News

January 14, 2026

Pittsburgh Offering Winter Events for Children and Families

The weather outside might be frightful – depending on the ever-changing Pittsburgh weather – but the city has much to offer that’s delightful in the weeks to come.

Several major winter events will take place in Pittsburgh in January and February.

Day Off at the Museum

The Carnegie Museum of Art will hold an event for young artists on Monday, January 19 – which is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – during which they will immerse themselves in art on their day off from school. 

Children, ages 6 to 10, will be able to experiment with a variety of materials, make new discoveries, and explore techniques to help them grow as artists. They will be able to find inspiration in the museum’s galleries and create original artworks through painting, printing, sculpting, and mixed media. They can also engage in playful art and sensory challenges.

The camp costs $85 and registration is required.

NFL Play 60 Training Day

The Heinz History Center will host NFL Play 60 Training Day on Saturday, January 31. Children of all ages will be able to take part in activities on each floor of the Franco Harris Sports Museum.

During the event, which is sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, children will be able to train like a pro in the mini-NFL Combine with a series of drills. They can also discover the region’s sports history and complete physical challenges throughout the museum.

Children will get in for free and it will be included in adult admission.

Science Bowl

The Carnegie Museum of Natural History will hold a Science Bowl for grades four through eight on Wednesday, February 4. 

The event will enable participants to solve puzzles, crack clues, and take on challenges. It is part scavenger hunt, part brain workout, and filled with fun activities. There is a $15 per student fee for the program.

Registration is limited to 20 students per school. Those interested in bringing additional students should email the museum closer to the event date to see if there is available space due to cancellations. 

Valentines on Ice

CitiParks’ Office of Special Events announced recently that tickets for the 20th Annual Valentines on Ice, a night of outdoor skating to celebrate Valentine’s Day, are now on sale

The event, which takes place on February 14 at the Schenley Park Ice Rink, will feature two skate sessions – a family-friendly session for all ages from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and an adults-only session from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

Attendees will be able to skate to romantic music, take part in free indoor activities, and create and take home event souvenirs, such as caricatures, selfie booth photos, chocolates, and roses.

The event will be offered at a special rate of $9 per one adult and child ticket for the first session and $12 per couple for the later session. Skate rentals are an additional $3 per person.

News

November 24, 2025

Pittsburgh Offering Sensory-Friendly Events During Holiday Season

The holidays are a magical time for many children, from the visits with family and holiday treats to an abundance of lights everywhere. For some other children, these same attributes can be stressful and cause anxiety.

Learn More

Kidsburgh recently put together a list of sensory-friendly activities and events taking place in the Pittsburgh region that are aimed at ensuring that all attendees are able to enjoy them comfortably.

The list includes:

  • Holiday Magic at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (Through Sunday, January 4) – The conservatory will offer sensory-sensitive hours through a partnership with the Autism Connection of Pennsylvania. The holiday-themed gardens include a poinsettia showcase and a Winter Light Garden.
  • Holiday Lights at Kennywood Park – The amusement park will offer a variety of accommodations for those with disabilities or special needs. The park will put up millions of lights, host a meeting with Santa Claus, and keep more than 25 rides open.
  • Santa at the Heinz History Center – The museum offers sensory-friendly accommodations, such as sensory bags and quiet spaces. All children ages 17 and below will get in for free.
  • Santa Trolley at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum – There will be a special sensory-friendly Santa Trolley on Sunday, November 30 and the museum has sensory accommodations available at every event. Attendees will be able to meet Santa Claus before taking a ride on an antique streetcar.
  • Sensory-friendly shopping hours at the Handmade Arcade Holiday Market – The market at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center runs from Friday, December 5 to Sunday, December 7. Sensory-friendly shopping hours will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, during which stimulation will be reduced for a less overwhelming shopping experience.
  • “The Nutcracker” at the Benedum Center for Performing Arts – The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre will hold a sensory-friendly performance of the holiday classic on Sunday, December 7. The performance is aimed at those with autism spectrum disorder, sensory sensitivity, or other individual needs.
  • A Very Yinzer Christmas – This performance on Saturday, December 8 at the Benedum Center for Performing Arts will feature more than 25 Pittsburgh musicians. Proceeds will benefit Band Together Pittsburgh, a local organization that creates music programs for those on the autism spectrum.
  • Sensory-friendly hours at the National Aviary – The aviary will offer a sensory-friendly version of its “Passport to Parks” presentation on Wednesday, December 10 that is designed to avoid dysregulation. It will include a sensory guide, quiet zones, and sensory tools.
  • “A Musical Christmas Carol” at the Byham Theater – This adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel is set to seasonal music and will run from Thursday, December 11 to Monday, December 22. A sensory-friendly performance will be held on Sunday, December 21 at 10 a.m.
  • Holiday Pops at Heinz Hall – The Pittsburgh Symphony, Mendelssohn Choir and guest vocalist Blaine Alden Krauss will perform during this holiday music event, which runs from Friday, December 12 to Sunday, December 21. A sensory-friendly version of the show will take place on Sunday, December 21 with tickets priced at $15.

