There’s plenty of fall fun to be had in Pittsburgh! With everything going on across town, don’t miss these exciting art and culture themed events, from live theater to museum exhibits and more spooky events!
Jack O’Lantern Extravaganza at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
Over 3,000 artistically hand-carved pumpkins will glow in the night during the walk-through Jack O’Lantern Extravaganza, presented by Beverlynn and Steven Elliott. The gallery of pumpkins features an all-new array of beloved zoo animals, famous sights, and familiar characters from the worlds of entertainment, fantasy, pop culture, sports, and more, presented with sound, light, and other special effects.
The Jack O’Lantern Extravaganza will also feature activities for children, gently spooky seasonal displays, and specialty seasonal food items. Add this installation to your fall rotation! See the gallery for yourself on select nights now through Thursday, November 2nd. Get tickets here.
The Queens are in Pittsburgh for SIX
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents the Tony Award®-Winning electrifying musical SIX at The Benedum Center now through Sunday, October 12th. From Tudor Queens to pop icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a euphoric celebration of 21st century girl power.
Run time is 80 minutes, no intermission. Get tickets here, including for weekend matinee shows.
Power. Deceit. Money. Lust. See it all at Enron.
Enron isn’t just a play—it’s a high-octane odyssey through the glittering freefall of American capitalism. Staged high above the city in the retro-cool Oxford Centre, this production offers a wild ride with characters you’ll remember from corporate infamy: Jeff Skilling, Andy Fastow, and that Southern charmer Ken Lay. Quantum’s cast of 14 is led by Kyle Haden and Attack Theatre, providing energy to spare and choreographed chaos.
The show opens October 30th and continues through November 23rd (Wednesdays – Sundays) and takes place at One Oxford Centre in downtown Pittsburgh. Quantum patrons are invited to enjoy a pre-show dinner in the intimate setting of the Rivers Club. A special prix fixe menu, created exclusively for the audience, will be available with advance reservations required through the Rivers Club. Get tickets here.
The Funniest Play of All Time: Noises Off
Pittsburgh Public Theater presents its highly anticipated show, Noises Off by Michael Frayn, running now through October 19th at the O’Reilly Theater. Helmed by acclaimed director Margot Bordelon, this production features a celebrated ensemble of Pittsburgh favorites and national talent, underscoring The Public’s commitment to bold, high-caliber storytelling.
With its razor-sharp timing and physical comedy, Noises Off promises a masterclass in theatrical mayhem. This uproarious journey will leave you laughing until the final curtain. Tickets are available here.
Back by Popular Demand, Dracula
The seductive Count Dracula makes his chilling return to the Benedum stage just in time for Halloween. Michael Pink’s captivating Dracula, based on Bram Stoker’s classic gothic horror story, is a spellbinding production that flows like a fever dream, mesmerizing audiences with its mix of romance, terror and peril.
The sensuous ballet includes dramatic choreography, exquisite storytelling, opulent costumes, theatrical sets, a gripping score by Philip Feeney and haunting special effects that will leave you on the edge of your seat! The show has a quick run from October 31st through November 2nd at the Benedum Center. Grab tickets here.
Extended: Pittsburgh’s Hidden History at the Senator John Heinz History Center
Due to popular demand, the Senator John Heinz History Center has announced the extension of its dynamic exhibition, Pittsburgh’s Hidden History, through Saturday, April 4th, 2026. The exhibit features a “yinzsplosion” of more than 300 objects, images, and documents from the museum’s collection, including rarely and never-before-seen objects that tell stories from Pittsburgh’s past.
Visitors can explore objects from iconic Pittsburgh institutions like The Original Hot Dog Shop (The O), Primanti Bros., Kaufmann’s, and Kennywood. Check out tickets and museum hours here.
Mattress Factory’s New, Haunting Experimental Works
Join Mattress Factory for “Rot and Resurrection: Films on Future Hauntings,” a special screening of two experimental works by Rebecca Shapass, Tempus Fugit and no more room in hell. Both films draw on the legacies and tropes of horror cinema to probe how hauntings of the past shape our present and possible futures.
Tempus Fugit meditates on decay, memory, and the human desire to preserve what inevitably slips away, moving between an abandoned home and a cryonics lab in a ghostly reflection on the passage of time. no more room in hell, inspired by research in the George A. Romero Archive, situates the zombie within Pittsburgh’s industrial past and possible techno-capitalist future, asking what it means to be undead in our times.
A Q&A with the filmmaker, Rebecca Shapass, follows the screening. General admission tickets are $10. Free for Mattress Factory members. Doors open at 7:30pm, and the program begins at 8pm. Learn more here.
Brushes and Birds at the National Aviary
Calling all art enthusiasts! Create your very own BOO-tiful portrait of Apollo, the Northern White-faced owl, using step-by-step instructions—and no prior drawing experience is required. This class will be led by Maria DeSimone Prascak of Maria’s Ideas at the National Aviary, and all materials are included.
Before class, meet a National Aviary Animal Ambassador owl and purchase one (or two!) alcoholic beverages from our friends at Atria’s Specialty Catering. Scrumptious bites will also be available for purchase. Check out this October Portrait class on October 16th from 5:30pm – 8pm. Must be 21+ to attend.
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.
