Looking for something to do in Pittsburgh this fall? Are you also on a budget? What if I were to tell you that you could visit some of Pittsburgh’s most historical, artistic, and cultural sites without spending one penny? 

That’s right. This fall, from now until October 16th, Allegheny County is hosting hundreds of free events as part of their RAD days initiative. These events are going to be held at over 65 sites and include live music, free passes to museums, and free tours of historical sites, among others. After such a rough couple of years in the pandemic, RAD days serve as a thank-you to taxpayers.

Here’s a look at this week’s RAD-ical events: 

 SEPTEMBER 20th: 

• SLB Radio Productions (4pm – 7pm) This event, held at 10 Children’s Way on the North Shore, gives you the chance to get a free tour of the radio studios. If you have kids, it’s a great opportunity to learn more about their new SLB Youth Media Center. 

• BNY Mellon Presents JazzLive (5pm – 7pm)  This live music event will be held at The Backyard at 8th and Penn on eighth street in the center of the Cultural District and features some of the best jazz musicians in the area. Don’t worry if you miss this event, they are held every Tuesday throughout the year at The Backyard as well as other locations nearby. 

SEPTEMBER 21st: 

• Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Free Class (6:30 – 8:30 pm) Have you ever seen a ballerina elegantly flying across the stage and wondered if you could do the same? Now is your chance to try. The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre is opening up their studio in the Strip District and offering three free classes in the areas of barre fitness, contemporary dance, and or ballet. It is important to remember that capacity is limited for this event and you must register by emailing Marcie at [email protected]. There also is an age limit on this event: only those over the age of 14 may attend. 

SEPTEMBER 22nd: 

• Boyce Mayview Park (9:00 am – 9:00 pm) If you’re looking for a relaxing fall Friday out of the city, head to Boyce Mayview Park in Upper Saint Clair this week. This place has it all from scenic walking trails to an expansive playground for the kids. To attend any of the schedule events for the day or to gain free admission to the Community & Recreation Center, you must pre-register 

SEPTEMBER 23rd: 

• Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Gallery Crawl (5:30 pm – 11:59 pm) Calling all art buffs in Pittsburgh! This event is for you. All throughout the Cultural District on Friday night, select art galleries will be opening their doors for the Cultural Trust’s quarterly Gallery Crawl. Each gallery will feature a different artist, non-profit, or small business and specially curated pieces created by them. 

• Allegheny Land Trust (7:30 pm – 8:30 pm) On Friday night, join Allegheny Land Trust and fellow hikers for the Free Fall Equinox Stroll at Bethel Green in Bethel Park. This special, nighttime hike will focus on educating people about Allegheny County’s terrain, nocturnal animals, and even some folklore. If you’re interested in attending this event, you need to register with the Land Trust as it is limited to 50 people. It is also important to note that the parking lots and trails have uneven terrain. 

SEPTEMBER 24th 

• SLB Radio Productions (4:00 pm – 6:00 pm) SLB Radio Productions is opening their doors again for free tours. If your friends or kiddos are at work or school during the week, this Saturday session is the perfect time to check out all that SLB Radio Productions is all about! 

• Pittsburgh Musical Theater (12:00 pm – 1:30 pm) Pittsburgh Musical Theater is putting on their Dancing in the Streets program at their campus in the West End featuring performances by PMT students. There will also be free refreshments and a chance to learn more about local businesses. It is important to note that parking is limited for this event; though it is conveniently located on the 26 and 27 bus lines. 

• August Wilson African American Cultural Center (12: 00 pm – 4:00 pm) This event gives you a chance to learn about one of the most distinguished and accomplished playwrights hailing from Pittsburgh, August Wilson. Throughout this year, the center will be featuring Beyond The Red Door: A Theatrical Event Series, which features artistic workshops, food sampling, and performances that carry on the artistic spirit of August Wilson. The events taking place from 12pm – 4pm are for all ages, but those taking place from 7 pm – 11 pm will only be for those above the age of 21. All events are free; though guests are encouraged to pre-register. 

• Polkamaniacs (2:00 pm – 4:00 pm) This performance at Harrison Hills Park is part of a four-week long concert series featuring different genres of music each week. This week, the Polkamaniacs will take the stage starting at 2pm. 

• August Wilson House (2:00 pm – 5:00 pm) Join fellow Pittsburghers at the August Wilson House for an afternoon reading roundtable of August Wilson’s play “Piano Lesson” where every attendee will read for a specific character. This event is open to anyone over the age of 16, but the capacity is limited to 25 people. 

• South Park Theatre (7:30 pm – 9:30 pm) The South Park Theatre will be putting on a free performance of “The 39 Steps”, a play that combines murder-mystery novels, Alfred Hitchcock movies, and the Monty Python saga. This event is open to anyone over the age of 16. Capacity is limited to 100 people, and is based on a first come, first served basis. 

SEPTEMBER 25th 

• Quantum Theatre (12:00 pm – 4:00 pm) At the Byham Theater, The Cultural Trust is giving you a sneak peek of “Idaspe” by Riccardo Broschi. This is the US premiere of this opera and will play in full at the Byham Theater in October. 

• Belle Voci Free Concert (1:45 pm – 3:00 pm) Chandi Chapman hosts this live music event at Calvary United Methodist Church in the North Shore. Belle Voci choir will be performing “Suffrage Cantata” which recounts the suffrage movement of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. There is no registration requirement for this event, though masks will be required for all guests. 

• Pittsburgh Youth Chorus (2:30 pm – 3:30 pm) The Pittsburgh Youth Chorus will be performing at the Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve. 

• Riverlife (3:00 pm – 5:00 pm) At the Allegheny Landing on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, Riverlife has joined forces with the Office for Public Art to present Rumbón de la Calle. This musical performance features Pittsburgh-based percussionists and musicians of the African diaspora emulating traditional music from gatherings from their countries. 

• Clyde’s at City Theatre (7:00 pm – 8:30 pm) At the City Theatre, the show “Clyde’s” by Lynn Nottage will be performed. This show tells the story of a kitchen staff composed of formerly incarcerated individuals at a small truck stop in Pennsylvania. There are 75 tickets available for this event. You have to buy them online and use the code RADcity at checkout. This show is also recommended for those over the age of 15. 

For more RAD-ical events in the coming weeks, visit radworkshere.org/events to check out the complete calendar list of events complete with registration links. 

 Even after RAD days are over, the fun doesn’t stop. With your Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh card, you are always eligible to reserve free and discounted passes for events around the city. To view the available events, visit radpass.org. If you’re not a library card holder, signing up is as easy as visiting carnegielibrary.org or visiting your local branch to sign up in person. 

 We hope that this blog has inspired you for your next weekend or weekday excursion. If you attend any of the RAD days events and want to share your experience, please DM us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter for a chance to be featured on our social media.