The NEXTpittsburgh event guide is underwritten in part by the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council.
What’s going on this week in Pittsburgh, Aug. 22-28? Find out here. Visit each organization’s website and social media for changing Covid protocols. Know of a cool event? Email us.
Tuesday, Aug. 23: Eat Your Backyard – Foraging and Cultivating Unusual Edibles at Phipps
9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Eat your way through your backyard during this class led by Phipps and Penn State Extension. Tasty topics include foraging, edible landscaping, how to plant your own nut orchard, berry crops and small fruits, edible ornamental plants, and local mushroom hunting. Buy tickets.
Tuesday, Aug. 23: Just Summer Series at The Highline
7:30 p.m.
Next up to take the mic at Chamber Music Pittsburgh’s free August series is multi-talented Pittsburgh singer-songwriter INEZ, who will fill the riverside spot with her blend of R&B, soul, jazz, hip-hop and world music. A Homewood resident and graduate of Berklee College of Music, INEZ was named WYEP’s 2020 Pittsburgh Music Artist of the Year. Make a night of it with drinks and food from Sly Fox Brewery and De Fer Coffee & Tea.
Thursday, Aug. 25: PA Peach Whiskey Release Party at Wigle Distillery
5:30-8:30 p.m.
August is all about peaches, right? Start with 220 pounds of dried peaches, toss in barrel-aged whiskey distilled and Tröegs Freaky Peach beer, and your new favorite drink is here. Wigle’s bestselling cross-state collaboration with Tröegs is back with notes of fresh peach, papaya, caramel and nutmeg. Buy tickets.
Thursday, Aug. 25: Ales & Asanas at Necromancer Brewing
6 p.m.
Yogis will take over this North Hills spot, where brewmaster Lauren Hughes is reimagining historic beers. Setting up shop in breweries to foster a welcoming space for fitness and beer enthusiasts, the yoga class is open to all skill levels. Registration includes one brew — no judgment if you sip while you stretch! Buy tickets.
Thursday, Aug. 25: Pittsburgh Underwear Bike Ride in Lawrenceville
8 p.m.
Hop on two wheels to promote body positivity and explore the city at twilight. The Pittsburgh Underwear Bike Ride should be on every bucket list. Starting at 46th and Butler, the free-spirited fun continues at the new North Shore nightspot, Shorty’s Pins X Pints. New to this riding ritual? Check out the ride’s helpful guidelines.
Friday, Aug. 26 & Saturday, Aug. 27: Martin Robison Delany Symposium at Heinz History Center
9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Presented by the History Center’s African American Program, this first-of-its-kind conference takes an unprecedented look at the life, career and legacy of one of the country’s most influential 19th-century African-American leaders. Born in Virginia in 1812 to a free mother and an enslaved father, Delany spent his formative years in Pittsburgh. Buy tickets.
Friday, Aug. 26-Sunday, Aug. 28: Summer Events at The Backyard
Various times
This weekend, the city’s communal backyard hosts free concerts by Daryl Shawn, 4-YAADI, Noa Jordan, Orange Music, Damiano Vincenzi and Zen Strings. In between sets, pop into BOW by Kat, a mobile boutique offering women’s clothing, jewelry, accessories and gifts. And check out the towering inflatable sculpture, “Pyramid XL,” created by French artist Cyril Lancelin with stacked gold spheres referencing Pittsburgh’s Three Sisters Bridges.
Friday, Aug. 26: Grand Opening Event at Alternate Histories
5-8 p.m.
Monsters, malt and making will converge in hilly Greenfield for the grand opening celebration of Matt Buchholz’s new Alternate Histories studio space. Be the first to sip East End Brewing’s newest neighborhood beer, Greenfield, paired with bites from La Palapa. Groove to music by DJ Mary Mack and visit a pop-up shop featuring Greenfield artist Ex Libris Fibers.
Friday, Aug. 26 & Saturday, Aug. 27: Rock the Quarry on the Panhandle Trail
5-11 p.m.
