5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Nov. 18-20
Holiday shopping, animal encounters and parties celebrating art and history are on tap this weekend in Pittsburgh.
German-style market
The Peoples Gas Holiday Market opens Friday in Market Square in Downtown Pittsburgh, with hours from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Inspired by the original German Christkindlmarkts (or “Christmas Markets”), the market features Alpine-style wooden chalets containing a wide variety of seasonal decorations, stocking stuffers and gift items from artists and vendors. In addition to shopping, the market offers live music, food, beverages and light displays.
A special opening-day karaoke contest will begin at 5 p.m., with singers vying for a grab bag of local restaurant gift cards.
The market continues through Dec. 24, but is closed on Thanksgiving. Hours are 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays.
For information, visit peoples-gas.com.
Furry, feathered fun
The largest pet expo on the East Coast will take over the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh for three days of competitions, demonstrations, giveaways, photos with Santa and more furry and feathered fun.
Hours for the The Pittsburgh Pet Expo will be 5-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.
Expo highlights will include the Carnegie Museum of Natural History live animal encounters, Great Lakes Region Cat Show, North America Diving Dogs, Dare Devil Dogs and the Steel City Reptile Expo. More than 250 exhibitor booths and numerous shelter and rescue organizations also will be present.
The show’s grand finale will be a pet costume contest at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Those interested in participating should download the entry form from the expo website and bring the completed form to the contest area in the Animal Arena.
For information and advance tickets, visit pghpetexpo.com.
Lighting up Oakland
A kick-off party for GLOWLAND, a month-long art installation and festival, is set for 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday in Schenley Plaza in Oakland.
The outdoor event will include cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a silent disco, glass blowing by the Pittsburgh Glass Center and music by DJ Arie Cole.
The festival’s featured installation, Impulse, includes 15 sound-and-light-producing seesaws intended to transform Schenley Plaza into a playground for visitors of all ages. Continuing until Dec. 17, the festival also will include live music events and light-based art in buildings and public spaces throughout Oakland.
The $100 party ticket includes two drink tickets and food. For reservations, visit eventbrite.com.
For festival information, visit oaklandpittsburgh.com.
Indie craft marketplace
The I Made It! Market, Pittsburgh’s nomadic indie craft marketplace, will set up from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday in the south corridor of The Block Northway, 8013 McKnight Road, Ross.
The holiday shopping event will features more than 100 vendors offering a juried mix of exclusively handmade products, including two-dimensional art, clothing and toys for infants and children, bath and body products, ceramics, fiber art, glass art, home wares, jewelry, leather goods, pop culture and fandom gifts, pet treats and gifts and wooden wares.
Ready-to-eat and packaged food and beverages will be available. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. Paint Monkey will offer children a hands-on “Paint to Donate” area where they can paint a Turkey Pierogi for $10 cash (while supplies last), with proceeds going to the KDKA Turkey Fund.
I Made It! Market cultivates a community of local makers by including a mix of 70% returning and 30% new artists at each event.
For information, visit imadeitmarket.com.
Brews and bites
Brews and Bites on the Battlefield is planned for 1-4 p.m. Sunday at Braddock’s Battlefield History Center, 609 6th St., North Braddock.
Attendees will be able to sample some of the area’s best-handcrafted spirits, along with light bites. The afternoon also will include live music and museum tours.
The history center interprets the 1755 Battle of the Monongahela at the beginning of the French and Indian War, in which a British force under Gen. Edward Braddock was defeated by French, Canadian and Native troops, marking the end of the Braddock Expedition to overtake Fort Duquesne.
Fee for the program is $20. To register, visit braddocksbattlefield.org.
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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