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.
July 15, 2024 Dance with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre will host its next Inside Out, a free ballet class, event in late July. Learn More This Ballet 101 class will be held under the trees at the Carnegie Museum of Art. Participants will be able to take part in a performance and experience a newly-choreographed work from the ballet. The free event – museum admission is not included – will be held at the museum’s Sculpture Court from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 27. For more information, visit the Inside Out web page.
June 17, 2024 Ballet Under the Stars Hartwood Acres will host an afternoon of family fun followed by an evening of outdoor ballet in late August. Learn More “Ballet Under the Stars” will take place at the Hartwood Acres Middle Road Concert Area on Sunday, Aug. 25. Families can arrive early to set up a picnic area and order dinner and drinks from onsite food and beverage trucks. Limited family activities include grab-and-go crafts and dance lessons led by Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre team members. A ticketed picnic in the park will include dinner and the opportunity to meet Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre artists. The evening’s performance will include a selection of works from the company’s repertory. Registration for the free event is now open.
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.