Rock out surrounded by scenic rocks and wooded trails when this beloved Collier tradition returns with two days in the great outdoors. Benefiting Collier Friends of the Panhandle Trail, the free all-ages festivities include bands, science demonstrations, games, crafts, vendors, rubber duck races and bonfires.
Friday, Aug. 26: Music on the Mon at SouthSide Works
6-10 p.m.
Undergoing a revitalization, the mixed-use development will be abuzz tonight with live music, food trucks and beer and ice cream vendors. Dan Getkin and the Twelve Six celebrate the release of the new album, “A Rose Among the Thorns,” a collection of gospel classics reinterpreted via their country rock style. Also performing at the free concert are Molly Alphabet, Kenny Stockard and DJ Steeltown Sweetboy.
Friday, Aug. 26: Teen Silent Disco at Carnegie Science Center
6-10 p.m.
Discos aren’t just for adults. Dancers ages 13 to 18 can get their groove on at this teen-only Silent Disco in scenic PointView Hall. Attendees can also join lobby activities, enjoy refreshments and tour the cool GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked The World exhibition, where live music will be presented in the galleries. Register for free.
Friday, Aug. 26: Party at the Pier: Green Envy at River’s Casino Amphitheater
7:30-11 p.m.
Why be green with envy when you can attend one of the summer’s hottest parties? Celebrate Pittsburgh’s vibrant riverfronts and bask in PPG Paints’ 2022 Color of the Year — olive sprig — when Party at the Pier returns to its North Shore digs. Pier-goers will step into a verdant, lush and enticing environment draped in greens to be greeted by pop-up performances, bubbly cocktails and abundant bites. Hop aboard the Gateway Clipper for views of riverside improvement projects. Buy tickets.
Friday, Aug. 26: Diamond Life at Spirit
9 p.m.-2 a.m.
DJs Jesley Snipes and DZ Party Time won’t be happy until they see you on the dance floor. With visuals by Tom Frank, this monthly dance party is back at the Lawrenceville nightspot to get you grooving to the sweet sounds of glam rock, post-punk, new wave and pop.
Saturday, Aug. 27: Reuse Box Truck Roadshow and Screening at Construction Junction and Hollywood Theater
9 a.m.-11 p.m.
Spend Saturday exploring reuse in its many forms. During the day, Construction Junction will host the Reuse Box Truck Roadshow, where you can watch demonstrations from Protohaven and Pittsburgh Glass Center, attend a rain barrel workshop led by PA Resources Council and shop from Thriftburgh. The conservation extravaganza features a tiny house display, food vendors and a gallery of reuse apparel and reclaimed art. At 9 p.m., head to Dormont for the PA premiere of “The Box Truck Film.” After the screening, directors Alex Eaves and Derek Diedricksen will talk about how they converted a 17-foot moving truck into a 98-square-foot tiny house and mobile reuse education center.
Saturday, Aug. 27: 19th-Century Chocolate at Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village
10 a.m.
Have a super sweet Saturday at the oldest site of human habitation in North America. Take a tasty look at how chocolate was produced and consumed during the 19th century as you discover how the cherished treat has changed through the ages. Check out ice cream demonstrations, learn about the history of chocolate in cakes and enjoy free samples of American Heritage Chocolate. Buy tickets.
Saturday, Aug. 27 & Sunday, Aug. 28: Celtic Weekend at Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival
Various times
The time-traveling fun continues in West Newtown with this weekend’s focus on Celtic culture. Be swept away by the lilting sounds of Celtic musicians, Scottish bagpipers and madrigal singers. Sing along to popular ballads with an Irish troubadour, watch the Men in Kilts Contest and join the Think You Can Jig dance competition. Buy tickets.
Saturday, Aug. 27: Pittsburgh VegFest in Allegheny Commons Park
11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Fill your plate and palate with the power of plants when this one-of-a-kind Pittsburgh foodie fest returns. Eat your way through 130 of the region’s best vegan eateries and see how delicious and ethical plant-based eating can be — from tacos, tater tots and doughnuts, to empanadas, pizza and juices. New and returning fan favorites include Chick Habit, Shado Beni, Onion Maiden, Chip & Kale, The Chosen Crumb, Con Alma and Pleather Vegan Jerky. New this year is the Walk with a Doc led by Dr. Natalie Gentile.
