For a moment, put all sports rivalries aside. Pittsburgh is just about a 4.5-hour drive from the Philadelphia area and in addition to its booming tech, food, and arts scenes, it has a few major events and hotspots that are perfect reasons to take your family to the other side of the state for a long weekend!

Picklesburgh

July 26–28
Downtown Pittsburgh

Perfect for the expectant mother, each year Pittsburgh shuts down one of its iconic bridges to celebrate all things pickle! Complete with a 35’ Heinz Pickle, Picklesburgh features over 40 vendors showcasing everything from pickle flavored cocktails to bacon-wrapped cheese-filled fried pickles to pickle-themed apparel! And little ones can visit the Lil Gherkins Activity Area for kid friendly crafts and activities. Picklesburgh is produced annually by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and this year’s festival is July 26-28.

Pittsburgh Irish Festival

September 6–8
The Lots at Sandcastle, 1000 Sandcastle Dr., West Homestead

The largest in the Northeast, the Pittsburgh Irish Festival is known for being one of the region’s longest running cultural celebrations, and features live music and dance on four stages, traditional Celtic cuisine and beverages, children’s crafts and games, an Irish marketplace, dogs native to Ireland, Ancient Celtic Axe Throwing, and so much more! Kids 12 and under are free, and the Main Line Parent and Philly Family Communities can use code “FFM2019” to get an extra $3 off already discounted advanced tickets! This year’s Pittsburgh Irish Festival will be held on September 6–8 at The Lots at Sandcastle. More information, including a special hotel rate, is available at pghirishfest.org.

Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh

10 Children’s Way, Allegheny Square, Pittsburgh

Won’t you be my neighbor? Pittsburgh is where Mr. Rogers called home, and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is the birthplace of Daniel Tiger! Current exhibits include “Curious George™: Let’s Get Curious!,” MAKESHOP, “Fred Rogers and Us,” and so many more that your family is sure to enjoy!

Kennywood

4800 Kennywood Boulevard, West Mifflin

Kennywood, created in 1898, is one of the country’s best traditional amusement parks! The park features many classic thrills like the Thunderbolt, ranked consistently as one of the country’s top wooden rollercoasters; the Potato Patch, whose fries were previously named the best in the U.S.; and the Pittsburg Plunge, sure to rival any log flume you have ever been on! And, Thomas Town brings five new rides, a life-sized Thomas the Tank Engine, and more, making Kennywood a must-do for the little Thomas fan in your life.

National Aviary

700 Arch St, Pittsburgh

Have a little bird lover in the family? The National Aviary in Pittsburgh is the only independent indoor nonprofit aviary in the United States. Over 500 birds from around the world are featured, and guests can get up close and personal with many of them! And yes, there are penguins (don’t worry, they aren’t the hockey playing kind!).

Bonus Family Activities in Pittsburgh

If the top five reasons above aren’t enough to convince you to visit Pittsburgh for the weekend, these fun family events might just do the trick!

OpenStreetsPGH

Annually in late May, June, & July

OpenStreetsPGH is a free monthly event in the summer that opens streets for people to dance, exercise, walk, run, bike, and explore spaces that would otherwise be used by motor vehicles. It temporarily closes streets to car traffic and invites visitors to reimagine their streets as places for people.

Three Rivers Arts Festival

June 7-16, 2019
Downtown Pittsburgh

Whether you’re heading to Pittsburgh for a long weekend or stopping in mid-week, be sure to schedule your plans around the Three Rivers Arts Festival. This 10-day, family-friendly arts and music festival is held throughout downtown Pittsburgh and features activities for the whole family. It’s a cultural extravaganza!

Lead photograph by Renee Rosensteel. Article photographs by David Heath, National Aviary / VisitPittsburgh, James Barker, Alex Holt, and Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash.