You could say that fall in Pittsburgh is the best time of the year. And the October event outlook pretty much backs you up here.
Whether you want to eat your weight in tacos or barbeque, bust out your best costume, or hunt for ghosts at a historic steel mill, Pittsburgh has exactly what you’re looking for. If none of those pique your interest, you’ll have your choice of concerts, music festivals, and Halloween-themed bashes to choose from.
Trust us when we tell you, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Pittsburgh Taco Festival
There are few things we love more than tacos, and we can’t wait for Pittsburgh’s first annual Taco Festival. Head on down to Hop Farm Brewing early this month to get your fix of one of the best foods ever, with help from over 25 vendors. There will be live music and taco-themed activities, too. Tacos over everything! Oct. 2.
Maker Night @ Spool
If you pick up your knitting needles or embroidery thread when the cool autumn air rolls in, you can settle in for a night of cozy fun at Allentown’s new sewing shop. You’ll have a chance to meet some other crafters and even have some drinks — it’s BYOB. Best of all, it’s free and anyone of any skill level is encouraged to check it out. Oct. 6.
Nightmare on Ellsworth
Ellsworth Avenue will transform into Hellsworth with the help of 96.1 Kiss FM and special guest, pop singer Zara Larsson. If you’re looking to get some Halloween scares on a limited budget, great news: the event is free. There will be lots of live music and, of course, dancing. If you decide to go VIP, you’ll gain access to the Super Scary VIP Tent, including complimentary cocktails. Oct. 7.
VIA Festival
The coolest festival in the ‘Burgh is coming to Ace Hotel and other satellite spots around the city. Catch great acts like Empress Of and Juliana Huxtable, but music is only one part of this festival. You can participate in a virtual reality salon, join a synthesizer workshop, or check out a series of exhibitions at venues like the Bunker Projects and Roboto. Oct 6-9.
Ghost Hunt @ Carrie Furnace
There’s no better time than the spookiest month of the year to head out on a ghost hunt. Ghosts N’at Paranormal Adventures offers you the chance to head down to the massive abandoned furnace in search of a true ghostly experience. Participants are encouraged to bring flashlights, cameras, voice recorders and an adventurous spirit. Oct. 8.
PGH Abides @ Spirit
The spirit of The Dude is coming to Pittsburgh for the fourth year in a row. Abide with him through a citywide scavenger hunt, an indoor zipline, live music, and, of course, a movie screening. Spirit will be transformed into a haven of everything Big Lebowski, and you won’t want to miss out on the fun. There’s even a station to practice your golf swing. Oct. 8.
Smoketoberfest @ Roundabout Brewery
There’s no shortage of food-centric festivals in Pittsburgh, but Smoketoberfest promises to take it up a notch with all the best smoked foods around. If you come down to 49th Street, you’ll find cuisine from Gaucho, Blowfish BBQ, Butcher on Butler and more, including a number of specialty brews. You can dance off the calories afterward, as tunes from Chrome Moses and others will be provided live. Oct. 9.
Maker Faire
Are you a creator? Then Pittsburgh Maker Faire will be an awesome two-day dive into the world of art, science, technology, and community. Maker Faires, which are held all over the world, offer a chance to celebrate craftsmanship and creativity, and this year, the ‘Burgh’s chapter will focus on innovation. Stop down to Buhl Community Park for a weekend of art, performances, and inspiration. Oct. 15-16.
A Few Bad Apples Ciderfest
Nothing screams “fall” like hot apple cider. Get warmed up with hard cider from local brewery A Few Bad Apples and gather around the fire with your friends and some blankets. The event will feature food trucks, a build-your-own-’smores bar and live local music. The air may be crisp, but the cider is crisper and you’ll realize that it’s just as much fun to spend time outside in late fall. Oct. 21.
Haunted Museum: Year of the Vampire
After-dark parties at the Carnegie Museum are always a good time — there’s nothing like sharing cocktails with your friends and a few errant dinosaurs. This month, though, it’s about to get a whole lot scarier. The vampire-themed event will mix fascinating displays about real-life vampiric creatures and creepy Scarehouse bloodsuckers hiding in unexpected corners. Get your ticket now… if you dare. Oct. 22.
Pumpkin Fest 5
If you’re in the mood for some pumpkin beer (yes, please!) and a sampling of Pittsburgh’s best food trucks (obviously!), head to Homestead for Pumpkin Fest 5. Underneath the Homestead Grays bridge, you’ll find more than 20 pumpkin beers, food trucks, and live music. Not a fan of pumpkin beer (apparently that’s a thing)? No worries, there will be fall-themed cocktails, festive punch, and cider for your boozing pleasure. Cheers to that! Oct. 8.
Night of 1000 Elvises
The Warhol’s second annual fundraiser is ready to get you all shook up. We don’t know if there will actually be 1,000 Elvises, but with all the attendees in costume, the number will certainly be close. Everyone’s encouraged to dress up as the King of Rock, and famous impersonator El Vez will be leading the show. Every floor of the museum will be open to explore and there will be a dance floor, food, cash bars and, of course, Elvis-inspired temporary tattoos. Oct. 22.
October Concerts & Comedy
Violinist and indie musician Andrew Bird will be playing the Byham on Oct. 8. Rap duo Rae Sremmund will be at Stage AE on Oct. 24. Comedian Louis CK will be cracking showgoers up at the Petersen Events Center on Oct. 21.
[join]What do you think about these events? Will we see you at any of them? Let us know with a comment here on Facebook.[button text=”Click Here to Leave a Comment” link=”https://www.facebook.com/madepgh/posts/1197031060370501″ target=”blank” width=”full” color=”black” size=”small”][/join] This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.