5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Sept. 30-Oct. 2
From a haunted house to a downtown rooftop to a neighborhood street, there are plenty of places to find fun in the Pittsburgh area this weekend.
Thrills and chills
If it’s scary enough for horror film director Michael Dougherty, it’s probably scary enough for you.
It’s the ScareHouse, open Fridays-Sundays through Nov. 5 at The Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills in Frazer. Dougherty has visited numerous times throughout the years and says creators of the haunted attraction “nailed it.”
ScareHouse has been providing visitors with a new haunted house scenario annually for more than two decades.
Hours of operation and pricing vary by day, so visitors are encouraged to purchase timed tickets in advance at scarehouse.com.
Behind the scenes
Visitors can go behind the scenes in some of Downtown Pittsburgh’s most iconic buildings, entering spaces not typically open to the public, during a DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Guests can choose their own stops among almost 40 participating buildings, including churches, theaters, art galleries, government offices, luxury apartment buildings and hotels, shops and more. Docents will be present to share information on architecture, history and inhabitants of the structures.
Special features include a photo safari for children ages 5-12 and two guided walking tours, one visiting four balconies and rooftops and another highlighting riverfront development plans.
Tickets are $18 at doorsopenpgh.org.
All-star lineup
The Pittsburgh All-Star Craft Beer, Wine & Cocktail Festival returns to PNC Park on the North Shore on Saturday, showcasing craft beer, wine and cocktail brands from around the world. It was voted a top five beer festival by USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice awards in 2020.
Sessions will be 1-5 p.m., with VIP entry at noon; and 7:30-11 p.m., with VIP entry at 6:30 p.m. The 21-and-older event includes live entertainment, games like cornhole and beer pong, giveaways, vendor samples and an after party. Attendees can walk the bases, meet the Pirate Parrot and get a photo in the dugout.
Proceeds benefit the Trauma Survivors Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides trained therapists for emergency response during and after traumatic events.
Tickets start at $49.95 at ballparkfestival.com.
Night on the town
The Allentown Night Market, a biannual artist and performance fair, will take over the 800 block of East Warrington Avenue for its fall edition from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday.
Visitors will find more than 100 offbeat and unusual artisans, live performers and food and beverage vendors. Local businesses will be open late, offering one-night-only specials, discounts and surprises.
Entertainment will include circus sideshow-style stunts by Pittsburgh-based Kabarett Vulgare Sideshow and Cleveland’s Blackwater Cabaret; music by the goth/post punk and darkwave band Faux Fear, DJs Erica Scary and Wolf Le Fever and Colonel Eagleburger’s Highstepping Goodtime Band.
For more information, including an event map, visit allentownnightmarket.com.
Check and double check
The Queens Gambit Chess Institute will host Chess Fest 2022 from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday in Downtown Pittsburgh’s Market Square.
Celebrating Chess Week in Pittsburgh with the city’s first-ever chess festival, the event will include speed chess tournaments, an exhibition with an International Master playing multiple opponents simultaneously, opportunities for beginners and new players to learn the game, activities for early learners and guest speakers.
Events and activities are free; no registration is required. For information, visit tggchess.institute.
Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley by email at smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.