5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Aug. 12-14
With pleasant temperatures and dry skies in the forecast, it’s a good weekend to get outside. Here are five things to do in the Pittsburgh area.
Light up the night
The annual Asian Lantern Festival returns Friday to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.
Running 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays until Oct. 30, the event lets guests explore the zoo at night amid giant luminous handcrafted sculptures, including extinct and endangered animals; learn about Asian history and culture, and enjoy themed food and entertainment. An all-new display will feature dinosaurs.
Most indoor facilities, including the aquarium, will not be open during festival hours.
Tickets are $19.95, or $16.95 for ages 2-13, on Thursdays and Sundays; and $22.95, or $19.95 for ages 2-13, on Fridays and Saturdays. To reserve, visit pittsburghzoo.org.
Roll out the barrel
The fifth annual Barrel & Flow Fest will be noon-9 p.m. Saturday at The Stacks at 3 Crossings, 2875 Railroad St. in the Strip District.
The festival showcases Black-owned breweries, artists and businesses and will feature 30 local and national breweries, collaboration brews, live music, art performances, networking opportunities, information on careers in brewing and a curated market of arts, crafts and food vendors.
Aug 13 | @3Crossings | #Pittsburgh
• 30 Black owned breweries/distilleries/wineries
• 55+ unique collaboration brews with Black artists
• 150 vendors
• 7 Musicians
• 5 DJs
• 2 LIVE visual arts stageshttps://t.co/286T1vWY0s | #barrelandflow pic.twitter.com/19VWpJY1Z2— Barrel & Flow Fest (@barrelandflow) June 1, 2022
VIP admission starts at noon, early access begins at 3 p.m. and general admission is 5-9 p.m. Ticket prices vary by admission time; a taster glass and other merchandise is included in some tickets.
For information and tickets, visit barrelandflow.com.
It’s in the stars
The stars are in alignment for two big weekend events at the Mattress Factory in the city’s North Side neighborhood.
ZODIAC: Garden Party 2022, the signature fundraiser, returns Saturday after a two-year pandemic pause to the contemporary installation art museum at 500 Sampsonia Way. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for VIP and Friend of the Mattress Factory ticket holders, and at 7 p.m. for general admission.
The event will feature food from local restaurants, live music and other entertainment, dancing and mediums offering tarot readings and other divinations.
The fun continues at an all-ages Community Garden Party from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, with free admission to the museum, music, hands-on art experiences, tarot readings, crystals, tattoos, food and a limited-edition Garden Party beer from Mindful Brewing.
For tickets to Saturday’s event or to register for Sunday, visit mattress.org.
Furnace film fest
Venture Outdoors will host the drive-in or bike-in Wild & Scenic Film Festival Saturday evening at the Carrie Furnaces National Historic Landmark, 801 Carrie Furnace Blvd., Rankin. Gates open at 7 p.m., screening starts at dusk.
The festival aims to inspire environmental activism and love of nature. The 12-film slate includes the local feature, “A River Reborn,” about the rebirth of the Little Conemaugh River and the communities it flows through in the wake of the area’s coal mining history.
Hot and cold foods, snacks and drinks will be available from Sugar x Butter. Attendees are invited to bring their own snacks and seating. Those who bike in will be offered special up-front seating, blankets and snacks.
For information or to reserve the $25 ticket, visit ventureoutdoors.org.
See you in the movies
Movie buffs can learn about Pittsburgh sights seen in the movies during “Hollywood East: A Downtown Movie Tour,” beginning 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
Walk the Burgh Tours will take participants on a walking tour of original filming locations of both blockbusters and smaller independent movies, while providing the history of landmarks used in the various movie scenes.
The two-hour tour covers about 2 miles and ends back at the convention center. Fee is $28, or $16 for ages 6-13.
For information and reservations, visit walktheburgh.com.
Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley by email at smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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