An update of goings-on that reflect the continuing verve and vitality of the Strip District and Lawrenceville
Starting this August, the Heinz History museum began offering extended hours once a month featuring a cash bar, special tours, and more. The Senator John Heinz History Center, the Smithsonian’s home in Pittsburgh and the “#1 History Museum in America,” has just launched Third Thursdays, a new program series that offers augmented evening hours (5:00 to 8:00 p.m.) on the third Thursday of each month.
Visitors to Third Thursdays can enjoy special evening access to six floors of award-winning exhibitions, purchase drinks from a cash bar, and participate in special guided tours that provide a deeper dive into Pittsburgh stories. Third Thursdays are included with regular admission and offer access to the History Center for the entire day (10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.). Kids aged 17 and under always receive free admission, supported by the Kamin “Free for Kids” Initiative. Guests with an Allegheny County library card can also reserve a RAD Pass for complimentary admission.
For more information, visit heinzhistorycenter.org/events.
Senator John Heinz History Center
Franco Harris Sports Museum
1212 Smallman St., Pittsburgh 15222
Strip District / 412-454-6000
heinzhistorycenter.org
From October 23, 2026, through February 20, 2027, Lawrenceville’s Contemporary Craft is presenting “Community Voices,” an exhibition featuring artists from Creative Citizen Studios (CCS), a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit that provides inclusive arts education and professional development for artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Through workshops, community collaborations, and exhibitions, CCS empowers artists to express their unique voices, build confidence, and engage meaningfully with the broader arts community.
Contemporary Craft
5645 Butler St., Pittsburgh 15224
Lawrenceville / 412-261-7003
contemporarycraft.org
info@contemporarycraft.org
As usual, Lawrenceville’s premier music venue has a full schedule of diverse entertainers set for this fall. For most of its Wednesday-through-Saturday-night acts, the Thunderbird Music Hall’s doors open at 7:00 p.m. for 8:00 p.m. showtimes, and tickets are in the reasonable $30 range (18+ or 21+ age restrictions may apply).
One highlight is the Mac Miller Tribute Band: Come Back to Earth (Friday, October 16). Come Back To Earth, the world’s first and only Mac Miller tribute band, is known for their captivating live performances, thoughtful arrangements, and heartfelt dedication to honoring Mac. The focus on authenticity and attention to detail ensures that every note, every lyric, and every moment captures the essence of Mac Miller’s unique artistry.
One may want to also make note of two other interesting evenings. Appearing on October 14 is Chasing Abbey—the award-winning trio from Tullamore, Ireland, returning to the U.S. in autumn 2026 for a 24-date North American tour. Known for combining cutting-edge electronic production with the heart of traditional Irish music, Chasing Abbey has earned multiple platinum singles and packed venues across Ireland and the world with their electrifying live shows. The intriguingly named Pink Talking Phish arrives on October 23, with its “Fusion of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, and Phish.” Pink Talking Fish is a hybrid tribute fusion act that takes the music from three of the world’s most beloved bands and creates a special treat for fans of the original music.
Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall
4053 Butler St., Pittsburgh 15201
Lawrenceville / 412-682-0177
thunderbirdmusichall.com
contact@thunderbirdmusichall.com
The Bloomfield Saturday Market is a summer/fall farmers’ market “created to draw the community together with local food.” Located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood, this farmer’s market takes place from May to November. The market emphasizes locally grown, produced, and created items. You’ll find produce, cheese, meat, coffee, hummus, prepared hot and cold foods, and so much more. Saturdays through November 21, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. And free off-street parking is available!
Bloomfield Saturday Market
5050 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh 15224
Bloomfield / 412-681-8800
bloomfieldpgh.org / market@bloomfieldpgh.org
If you’re uncertain exactly what this title means, the Stand-Up Laboratory is an “incubator space” presented by Arcade Comedy Theater on Liberty Avenue. Every month, the Lab presents a mix of feature comics and a roster of comedians chosen from online submissions. Enjoy a night of comedy highlighting newer material from Pittsburgh’s best comedians and its rising stars, now through December 4, nightly from 9:00 to 10:30 p.m.
Arcade Comedy Theater
943 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh 15222
412-339-0608 / arcadecomedytheater.com
Nick Lardas, president of NIKO Contracting, recently announced the awarding of several contracts including the restoration of a section of the copper cornice on the Atterbury Hotel Downtown (formerly The Renaissance) and the replacement of the dome on All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Canonsburg. Recently completed is the replacement of the Spanish-tile roofing on St. Andrew Lutheran Church on Morewood Avenue in the city.
NIKO Contracting Co.
3434 Parkview Ave., Pittsburgh 15213
412-687-1517 / nikocontracting.com
One of the most spectacular events in the city as the fall season gets underway is the 16th edition of the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, September 17 through 20 at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center.
Among the featured performers are: Lalah Hathaway, Terri Lyne Carrington, Eric Roberson, Jae Sinnett’s Blur the Lines Project, Annie & the Caldwells, Nate Smith, Dwayne Dolphin, Bernard “Pretty” Purdie & Friends, and the Rakiem Walker Project.
Some of the additional attractions are a free street festival Saturday and Sunday and a “Jazz Train” to Pittsburgh—with Amtrak leaving from
New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia on September 17.
August Wilson African American Cultural Center
980 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh 15222
412-339-1011 / awaacc.org/pittsburghjazzfest.org
The Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka (SPMMMV) recently completed renovations that will lead to the long-term preservation of its iconic and historic murals. Landmarks Community Capital Corporation, a subsidiary of Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, provided a $75,000 loan to SPMMMV to implement the preservation project. That loan was combined with funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, St. Nicholas Parish, and donations from individual contributors, to finance the installation of the first-ever climate control system in the building. The murals and the church building are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The 25 individual murals painted on the walls of St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in 1937 and 1941 were the creations of Maxo Vanka, a Croatian immigrant, who sought to cast a spotlight on the story of the immigrant experience in America through his art.
Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation
100 W. Station Square Dr.
Ste. 450, Pittsburgh 15219
412-471-5808 / phlf.org
St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church
24 Maryland Ave., Millvale 15209
412-231-2994 / pghshrines.org/st-nicholas
vankamurals.org
It’s Gluck’s Orpheus & Eurydice at the Byham Theater as the November presentation of the Pittsburgh Opera. Times are 7:00 p.m. on November 14 and 20, with a 2:00 p.m. matinee on November 22. After the death of his beloved Eurydice, Orpheus vows to plunge into the depths of the Underworld to bring her back. Moved by Orpheus’s passion, Amore (Cupid) appears and agrees to aid him in the rescue of his wife so long as he does not look at her until they return to the land of the living again. Based on the same Greek myth that inspired the Broadway hit Hadestown, Christoph Gluck’s original 1774 score is enhanced by Hector Berlioz’s 1859 re-arrangement and orchestration.
But first you might wish to enjoy Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s version of Giselle at the Benedum Center at the end of October. Giselle is a luminous tale of love, betrayal, and forgiveness, brought to life with artistry and emotional depth. Experience this timeless classic with Adolphe Adam’s sweeping score performed live by the PBT Orchestra, with choreography by Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot, and Marius Petipa. Performances are on Friday, October 23, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, October 24, at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, October 25, at 2:00 p.m.
Pittsburgh Opera
2425 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh 15222
Strip District / 412-281-0912
pittsburghopera.org
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
2900 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh 15201
Strip District / 412-281-0360
pbt.org