Every week Macaroni Kid Pittsburgh City shares things to do with your kids in the 'Burgh over the coming weekend.
So grab the kids and head out to our local neighborhoods: Braddock, Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, East Liberty, Friendship, Garfield, Highland Park, Homewood, Morningside, Northside, Oakland, Squirrel Hill, Edgewood, Swissvale, Downtown, Hill District, Wilkinsburg, Braddock, Forest Hills, Strip District, Bloomfield, Friendship, and Shadyside for family fun this weekend!
Here are MacaroniKID Pittsburgh City's picks for the five things to do in the City of Pittsburgh with kids from November 25th to December 2nd, 2023. Click on the links for all the details!
1. All About Santa
- Come on Down to Santa’s House in Heinz Hall Courtyard with your wish lists and meet Santa in person in his brand new home!
- Season’s Greetings Saturdays are for your children to meet the big man himself, SANTA. Stop by the National Aviary on November 25th from 10 am to 3 pm to take pictures with Santa and a penguin.
- Boyce Park Four Seasons Activity Center is having Cookies with Santa on December 2nd from noon to 2 p.m. Enjoy some yummy cookies and crafts. Find out more about this event and register HERE.
- Hard Rock Cafe in Pittsburgh is hosting a breakfast/lunch with Santa with the following dates being December 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 16th, 17, and 23rd. Enjoy an amazing meal with Santa and his Elf with festive movies and activities happening all around. Purchase your tickets HERE.
- Want to find more Ho Ho Holiday Fun with Santa? No worries, we have created a Santa Sightings in Pittsburgh Guide just for you. Here are two just for you now!
2. Bringing the Holiday Spirit
- The holiday season isn't complete without a visit to Phipps Conservatory, Holiday Magic! Winter Flower Show and Light Garden. With a charming theme of "Season's Greenings," guests are sure to be captivated by the wonderful winter themes and lovely lights throughout. Plus, the beauty isn't just indoors: our celebrated Winter Light Garden fills our Outdoor and Discovery Gardens with spectacular lights in vivid shades that will awe guests of all ages.
- Heinz Hall Courtyard is having a Holiday Selfie Garden starting at 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm starting on November 25th through December 23rd. Watch the beautiful garden transform into a child’s television dreamland! There will be colorful backdrops and life-sized standees of those popular characters from Fred Roger’s Productions’ beloved children’s airing on PBS KIDS.
- Holiday KidsPlay, opening November 24th, across from Santa’s House on Sixth St. and Liberty Ave in Pittsburgh. Decorate a Mister Rogers sweater ornament, join in on hands-on craft stations, attend Sunday Story Time with Fred Rogers Productions, embark on a Math and Pattern Quest with Peg+Cat, and so much more.
- Peoples Gas Holiday Market opened November 20th from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm. Shop from vendors to even just strolling around through the lighted Market Square.
- Holiday Family Fun Event at the All-American Field House on November 30th. Admission is $5 and Family Fun Packs are $15 and cover all fun activities.
- Stop down to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center for the Handmade Arcade Holiday Market. One-of-a-kind handmade products from 275+ talented makers and artists at the largest holiday market in the region. Make-and-take holiday crafts, see how artists work up close, from glassblowing demos to large-scale silk screening to so much more.
- Dazzling Nights is a fun night out to see lights upon lights, check it out!
3. Light Up Festival
- Join Downtown Pittsburgh and Walk the Burgh Tours for its annual Holiday Lights Tour. Learn about the history of the city while getting to see all of the festive holiday lights and decorations for the upcoming season. See the world’s largest pickle ornament, unique gingerbread house display, a replica of the crèche from Vatican City, and so much more. The cost for adults is $28, children are $16 ( ages 6-13).
4. Live Performances
- August Wilson Cultural Center is hosting the Nutcracker on December 2nd. It is a timeless classic that follows the young Clara and her Nutcracker Prince as they are swept away on an enchanting adventure, led by the mysterious Drosselmeyer and Lady Silberhaus. During this epic journey, they join forces with soldiers to battle the evil Rat Queen and her entourage of mice and travel to a breathtaking winter wonderland of dancing snowflakes. When they finally enter the magical Land of the Sweets, Clara is introduced to the Land’s many vibrant characters, dazzled by waltzing flowers, and captivated by the beauty of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier.
5. Plan Ahead
- Stop by Heinz Hall on December 9th at 2:30 pm for a Christmas Carol but Muppet Style like you have never seen before. See the tale of the classes Charles Dickens tale with Kermit the Fog who is playing Bob Cratchit. Kermit a.k.a Scrooge receives visits from the spirits of three Christmases -- past, present, and future. They show him the error of his self-serving ways, but the miserable old man seems to be past any hope of redemption and happiness.
- Get in the holiday spirit with the entire family, in a judgment-free environment that is welcoming to all, at the Sensory Friendly Concert: Holiday Pops at Heinz Hall on December 16th.