For more information on these holiday-themed, sensory-friendly events, read the entire Kidsburgh article.

News

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.

News

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.

News

May 6, 2024

RAD Pass’ Summer Staycation to Offer Free Admissions to Area Attractions

The RAD Pass’ Summer Staycation will offer free admission opportunities to numerous area attractions this summer.

Free Admissions

Ticket offers from a number of Pittsburgh museums, cultural institutions, and other attractions will begin to appear May 1 on the RAD Pass’ website. Free admission days will begin on May 15.

During the course of RAD Summer Staycation, more than 100,000 free tickets will be available. Allegheny County residents would need to sign up for a library card and make reservations for specific events for free admission. The free admissions will continue to be announced until the end of August.

Participating attractions 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, Heinz History Center, Mattress Factory, National Aviary, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, and Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum.

More Details

Free family-four-packs of tickets will be replenished with new dates for admission throughout the summer. They can be booked and redeemed through a four-step process on the RAD Pass’ website:

  • Log in with your Allegheny County library card number and PIN
  • Browse for passes by date or venue
  • Reserve your pass
  • Print your RAD Pass or download it to your mobile device

RAD Pass users are asked to only book a reservation that they plan to use on a selected date. If they are unable to attend, they should cancel the reservation to open up spots for others.

The RAD Summer Staycation will also serve as a one-stop-shop for people to explore free events at regional attractions throughout the summer. Its RAD Works Here site will feature a calendar of events, including everything from free concerts and movies at local parks to summer festivals.

Attractions participating in RAD Summer Staycation will not host a traditional “RAD Day” this year. They will instead shift free admissions from the fall to the summer. However, RAD Days will remain focused on fan-favorite free events and experiences, including music and theater performances as well as stadium tours, arts classes, and family open houses.

For more information, visit the RAD Summer Staycation website.

News

July 13, 2023

3 For Free: Free Admission in August for Three Local Museums

The Andy Warhol Museum, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, and the Heinz History Center will be open to visitors free of charge every operating day throughout the month of August 2023.

‘3 For Free’ Campaign

The ‘3 For Free’ campaign will celebrate the museums’ recognition among the nation’s best. All three museums recently won honors from USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

Through online voting, the museums collectively ranked in top five as some of the finest museums in the country: The Warhol (fourth in Best Art Museums), Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh (second in Best Children’s Museums), and the Heinz History Center (second in Best History Museums).

Plan Your Visit

Visitors seeking free tickets during the ‘3 For Free’ month are encouraged to book online at each museum’s website. Advanced reservations are recommended, but not required.

Use the links below to secure your tickets:

This offer will be in addition to the annual free-admission RAD Days, which will begin in September.

Related Content & Resources

News

April 24, 2023

Cookie Connection – Remake Learning Days

Visit the Heinz History Center on Sunday, May 7th for “Cookie Connections” to learn how cookies have connected people for centuries.

Explore the region through past and present cookie recipes and stories, activities, and artifacts related to making and baking Pittsburgh history.

This event is for all ages. Event cost is included in museum admission.

When: Sunday, 5/7 | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Where: Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA. 15222

For more information or questions, visit the Remake Learning Days – Southwestern PA event page, or contact Roy Fischer at rmfischer@heinzhistorycenter.org.

News

December 1, 2021

Children Admitted Free to Heinz History Center

During the month of December, children aged 17 and under will receive free admission to the Heinz History Center as part of their A Very Merry Pittsburgh event. Individuals must reserve tickets in advance before attending.

About the Exhibit

The History Center’s exhibition, A Very Merry Pittsburgh, features a special section with family keepsakes, artifacts, film, and imagery that explore how Western Pennsylvanians have celebrated major winter holidays, including Christmas, Chanukah, Diwali, and Kwanzaa, through the years.

A Very Merry Pittsburgh will transport you back to the bustling holiday season in Downtown Pittsburgh with decorations and artifacts from popular department stores like Kaufmann’s & Macy’s, Horne’s, and Gimbels.

The exhibit is open through January 17, 2022.