Saturday, Aug. 27: Steel City Mods vs. Rockers at Paradise Island Bowl and Beach
12-5 p.m.
It might not be a tropical atoll, but it is an island and it does have a beach bar. Cruising into Neville Island, the region’s only event of its kind will recreate the 1960s and 1970s on home turf. Whether you’re a Gene Vincent fan or a Yardbirds freak, you won’t want to miss this convergence of vintage vehicles and rockabilly culture. This year’s tiki theme is perfectly paired with the complex, which boasts bowling, ax throwing, arcade games and an outdoor beach bar. For $5 at the door, you can watch retro motorcycles, scooters and racers vie for trophies, enjoy live music and shop for goods, gear and gifts.
Saturday, Aug. 27: Birds and Brews at Powdermill Nature Reserve
7-8:30 p.m.
Brew lovers and budding ornithologists will converge in Rector for this event presented by the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Sip locally produced libations from Noble Stein Brewing Co. and hear a presentation by Bill Rapai, author of “The Kirtland’s Warbler: The Story of a Bird’s Fight Against Extinction and the People Who Saved It.” Buy tickets.
Saturday, Aug. 27: “Grand Hotel The Musical” at the New Hazlett Theater
8 p.m.
Be transported to the extravagant opulence of Berlin in 1928, when “the world is between wars, the stock market is booming and optimism rules the day.” But what lurks underneath it all? Life and death, love and murder and financial ruin will converge as people come and go through the lobby of the Grand Hotel. Directed by Scott P. Calhoon, the Front Porch Theatricals production features music by Doug Levine and choreography by Danny Herman and Rocker Verastique. Inspired by Vicki Baum’s novel, the musical won multiple Tony and Drama Desk Awards and ran for 1,000 performances on Broadway. Buy tickets.
Sunday, Aug. 28: PedalPGH at Southside Riverfront Park
7 a.m.-3 p.m.
Cycling and charity converge when Pennsylvania’s largest bike ride rolls again. Whether you’re hopping on two wheels for the first time ever, or are a cycling champ, PedalPGH has a route for you. The 10-mile course spanning protected bike lanes is great for families and newbies, the 25-mile distance challenges average riders and the 40-mile-trek traverses most sections of the city. Feeling brave? Experienced cyclists will go this distance during the 62-mile metric century ride. Quench your thirst and mark your achievements with free brews, food trucks and bike giveaways at the finish line festival. Buy tickets.
Sunday, Aug. 28: Disco Sunday Disco at Trace Brewing
4-8 p.m.
Ease into the week ahead with this free open-air dance party. DJs Jarrett Tebbets and Pretty Tony will spin “life-affirming jams and the deepest cuts on this side of town” that are perfect for afternoon day drinking at Trace’s breezy Bloomfield beer garden. Think disco in all its glory.
Sunday, Aug. 28: Summer Sounds with Weather Permitting at Hazelwood Green
5-8 p.m.
Going out with a bang to wrap up summer, Hazelwood Local and Weather Permitting are welcoming one of the world’s leading ngoni players. A West African historian in the Griot tradition, Cheick Hamala Diabaté performs internationally and has been nominated for a Grammy. This series finale is not to be missed with plenty of food truck offerings, hand-crafted drinks, artisanal vendors and free admission.
Sunday, Aug. 28: The Tamburitzans at Hartwood Acres
7:30 p.m.
The crown jewel of Allegheny County’s 12,000-acre park system is an idyllic place to see the country’s longest-running multicultural song and dance company. Spectators can bring blankets and folding chairs — and Fido too — for one of the final performances in the free Allegheny County Summer Concert Series. Arrive with an appetite because local food trucks, Black Dog Winery and Hop Farm Brewing Co. will be on-site.
For more things to do, read 13 hottest Pittsburgh events in August, from Barrel & Flow to Party at the Pier. For live music, check out 19 best concerts in Pittsburgh this August, from Thundercat to Matmos. For family events, see 10 best August events for fun-loving kids in Pittsburgh.
