Everything You Should Absolutely Do This Summer in Pittsburgh

Granted, Pittsburgh’s not the biggest soccer town in the country, but the World Cup only comes around once every four years, and it’s hard not to get swept up in the rest of the world’s footie mania. So what if team USA isn’t competing this time? Pick a team, and start rooting for ‘em at one of the city’s best bars showing the World Cup -- Piper’s Pub, Jack’s Bar, and The Claddagh are all solid options.
Cost: However much a beer costs

Weather Permitting has returned for its sixth year of summer long outdoor concerts, food trucks, games, and music from all over the globe. Join the celebration as they kick off the season with Mokoomba: a musical group from Zimbabwe that sings in five different languages. Pittsburgh Reggae band Truth & Rights will also be performing their eclectic ska and Dancehall-influenced music, and don't forgot to come hungry; Brassero Grill, Gyros N'at, and PGH Smokehouse will be serving up food all night.
Cost: $10 for adults, free for kids

Back for its 14th year, Southside Works Exposed is bringing us three full days of free live music, drinks from Hofbrauhaus, food trucks, and of course, the Artist Market. Presented by Second Shift Crafters, this celebration of arts and crafts gives patrons an opportunity to peruse handmade wares and meet Pittsburgh's arts and crafts community in person.
Cost: Free

Kaiju Big Battel is coming to Pittsburgh for one night of intergalactic wrestling mania. Watch as the Kaiju universe comes to life in a live battle of aliens, monsters, and beasts. Confused? So are we. But we can't wait to see the most bizarre collection of creatures, including a sentient soup can named Kung-Fu Chicken Noodle, battle it out and end the night with a Fur Ball party at Katz Plaza.
Cost: TBD

Dust off your robes and start practicing your flick and swish for a full night of transfiguration, magical creatures, and Hogwarts-inspired activities. You’ll get to whip up some potions and partake in a wizard-themed scavenger hunt with your fellow Potterheads. Been looking for a place to sport your pink, tweed power suit? Put on your best Dolores Umbridge stank face, enter the costume contest, and treat yourself to a magical signature cocktail. You deserve it.
Cost: $15, or $13 for members

Pittsburgh's Summer Beerfest has returned for its fifth year, and brought with it more than 250 varieties of craft beer, live music, and support for Animal Rescue Partners. This year's event will take place over two days and feature endless samples of all the craft beer your IPA-soaked heart could desire. Don't forget to have one of your friends get a Designated Driver Pass that includes free water and soft drinks, as well as a $5 food truck coupon.
Cost: Tickets start at $45, or $20 for Designated Drivers

Pittsburgh may be landlocked, but Bakery Square is bringing the sand to you. This year's Urban Beach Party will feature a slew of food trucks, craft beer, and live music from The Brighton Boys. Dust off your coconut bra and find a spot on the event's 65-foot sand "beach" for a day of great food, lawn games, and sunbathing.
Cost: Free

Take a break from beer this summer and join the Pittsburgh Winery for the Vine Rewind Musical Festival. The two-day-long event will feature over a dozen musical artists, including The Clarks and New Invisible Joy. Edgar's Tacos, Backwoods BBQ, and BRGR are just a few of the local purveyors serving up food to pair with your favorite dry wine or sangria.
Cost: Free

Power boat races, dog shows, jet ski stunts, aerial competitions, sand castle building; you name it, the Three Rivers Regatta has it. The three-day river festival is a Pittsburgh tradition that’s free to the public and, in Steel City fashion, concludes with a firework display that's sure to simultaneously mesmerize you and terrify your dogs.
Cost: Free

Exactly what it sounds like, and much more. The best of Pittsburgh's vegan food, local vendors, live entertainment, and yoga demos abound at the annual Veg Fest that supports clean eating and animal advocacy in PGH.
Cost: Free

This nighttime run with DJs, selfie stations, dancers, and light-shows is perhaps the most exhilarating thing you'll do all summer. For those who manage to finish this adrenaline-filled dance fest, you'll be greeted by the main stage dance party which will include confetti guns, fog, and a surprise celebrity DJ. Nine out of 10 doctors recommend hibernating for a minimum of 72 hours after attending this event.
Cost: Tickets start at $29.99

Fame15 Creative has partnered with Riverlife to bring you the third annual Crosstown Cookout. For $5, you can party on the underutilized Mon Wharf all day while you listen to live music, witness larger-than-life spray paint demos by local artists, and take in the sweet smells of Pittsburgh's finest food trucks.
Cost: $5

Indulge in a weekend of the recess we all dreamed of at Spirit's Summer Recess Outdoor Food + Music Festival. Details are still hazy, but if it’s anything like last year’s event, get ready for a day full of water balloons, ice cream, DJs, and live music on the Spirit Patio. And remember to grab some pizza from Slice Island and have a summer cocktail on the Spirit school bus.
Cost: Free from 12-9pm, $5 from 9pm-2am

Get ready to party like a wild animal in front of caged animals at ZooBrew: Oktoberfest. Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium will be providing three-and-a-half hours of craft beer tastings paired with food from Taste of the Wild catering. It's all so thematic! And it sells out crazy fast, so… grab your tickets now.
Cost: $63

MKE’s Irish Festival is back for its 28th year of celebrating all things Celtic. Learn all about Irish culture and genealogy, Gaelic sports, and visit the Irish Author's Corner. The event will feature live music all day, Mead for the drinking, an Irish dog petting zoo, and Irish cuisine like shepherd's pie, colcannon, and boxty pancakes.
Cost: Tickets range from $5-15

Taking place at a variety of distinct locations including the Carnegie Museum of Art and Kelly Strayhorn Theater, this year's Thrival festival will highlight our region's innovative spirit and the charm of the rust belt. Headliner Dillon Francis will be joined by Matt and Kim at the sixth year of this festival celebrating musical innovation.
Cost: $30 for GA, $50 for pit pass, $99.50 for VIP

Head south to Trax Farm for some seasonal beer sampling, grab a six-pack of your own, take a hayride, fumble your way through the corn maze, or curl up beside the bonfire. Flannel isn’t required, but you should probably wear some all the same.
Cost: Adults $10, Children $8