Courtesy of the National Aviary.

National Aviary
August 18
5—9 p.m.

Over at the National Aviary, the 16th letter of the alphabet (aka “P”) is not just for penguins anymore. During the dog days of summer, the avian attraction is calling all kids to slip on their favorite comfy pajamas and head to the Northside for a special evening event with its coolest residents.

Courtesy National Aviary.
Courtesy National Aviary.

Featuring everyone’s favorite black and white, aquatic birds, Penguins & Pajamas is open to all ages and will include a variety of hand-on activities, meet-and-greet sessions, bird encounters, a movie, and more.

Explore the Aviary after hours as you keep your eyes peeled and ears open for the Aviary’s African Penguins (hint: listen for their signature donkey-like bray). Swing by the Penguin BioFact Table to learn all about the fascinating flightless species.

After making some new feathered friends, create your very own penguin-themed crafts to take home with you.

Courtesy National Aviary.
Courtesy National Aviary.

This movie night is for the birds, as families will also enjoy a screening of the 2014 animated adventure film, Penguins of Madagascar. Featuring the voices of John Malkovich, Benedict Cumberbatch, the film will start at 6:05 p.m. in the Aviary’s Helen M. Schmidt FliteZone Theater.

Before you say goodnight, help the Aviary staff put the penguins to sleep with a special bedtime story. The reading will feature Berkeley Breathed’s children’s book, Goodnight Opus, which follows a penguin as he sets off on an imaginative adventure to say goodnight to fanciful beings and animals all around the world.

Don’t forget to come dressed in your favorite pair of PJs! Attendees will receive Pittsburgh Popcorn with admission, and can purchase dinner on-site at Atria’s Kookaburra Kitchen.

The Penguins & Pajamas event is included with general admission and is $7 for Aviary members.

Looking for more events? Read our 10 Pittsburgh events not to miss in August, Everything you need to know about Pittsburgh concerts in August and Top 10 things for families to do in August in Pittsburgh feature stories.

Jennifer has worked at the Mattress Factory, Brooklyn Museum of Art and Dahesh Museum of Art and is co-author of Pittsburgh Signs Project: 250 Signs of Western Pennsylvania. She also is co-coordinator of Handmade Arcade. Musically, she is in a band called The Garment District and is a founding member of Brooklyn's The Ladybug Transistor.