June 18, 2025 RAD Pass Offering Thousands of Free Admissions to Pittsburgh’s Top Attractions A number of Pittsburgh’s top attractions are offering tens of thousands of free admissions through August 31 for those who have an Allegheny County library card and a Regional Asset District (RAD) Pass reservation. Learn More RAD Summer Staycation reservation spots will be added regularly through August. Users are asked to read offers carefully, as some attractions offer two- or four-packs for admission. Currently, attractions making offers of free visits on the RAD Pass website include: The Andy Warhol Museum Carnegie Museum of Art Carnegie Museum of Natural History Carnegie Science Center Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh The Frick Pittsburgh Mattress Factory National Aviary Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium In the coming months, the following institutions will make offers: Heinz History Center Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens Pittsburgh Botanic Garden Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum Booking Tickets To book tickets for RAD Summer Staycation admissions, visit the RAD Pass website. Then, users should log in with their Allegheny County library card and PIN and browse for passes by date or venue. Once a pass is reserved, it should be printed or downloaded to a mobile device. Participants are asked to only book a reservation that they plan to use on the selected date. They should also cancel their reservation to open up spots for others if they find out they cannot attend on a day they reserved. For more information, visit the RAD Pass website.
April 21, 2025 RAD Staycation to Provide Free Trips to Popular Pittsburgh Attractions RAD Summer Staycation will provide free admission to library-card holders at numerous popular attractions in Pittsburgh this summer. Learn More Last summer, the Regional Asset District (RAD) provided more than 53,000 free-of-charge visits to a variety of popular cultural institutions in Pittsburgh. Among those where free admission will be available in 2025 include: Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium Carnegie Museum of Art Carnegie Museum of Natural History Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh Carnegie Science Center National Aviary Heinz History Center Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens The Frick Pittsburgh Mattress Factory Pittsburgh Botanic Garden Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum The Andy Warhol Museum Free admission offers for library-card holders have begun to appear on the RAD Pass’ website. Others will begin to post their offers in May and June. RAD Pass users are encouraged to check back for new opportunities – especially on Mondays and Tuesdays. RAD Summer Staycation reservation spots will be added regularly through August. Users are asked to read offers carefully as some attractions offer two- or four-packs for admission. To book tickets, RAD Pass users should log in to RADPass.org with their Allegheny County library card number and PIN and browse for passes by date or name. They should reserve their pass and then print it or download it to their mobile device. More information can be found on the RAD Pass website.
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.
