January 30, 2025 Pittsburgh Offers Black History Month Activities for Children While activities for adults to celebrate Black History Month can include everything from commemorative to cultural events, there are also a wide variety of activities for children that incorporate play, arts, and learning. Events The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh will offer its second annual Black History Month Art Crawl from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 1. Contemporary artists will be stationed throughout the museum’s first floor who will create live portraits and artworks honoring Pittsburgh’s Black heroes. This year’s featured subjects will include Pittsburgh’s Freedom Corner, Kuntu Repertory Theater Founder Dr. Vernell Lillie, baseball player Josh Gibson (of the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords), civil rights activist and performer Lena Horne, and many others. The Carnegie Science Center will host several Black History Month-themed events, including a Story Time Under the Stars during which children can learn about Black STEM professionals while listening to science-themed stories under a starry sky. Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures will host “Words & Pictures” featuring author Kelly Starling Lyons. Her latest book celebrates the 120th anniversary of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” also known as the Black National Anthem, and how it inspired five generations of a family. The talk will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, January 30 at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Main branch in Oakland. The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Knoxville branch will host Kids Club: Taking Flight – African Americans in Aviation for children in kindergarten through fifth grade on Wednesday, February 5. The event will focus on three history makers: Bessie Coleman, David E. Harris, and Guion Bluford, all three of whom played a significant role in aviation and aerospace history. The Carnegie Library has also put together a list of Teen Books for Black History Month 2025. The list includes everything from nonfiction to novels that fit in with the Black History Month theme. The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, located on Main Street in Greensburg, will host a Black History Month Celebration on Sunday, February 9. The event will include art-making activities and performances honoring the month’s theme.
August 13, 2024 Carnegie Science Center: Kamin Family Free Day The Carnegie Science Center will host a Kamin Family Free Day on Sept. 1. Learn More Visitors can celebrate the end of summer with free general admission at the center, courtesy of Dan and Carole Kamin. There will be four floors of interactive exhibits as well as hands-on, outdoor activities for MessFest. Visitors can: Create giant bubbles Go head-to-head in a pie eating contest Make a splash at the super science dunk tank Soak friends with eco-friendly water balloons Dance to beats provided by local DJs The event runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 1. For more information, visit the science center’s website.
Carnegie Science Center to Host Free Programs for North Side Families This Fall The Carnegie Science Center is hosting one free program per month for North Side families this fall. Learn More The programs are aimed at families with children between the ages of 3 and 5. Each event will include a snack and free premium memberships will be given to North Side residents with early learners while supplies last. On Saturday, Sept. 21, “Ready for Blastoff” will teach attendees how astronauts get ready for their trips to space, what they pack for their journey, and how to make a space helmet. “Creepy Crawly,” which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 12, will investigate insect parts and behavior through song and dance. Attendees will make bug antennae to take home. On Saturday, Nov. 9, “Incoming Landing” will enable participants to build a Mars rover to take home. Children will also learn about the importance of engineering design and teamwork in space exploration. “Bubble Science,” which will be held on Saturday, Dec.14, children will explore the “S” in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) through the creation of amazing bubbles via bubble blowers. Each class will run from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Register Each program has limited capacity, so those interested should register in advance by calling the Carnegie Science Center at 412-237-3400 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday.
July 18, 2024 Sensory Sensitive Science Hours The Carnegie Science Center will host Sensory Sensitive Science Hours on two upcoming Sundays. Learn More Exhibit lights and sound effects are adjusted and special hands-on activities will be added to foster a safe, welcoming, and fun environment for all visitors. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a self-guided museum visit that includes sensory-friendly demos and other activities. Those interested in attending can view the museum’s Adventure Guide to prepare for their visit. No advance registration or special ticketing is required to attend Sensory Sensitive Science Hours. The hours run from 9 a.m. to noon on Sundays July 21 and Aug. 11.
Sensory Sensitive Science Hours The Carnegie Science Center will host Sensory Sensitive Science Hours on two upcoming Sundays. Learn More Exhibit lights and sound effects are adjusted and special hands-on activities will be added to foster a safe, welcoming, and fun environment for all visitors. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a self-guided museum visit that includes sensory-friendly demos and other activities. Those interested in attending can view the museum’s Adventure Guide to prepare for their visit. No advance registration or special ticketing is required to attend Sensory Sensitive Science Hours. The hours run from 9 a.m. to noon on Sundays July 21 and Aug. 11.
Pre-K Day The Carnegie Science Center will host a Pre-K Day in mid-August and is currently giving away 200 tickets for Buzzword families. Learn More The event will be held at the science center’s Little Learner Clubhouse and will include fun activities for incoming preschoolers and an accompanying grownup. The registration deadline is Aug. 7. Pre-K Day will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 14 at the science center.
July 8, 2024 Reviewing the Play for Highmark SportsWorks Highmark Sportsworks will drop by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Homewood on July 27 for a peak at a new Carnegie Science Center sports exhibition. Learn More Visitors to the library will be able to find out about – and participate in – the exhibit development process for a new, revitalized Carnegie Science Center sports exhibition. The event runs from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on July 27 at the library’s Homewood branch, located at 7101 Hamilton Ave. For more information, visit the library’s website.
May 10, 2024 Buzzword: EXPERIMENT Extravaganza Buzzword will explain its latest buzzword, EXPERIMENT, during a family-friendly event in June that will feature science experiments, hypotheses, and exploration. Learn More During the event, children from birth to age five and their caregivers will engage with each other to create meaningful moments through interactive activities. The activities are provided by Buzzword’s partners: ACH Clear Pathways, Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Festival Opera, and Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Buzzword will also collaborate with the Hill District Family Center and the Northside Family Center on the event. More Details Each family will take a BUZZ Box home with them and dinner will be provided. Registration is required to attend. The event will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 5 at ACH Clear Pathways in the Kaufman Center, located at 1825 Centre Ave. in Pittsburgh.
April 24, 2024 How to Get to Ultimate Play Day on May 18 Playful Pittsburgh will host its annual Ultimate Play Day on Saturday, May 18 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Activities Shelter in Riverview Park. There are three bus routes that can drop participants off close to the event. Learn More Ultimate Play Day is a celebration of playfulness for people of all ages. The event – co-hosted by Playful Pittsburgh, Trying Together, and Citiparks as part of Remake Learning Days – celebrates the importance of play. A number of city organizations will take part in the event – including the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Carnegie Science Center, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Fred Rogers Institute, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and many more. A complete list can be found on Ultimate Play Day’s event page. Directions Participants driving to the event and taking 279 N should avoid Milroy Street. Instead of making the first left, continue on to East Street and take Baytree Street to the park. Three bus routes will drop participants close to the event. Riders can take Bus 8 from the Northside to Riverview Park. They can pick up this bus at Cedar, East North Avenue, or Federal Street. The closest stops to the park are Perrysville and Watson or Perrysville and Cherryfield. Riders can take Bus 12 from the Northside. The closest stop to the park is East Street and Venture Street, which is about a mile walk to the event. Riders can also take Bus 15 from Downtown. More Information If you have questions, contact Adam James Zahren, Program Director for Playful Pittsburgh, at adam@tryingtogether.org. To plan a route to Ultimate Play Day, visit Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s True Time System’s website.
