5 things to do this weekend in and around Pittsburgh

If you’re looking for some fun for the weekend, here are a few suggestions:

PPG Ice Skating Rink

The popular ice skating rink at PPG Place, Downtown is back for the holiday season.

The ice skating rink will be open Friday through Jan. 3 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. It is expected to remain open with limited hours through February.

Because of the covid-19 pandemic, crowd sizes will be restricted and masks are required at all times, including while skating. Visitors will have to have their temperature checked to enter the skate rental area.

Admission is $11 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under, seniors 50 and over and military. Skate rentals are $5.

Skaters must buy tickets online in advance.

Space Out! Astronomy Weekend at the Carnegie Science Center’s Buhl Planetarium

The Buhl Planetarium on the North Side has been Pittsburgh’s “place for space” since 1939, but it’s celebrating new renovations this weekend, Buhl Planetarium Manager Mike Hennessy said.

“We’re now one of the most technologically advanced planetariums in North America,” Hennessy said. “Space Out! weekend is really the celebration of the renovation of our new Buhl Planetarium. It’s a nice time to come to the planetarium and be immersed in a virtual universe.”

The event is family friendly and can appeal to children of any age, Hennessy said. Building capacity is limited to 15%.

The weekend’s highlights include the Stars Over Pittsburgh Planetarium Show, the Starry Messenger Show, and the Solar Quest Assembly Show. There will also be activity tables throughout the museum, Hennessy said. Visitors will explore Saturn’s rings, canyons on Mars and other stars currently visible in the night sky.

Looking for an out-of-this-world adventure? Choose your family mission at Space Out! Astronomy Weekend! Fly over Mars and the rings of Saturn, see art and acrobatics come to life in a new show, and view real meteorites. ?✨?

Sponsored by @WISH997 https://t.co/XX3T518WGI

— Carnegie Science Ctr (@CarnegieSciCtr) November 16, 2020

“Space Out! weekend is a fun way to explore the cosmos together,” Hennessy said. “It is a celebration of space.”

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Guests will have to purchase tickets online in advance.

Take a Bough with the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation

The Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation is hosting a virtual holiday tree and wreath auction, which will conclude with a wine tasting and trivia night on Saturday.

“Bleeding disorders aren’t very well-known, so events like Take a Bough help raise critical awareness by inviting people who may not be in our community,” said Jessica Lee, development director for the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation. “It also offers our members a chance to bring their friends and loved ones to learn about bleeding disorders and show their support.”

The online auction is now OPEN for our 8th Annual Take A Bough!

You can check out the auction, register to bid, and grab your tickets for our Final Night Event at https://t.co/VvVGD3cJbS pic.twitter.com/FATXwb2Djk

— WPCNHF (@WPCNHF) November 16, 2020

The auction features decorated trees, wreaths and centerpieces. Bidding is conducted through the Handbid app, available in the App Store and Google Play Store. Bidding ends at 9 p.m. on Saturday.

The Final Night Event will be held via Zoom on Saturday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Participants can test their knowledge with a winter trivia game and win prizes including a Kindle and Echo Dot Smart Speaker.

During the event, the Hemophilia Foundation is teaming up with Arsenal Cider and One Hope Winery to teach participants how to make holiday drinks. The online event guide also offers instructions for kid-friendly festive beverages, like Grinch Punch.

“All the money raised at this event supports educational and social programming, patient assistance, and advocacy training for our members at no cost to them,” Lee said.

Participants can register for the event online.

Community Moves with Attack Theatre

Attack Theatre, a local nonprofit dance company, is teaming up with other Pittsburgh organizations for workshops for children in kindergarten through fifth grade.

“The idea of Community Moves was focused on empowering and connecting together as arts organizations and Pittsburgh organizations to work together to stay positive and creative during this time,” said Allison Popieski, arts education manager at Attack Theatre.

This weekend, Attack Theatre is collaborating with Alina’s Light, a charitable organization established in memory of Alina Sheykhet, a victim of domestic violence.

Popieski said she’ll be joined by two artists from Sheykhet’s life for this weekend’s event.

“We’re going to learn a really fun, modified choreographed dance that Alina actually did when she was alive,” Popieski said.

Kids will be able to tap into their creative energy and engage with their family through animal-themed dances, Popieski said.

Participants are encouraged to donate to Alina’s Light and the first 25 people to donate $20 to the charity will receive a free kid’s T-shirt.

Participants can register online.

Winter Flower Show: Home for the Holidays at Phipps Conservatory

Phipps Conservatory in Oakland is hosting its annual Winter Flower Show, beginning Friday and running through Jan. 3.

The display boasts festive flora, including Euphorbia ‘Christmas Mouse,’ Euphorbia ‘Diamond Snow,’ and poinsettias. Other highlights include the Phipps’ magical carousel and topiary bears, foxes, groundhogs and more.

“We have focused on designing a magnificent Winter Flower Show and placed the outdoor Winter Light Garden portion on a one-year hiatus. This year’s indoor displays will include a number of the Garden’s fan-favorite colorful orbs and cones,” Joe Reed, director of marketing and communications, said.

“To protect guest safety at this busy time of year, Phipps must significantly limit crowd and staff capacity and streamline the path through our campus for this year’s Winter Flower Show experience,” Phipps said on its website.

The Winter Flower Show extends through all seven of the conservatory’s changing glasshouse display rooms and the South Conservatory with its new Garden Railroad, Reed said.

Visitors must buy tickets online in advance.