This November, be thankful you live in Pittsburgh. There’s lots to see and do with new art exhibits, creative fairs and artist markets, indie movie showings, and holiday traditions.
Scroll for 10 things to do this month ⬇️
Capture the Moment at the Photographic Print Fair
More than 35 local photographers will be selling and displaying their best shots at the Photographic Print Fair on Nov. 15 at the Wilkinsburg Train Station. This is Eastern Standard Photo’s fourth year gathering shutterbugs of all levels for a creative showcase and market.
The Hollywood Theater is almost 100 years old! (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
Get Nostalgic at the Hollywood Theater Reopening
The historic Hollywood Theater on Dormont’s Potomac Avenue will be back in action Nov. 6. Brian Mendelssohn, the owner of Lawrenceville’s Row House Cinema, began a $2 million renovation almost two years ago. Learn about its 1920s-inspired art deco design, and check out the movie lineup.
Want more film fun? Don’t miss the 44th annual Three Rivers Film Festival, Nov. 12-23.
Beeswax candles at I Made It! Market. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
Start Holiday Shopping at Local Markets
Buying gifts from small Pittsburgh makers means you find unique presents and support the local economy. Get your loved ones something special at the Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer Nov. 7-8; Tree Pittsburgh’s Maker Mart Nov. 8; The Terminal’s Holiday Market Nov. 14; I Made It! for the Holidays at The Block Northway Nov. 15 and The Galleria of Mt. Lebanon Nov. 22; or Contemporary Craft’s CRAFTED Nov. 21.
A rendering of a design by Frank Lloyd Wright for a Civic Center in Downtown, 1947. (Courtesy of the Cultural Trust)
See Frank Lloyd Wright’s Vision for Southwestern PA
Did you know the famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright had design ideas for Pittsburgh? If you’re a fan of his Fallingwater house in Fayette County, check out the new display at 820 Gallery Downtown. The exhibit features animations and models of unrealized projects designed by Wright from the 1930s through the 1950s — including a reimagining of the Point! It’s free and on display until May.
Find gear at Three Rivers Outdoors Co. in Regent Square. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
Attend the First Allegheny Sport & Outdoor Summit
If you love rock climbing, hiking, biking, skiing, and other outdoor activities, you’ll want to head to Rockwell Park in Point Breeze on Nov. 8 for a summit and expo day. Gear makers and shop owners will have items for sale, and coaches, race directors, and trail groups will share how you can get involved in their clubs and events. It’s free and open to the public!
Allegheny Sport & Outdoor also has a new magazine highlighting ways to get active and connect with nature along the Allegheny watershed.
Sink into a bowl of pho at Maiku in the Strip District. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
Eat Pittsburgh’s Best Cozy Comfort Food
It’s soup and stew season! Grab a bowl of classic Italian wedding soup at brothmonger in Bloomfield; get the French onion soup at the newly reopened (and highly anticipated) Poulet Bleu in Lawrenceville; or enjoy your soup wrapped up in a soft Chinese dumpling at Nan Xiang on the South Side. If that’s not enough, mark your calendar for CoStar Brewing’s chili cook-off Nov. 23.
Everyone deserves a hot meal. Learn about the Giving Soup Series with We Cook We Eat and more ways to help hungry neighbors.
Check out more performance art events at Kelly Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
Celebrate Pittsburgh Musical Legends
Wish you could’ve seen performances from Pittsburgh legends Billy Strayhorn and Gene Kelly? Listen to their legacy reimagined on Nov. 29 as musical director Hugo Cruz incorporates Latin percussion into their works at Kelly Strayhorn Theater.
Keep the grooves going at Pittsburgh’s best places to see live jazz.
Learn whose land you’re on with this interactive map. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
Honor Native American Heritage Month
Learn about Pittsburgh’s Indigenous past and present — and ways Native peoples are preserving culture for future generations — with presentations and artist-led tours at Fort Pitt Museum Nov. 8.
Or, learn at home with City Cast Pittsburgh’s interview with Miguel Sague from the Council of Three Rivers Indian American Center.
See the “SOFT Launch” exhibition, showcasing fiber-based and soft sculpture works. (Courtesy of ISC)
Check Out the New International Sculpture Center
There’s a new arts exhibit space in Lawrenceville! The International Sculpture Center is hosting its grand opening Nov. 6. ISC Executive Director Johannah Hutchison told City Cast Pittsburgh they chose to base their headquarters here because “Pittsburgh is a city with a deep history of industry, innovation, and artistry, a combination that makes it an ideal home.”
As part of opening celebrations, ISC is leading an initiative to welcome immigrants and refugees with handmade blankets. Learn about the Welcome Blanket Project.
Stroll through an immersive holiday light display at Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens in Oakdale. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
Admire Holiday Lights & Displays
Pittsburgh kicks off the holiday season with Light Up Night Downtown Nov. 22. See the iconic tree lighting, skate around the ice rink at PPG Plaza, and be dazzled by Zambelli’s rooftop fireworks.
Other holiday displays start in November, too: Holiday Magic at Phipps Conservatory, Holiday Lights at Kennywood, Symphony Splendor Holiday House Tour in Gibsonia, Home for the Holidays at Clayton Mansion, and Dazzling Nights at Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens.
