Fall is in full force at these top 13 events around the city. An iconic film festival returns, a nationally touring art exhibition comes to town and local landmarks turn 125 years young. To make sure we all get in the holiday spirit, the buy local movement is setting up shop and a beloved tradition moves to a new night.
1. PGH Vintage Mixer at Nova Place: Nov. 6
One of the things Pittsburghers missed the most during the pandemic shutdown was the chance to spark spontaneous conversations and enjoy people-watching at cool events like the PGH Vintage Mixer. The hunt for treasures must go on and there’s no better place to do it than at this one-of-a-kind Pittsburgh happening. Equal parts flea market, swap meet, antique mall and thrift store, the thoughtfully curated fair gathers 50 of the region’s top sellers of authentic vintage goods under one roof. It’s so fitting that it’s held inside the former Allegheny Center Mall, where the kitsch, conversation and collectibles will flow from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Furnish your pad with eclectic conversation pieces, reboot your wardrobe with fab retro fashions and score funky holiday gifts.
2. Victorian Radicals: From the Pre-Raphaelites to the Arts & Crafts Movement at The Frick Pittsburgh: Nov. 6
A captivating exhibition of 100 works — many never before shown outside of the U.K. — is coming to Pittsburgh for the final stop on a nationwide tour. Discover how a revolutionary group of artists and makers posed “bold questions about art and society that still feel fresh today.” Culled from one of the world’s largest Pre-Raphaelite collections, the exhibition features paintings, drawings, stained glass, textiles and decorative arts. Tracing 60 years, it weaves the story of pioneering figures for the first time in-depth — from the progressive Pre-Raphaelites to the innovative Arts and Crafts movement. Viewers will learn about artists who genuinely believed in the timeless capacity of art as a force for social good, valued nature and authenticity and made things by hand in an age of industry. Buy tickets.
3. TEDxPittsburgh: Time Capsule at The Andy Warhol Museum: Nov. 6
If you could place something in a time capsule today, what would you leave behind for future generations? For its return to the physical stage, TEDxPittsburgh explores this question at a moment in time like no other in history. Taking inspiration from the Pop Art guru himself, the speaker series is back to curate a collection of talks from neighbors and innovators in Pittsburgh that capture perspectives about the present-day. Throughout the last 13 years of his life, Andy Warhol placed hundreds of thousands of personal objects into some 600 sealed Time Capsules. Now in his hometown, Pittsburghers will find out what the artist’s own nephew, Donald Warhola, has to say about the thought-provoking topic, and how Barry Kerzin — personal physician to the 14th Dalai Lama – would approach the subject. Also stepping up to the mic will be geneticist Sidney Kushner, computer scientist Lining Yao and Feyisola Akintola, manager of Pittsburgh’s Office of Equity. Buy tickets.
4. Crash the Carnegies at Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh: Nov. 6 & 7
You don’t need to be an A-lister to crash this party. The name Carnegie is synonymous with Pittsburgh and you’re invited to celebrate a legacy of public cultural institutions that’s 125 years in the making. All weekend long from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., admission to Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History will be free. Also getting in on the fun will be The Warhol Museum, Carnegie Science Center and a host of regional cultural groups that will fill the museum galleries and library spaces with performances, art and science activities, tours of the historic Oakland campus, storytelling events and more. The two-day festivities will also include a sensory-friendly space, teen projects and a building-wide scavenger hunt.
5. EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler: Nov. 7
Who needs easy, moderate and challenging courses when you can pound the pavement along Pittsburgh-themed routes only found in the 412? Returning in person, this race with a local twist will instill runners with a deep dose of hometown pride. Lace up and test your stamina along the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Mile, the Cookie Table Mile, the Pittsburgh Parking Chair Mile and even the Kennywood’s Open Mile. As you break a sweat and get fit, you’ll celebrate everything’s that’s ionic and quirky about our region — from sports legends to the way we eat our French fries, pickles and pierogies, even the way we speak Pittsburghese. Tying into the theme, local elite runners will compete for a prize purse. It all kicks off at 7:30 a.m. and culminates at a finish line celebration near Liberty Ave. and 6th St. Register now.
6. Three Rivers & Pittsburgh Shorts Film Festivals at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater, Hollywood Theater, Tull Family Theater and Waterworks Cinema: Nov. 10-21
Forget double features, this month clear your calendar for not one but two festivals produced by Film Pittsburgh. That’s 12 days of independent films never seen before in Pittsburgh via two premiere festivals screening back-to-back. From Nov. 10-17, the iconic Three Rivers Film Festival (check out the trailer) returns with 32 features and Q&As with nine directors. Opening night will showcase “Small Town Wisconsin” and a discussion with director Niels Mueller and actor David Sullivan. Don’t miss seeing a special 20th-anniversary screening of the locally made film, “The Bread My Sweet,” along with crew and cast members. Festival highlights include a revenge thriller starring Native American boxing world champ Kali Reis, an uplifting story about 12 young musicians from Uganda’s slums and Zora Iman Crews’ mockumentary about her experiences being the only person of color in a theater production. Spotlighting the best contemporary short films from around the globe that promote innovative visual storytelling and cultural tolerance, the Shorts and Script Competition (Nov. 18-21) includes “Chiller Theater,” a filmmaker conference, Q&As and live readings. Buy tickets.
7. Pittsburgh Pet Expo at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center: Nov. 12-14
Where can you bond with rare reptiles, cheer on racing hermit crabs, and find your new forever friend all under one roof? The East Coast’s largest pet expo returns for animal experiences of all kinds after being stalled due to the pandemic. There’s so much animal action not to miss like the talented Devil Dogs who will wow crowds with their lightning-fast agility, incredible tricks and high-flying frisbee stunts. While taking in 2 acres of pet-related programming, animal lovers can peruse 200 exhibitor booths, meet with vets, hear powerful stories of veteran service dogs, snap selfies with tropical birds and more. Pets on a leash are welcome to attend and participate in the festivities, including a costume contest hosted by Val Porter of WDVE. Buy tickets.