1. Festivals- Joe and I are a big fan of obscure (and not so obscure) festivals. Thankfully, Pittsburgh has a TON. There are community festivals, Greek food festivals, ethnicity festivals (today is the Black Reunion festival and in a couple of weeks is the Irish festival). Truly, the list goes on and on. Next one up? The Three Rivers Storytelling Festival! For festivals near and far for every holiday, check out this calendar of events: Community Festivals. Mind you, not EVERY festival on their list is free, but more of the community ones are.
2. Concerts- last night we enjoyed the second to last First Fridays at the Frick concert series (last night was bluegrass and country). There's one more in September that allows you to bring your food (and for those wanting, your wine) and lay out on the Frick's grounds with friends listening to good tunes. Also one of the few things I love about summer is the multitude of places having free summer concert series. From jazz to bluegrass to opera, you can truly find it all. For a few still going on, check out these sites: Allegheny County Summer Concert Series, First Fridays at the Frick, and Lunchtime Music at Schenley Plaza (this one goes til October!).
3. Our Local Library- I am of the opinion that people forget about these hidden gems of entertainment. Not only do they have books, but they have storytime, craft events, movies, and book clubs for adults too! And for those not wanting entertainment, they have access to free genealogical archives, tax help, and so much more! And all for the low low price of free. This applies not just to Pittsburgh, but to every city. Go. Check out your local library. For Pittsburgh, you can go here to find your nearest one: Carnegie Library
4. Mt. Washington- So far I haven't visited it at night like your supposed to, but I have during the day. Let me say. Gorgeous. You haven't seen Pittsburgh until you check this out ANY time of day. This place was voted in the top 10 of sites to see in the USA for cityscapes by USA Today. That's how good it is! For more info, go here: Duquesne Incline (the Incline DOES cost (max. of $4.50 for an adult and $2.20 for a child), but you don't have to ride it to see the view).
5. Farmer's Markets- I always list these because I think they are a fun way to get a "taste" of your community. Everyone is out, there's normally music, and you can talk to the sellers and get to know their story. For a list of who's got them and what days, go here: Pittsburgh Farmer's Markets
6. The Roving Art Cart- Granted, we only have about a week and a half left of this. But it's worth checking out! Free art for the kiddos (recommended ages 5-12) in the areas where its "roving". For where to find it this Tuesday or Thursday, click here: Roving Art Cart
7. Museums- it hurt my heart to say, I've only found one so far in Pittsburgh that's free to check out. The Frick family was once a high-end family in Pittsburgh with Mr. Henry Clay Frick became a millionaire before the age of 30 working with the coal industry. His home and its grounds shows it. While the house, Clayton, is NOT free to see, the small art museum of Frick and his daughter Helen's collection, the car and carriage museum, and the art & historical center are good to go! Check out The Frick for more info.
8. Allegheny Observatory-despite few museums being free, the observatory IS free! There are 2 tours offered- one on Thursday (offered May to August) and one on Friday (offered April 1st til November 1st). From 8pm until 10pm on a clear night, you can get a tour of the observatory and end in their 13 foot refractor telescope for your viewing delight! For more on this and how to reserve your spot (you need a reservation it seems, but its still free to do), go here: Allegheny Observatory
9. Kids Days at Schenley Plaza- Free carousel rides, puppets, face painting, and much much more! There are only a few more of these left (August 28 and September 18), so get to them! For more info, head here: Kids Days
10. Walking Tours- not that I saved the best for last, but I think it's pretty cool. Get a better grip on the city's history, how's its built up, what its been through by hearing it from its architecture. The Pittsburgh History and Landmark Foundation offers a free guided one here (reservations are required!) This month is viewing Fourth Avenue and the PPG building, and each month has its own tour up until October. But if you're more of a loner, and just want to walk around, download one of these from the Robert Morris University to your phone, ipod, or mp3 player and see the city at your own pace (this one comes in 10 different languages!).
Well.. there is more actually, but my brain is turning to mud from staring at the computer and not checking out all these cool places. For more on free things (or cheap things) to do in Pittsburgh, PA, check out these websites for a little help:
Nice list!
ReplyDelete