The city’s first festival for women promised to shatter expectations (and the patriarchy!) in a day-long event recently this summer. Hosted by the local organization, Babesburgh, the very first Babesburgh Bash connected and celebrated the women of Pittsburgh and beyond through fun and fierce events, workshops and classes.
About Babesburgh
We grabbed a few minutes with the organization’s executive director (and fearless leader!), Cat Bruno. According to Cat, Babesburgh was formed out of the need to bring supportive women together to make friends and hang out. This laid the groundwork for all of Babesburgh’s programming, which showcases events throughout the year.
“We wanted to host a festival that brought together women from all over Pittsburgh and the suburbs, from different communities and cultures and across age ranges,” said Cat. “We wanted it to be an absolute blast, so that we all can take a few hours to enjoy ourselves and celebrate each other. To that end, we focused the festival on interactive activities that centered on a holistic approach – enjoyment for the mind, body and soul.”
So you may be thinking, who is considered a “babe?” Well, it’s all of us, according to Cat! This organization uses the word “babe” to be a welcoming, inclusive term no matter how you identify.
“Our Babesburgh Bash is meant to be a fun and spunky get together in a positive and welcoming space. We encourage you to meet new people and try new things, and we intentionally stacked the event lineup with an eclectic list of things to do and explore. We want to create a community of support and celebration among women, and do that in the most fun and fierce way possible!”
Babesburgh Bash
The inaugural Babesburgh Bash took place on a sunny afternoon in North Shore’s Allegheny Landing Park on Sunday, June 30th. The event was open to anyone over the age of 21 and brought an impressive number of guests to the park.
Fun fact! This location was selected because it was a site for women’s rights and working rights protests as early as the 1840s. The location gives off the energy the hosts wanted to have this supportive event for women.
The day was packed with activities including shopping from local vendors, drink and mocktail samples from over 20 Pittsburgh-area breweries and spirits vendors, dancing, fitness classes, wellness sessions, community involvement opportunities, interactive art demonstrations, a mini farmers market and also health screenings. Local DJs, music therapists and other entertainers also played live music throughout the day. The event was just as fun as it was for a day of self-care.
Guests came hungry to try samples of sweet and savory bites throughout the festival. A few favorites included Cherish Creamery, Olive & Marlowe and also Mexa Catering. Relaxing chair massages and mini reflexology sessions were led by Nourish & Move. Also, Paradigm + Expansions hosted guided meditations. Additionally, the free health screenings were provided by UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital and Pathways Wellness Program.
Upcoming Babesburgh Events
The team at Babesburgh has a packed lineup of events remaining this summer. Plus more exciting things on the way this fall!
- 90-minute self-defense class on Sunday, July 21st in the South Side
- Museum mixer and market on Sunday, July 28th at Johnny Angel’s Ginchy Stuff and Music Museum
- Watch party on Tuesday, July 30th at Mike’s Beer Bar in the North Side for the women’s team gymnastic finals in Paris
Check out the official Babesburgh calendar for a list of events throughout the year. Also, follow them on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with the organization’s latest news.
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.