What’s happening in Pittsburgh this weekend, August 15-18? Find out here. Know of a cool event? Send us an email.
Thursday, August 15: Team21 fundraiser at the Clemente Museum
5pm-8pm
With baseball season in full swing, there’s no better time to support the launch of the Team21 Preservation Fund, named after the museum’s legendary namesake’s retired number. The goal is to keep operations going while preserving Roberto Clemente’s legacy through memorabilia, artifacts and photographs. Enjoy the museum after hours, eating Neapolitan-style pizza and sipping Engine House 25 wines poured by winemaker, photographer and museum founder Duane Rieder. Tickets.
Thursday, August 15 – Sunday, August 18: Pittsburgh Restaurant Week at multiple locations
Different times
Summer dining is all about farm-fresh food. See what Pittsburgh’s top chefs are creating with all the seasonal delicacies during the past five summer editions of Restaurant Week. Featuring multi-course specialty meals at a prix fixe, the foodie fest showcases Pittsburgh’s diverse culinary scene, with a focus on sustainable practices and outdoor dining. There’s something for every taste – from Bonfire Food + Drink, Café Momentum and Khalil’s Middle Eastern Restaurant to Pane è Pronto and La Palapa Mexican Kitchen & Mezcal Bar. Information.
Thursday, August 15 – Sunday, August 18: Skullfest at several locations
Different times
For the next four days, Pittsburgh will be a mecca for punk rock, post-punk and hardcore music, heralding the return of this annual festival. Featuring over 60 acts across five venues, the 14th annual fest will feature showcases at Thunderbird Café & Music Hall, Spirit, Cattivo, Polish Hill Tennis Courts and Prevention Point (460 Melwood Ave.). The grassroots gathering will include a punx picnic, hardcore matinee and DJ sets. Thursday’s show at Spirit is sold out, but tickets for the other shows are available at the door. Info.
Saturday, August 17: “Precious Ornament: 10 Centuries of Islamic Art” at the Frick Art Museum
10am-5pm
Discover the riches of the Islamic world through timeless treasures that embody creative expression, technical innovation and everyday life. Featuring 43 masterfully crafted objects—from glassware, ceramics and metalwork to paintings and textiles—the new exhibition opening today offers a rare opportunity to see the collection of Dr. Joseph B. and Omayma Touma. Visit the resources area to read books on Islamic art, view interactive maps and timelines, and create art inspired by Islamic patterns. Public programs include concerts, film screenings and guided tours. Tickets.
Saturday, August 17: Secrets of the Ohio River with Doors Open Pittsburgh
11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Come aboard and discover what “secrets lie behind the fork of the Ohio.” Led by engineer Todd Wilson and historian Justin Greenawalt, this 90-minute cruise offers a comprehensive look at a “seldom-seen section of the Ohio River,” including uninhabited Brunot Island and the mysterious walls of the Western Penitentiary. Tour begins and ends at the Gateway Clipper Fleet Docks (350 West Station Square Drive). Tickets.
Saturday, August 17: One Night of Queen at the Byham Theater
19:30
You’ve got just one night to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Queen’s The Works Tour – promoting the band’s 1984 album – when Scottish singer, songwriter and vocalist Gary Mullen brings his high-energy tribute band to town. For two decades, Mullen has been wowing audiences with his best Freddie Mercury impersonation, alongside bandmates David Brockett (guitar), Malcolm Gentles (keyboards), Jon Halliwell (drums) and Alan McGeoch (bass). Trust us, they WILL rock you. Tickets.
Saturday, August 17: “Doomscroll” at the Arcade Comedy Theater
8pm
Why sit home alone and doomscroll when you can turn your thoughts into art? The script (er, screen?) of live comedy is flipped here: This is a show where it’s OK to use your phone! Grab a seat in the theater and head over to @Doomscrollpgh to send DMs that will influence the show in real time. Expect an unexpected mix of improv, standup, characters and parody, along with unforgettable memes, viral TikTok videos, IG reels and plenty of internet shenanigans shared onstage. Tickets.
Saturday, August 17 & Sunday, August 18: “Bandstand” at the New Hazlett Theater
8pm & 2pm
Front Porch Theatricals closes its 2024 season with a timeless musical that explores the intersection of war, music and camaraderie. “Bandstand,” composed by Richard Oberacker, has been called “an unflinching and honest story about confronting the costs of war and finding redemption in the notes of a song.” During the Pittsburgh premiere, which runs through Aug. 25, audiences will be transported back to 1945, when American soldiers return home to ticker-tape parades. Directed and choreographed by Joe Jackson, the Tony Award-winning story follows Pfc. Donny Novitski, a musician who “teams up with a diverse group of veterans” to compete in a national swing band competition. The show was produced by Navy veteran Bruce E.G. Smith and includes a 13-piece orchestra. Tickets.
There’s even more to do this weekend…
Prepare for your weekend, nine stories above William Penn Place, as Hotel Monaco teams up with Maggie’s Farm Rum to create the Beach party on the roof in the beer garden on Thursday, August 15th, from 5 to 9 p.m. It’s one of our favorite rooftop terraces. The region’s largest cultural festival takes place in Pittsburgh from August 15th to 18th. Days in Little Italywith 30 acts on three stages, many vendors, pizza acrobatics, a celebrity bocce tournament and much more filling a street party that is 10 football fields long. Don’t miss the Flotsam Floating Circuswhen the quirky Seattle troupe kicks off its Ohio River Tour with free performances at Point State Park, South Shore Riverfront Park and the North Shore Great Lawn August 16-18.
Find more things to do in Pittsburgh, including live music, outdoor recreation, farmers markets, movies and family activities.
