Sandcastle Waterpark also grants fathers free admission, in addition to its annual Father’s Day Flop competition.

Who doesn’t love a good meal? This Father’s Day weekend, families are invited to come eat, drink and enjoy each other’s company at these locations and more:

  • BBQ Brunch at the National Aviary: Enjoy your meal among the birds! Reservations required.
     
  • Bluegrass Brunch: Visit the Chatham University campus for an all-you-can-eat menu and performance from the Allegheny Drifters.
     
  • Brunch or Dinner Cruise with Gateway Clipper: Dine on the water and see the sights of Pittsburgh. Reservations required.
     
  • Cereal with Dad at Klavon’s Ice Cream Parlor: Take a moment to have breakfast with your kids at Klavon’s, which is serving FREE cereal to kids, dads, caretakers and role models.
     
  • Donuts with Dad at the Pittsburgh Zoo: Breakfast buffet, activities and entertainment before heading out to explore the Zoo. Sponsored by Dunkin’. Registration required.
     
  • Threadbare Cider House: Enjoy a Father’s Day Brunch with pizza and barrel-aged cider. Family friendly! They even give tours, such as Stair Stepping and Cider Sipping, where you can explore Spring Garden and Troy Hill’s famous steps, finishing at the Cider House for a tasting! Reservations required.
     
  • Wigle Whiskey: Attend the Father’s Day Pig Roast, complete with a buffet and live music. Or, try an Old Fashioned and a flight at Wigle Whiskey’s Old Fashioned with Your Old Man. Tickets required for both events.
     


 

If dad loves all things sports-related, take him to play some football at Pittsburgh NFL League’s Father’s Day Flag Football Game in Penn Hills. It’s free for all ages! Or, if he’s more into golf, head over to TopGolf Pittsburgh or a local driving range.

More of a car guy? Pittsburgh holds a multitude of car shows for Father’s Day, such as the Steel City Xpo 2019, held at the Monroeville Convention Center. Another popular event is the Spring Car Show at the Southside Works. This rain or shine event features not only cars, but food trucks, vendors, a DJ and dancing. Plus, admission is free. Other local car shows include those in Aliquippa, Cranberry Twp., Greensburg, Irwin, Oakmont, Penn Hills, Robinson Twp. and the South Hills. For a full list of car shows, visit the CarCruises website. There is also a Father’s Day Car Cruise at Hartwood Acres Park, followed by a performance by Pure Gold, for the Allegheny County Summer Concert Series.

Maybe your dad is more into the arts scene. If that’s the case, head downtown to catch the final few days of the Three Rivers Arts Festival to see various concerts, performance art, visual art and more. For a full schedule of events, click here. Or, go to the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh to make a Voice Print, featuring a waveform depicting the unique sound of your voice, to decorate and take home for dad or grandpa.

For those nerdy dads, fear not. Kennywood Park is hosting a Comic-Con for Father’s Day, where he can meet characters, interact with comic book creators and browse a collection of merchandise, in addition to experiencing Kennywood’s famous rides and treats. Tickets are only $27 when wearing a superhero or comic-themed T-shirt. Does he prefer something a little scarier? Head to the Monroeville Mall for the Living Dead Weekend, where this zombie-filled experience celebrates the two movies filmed in Monroeville: Dawn of the Dead and Creepshow.

There are also a number of shows being performed, which your music-loving dad will certainly appreciate:

Father’s Day is a time to celebrate the dads, and with all these activities to choose from, the celebration sure will be great!

This article appears in the June 2019 issue of The 412.
Categories: The 412