Update (September 14, 2017): Check below for even more fun festivals happening this year!
Originally posted July 29: We hope you don’t have any plans for the rest of 2017, because we’ve just made the ultimate line up of Pittsburgh food festivals and drink-related events happening for the rest of the year. It’s never too early to start thinking about pumpkin beer and cookie walks, so clear your schedule for these events!
Be sure to bookmark this page so you will have it for the rest of the year – we’ll keep updating when we find more events to add!
JULY
Saint Mary Ukrainian Festival 2017
July 26- July 29
There’s still a chance to catch the 11th annual Ukrainian Festival this weekend on Ella Street in McKees Rocks. This festival strives to preserve Ukrainian heritage and traditions, as well as share Ukrainian culture with the city of Pittsburgh. Activities at the festival include live music, a parade, vendors, and costumes. There will also be traditional Ukrainian foods such as pierogies, kobasi, halubtsi, and more. Saint Mary Ukrainian Festival
Picklesburgh
July 28 – July 29
The time has come for Picklesburgh! Head down to the Roberto Clemente Bridge this weekend where the city has been transformed into a pickle paradise. From pickle cocktails, to pickle ice cream, canning stations, pickle egg rolls, pickle pretzels and so much more, this festival is a big dill! Check out our write up for all of the pickle items you need to eat this weekend.
AUGUST
Three Rivers Regatta
August 4 – 6
You know what we’re going to say – you gotta regatta! There will be food and drink vendors at the event, as well as jet ski stunt shows, powerboat races, and more. Additionally, 90’s legend Smash Mouth will be performing on August 5, and 5,000 people on Facebook have shown an interest in going to the concert dressed as Shrek. Don’t miss what is sure to be a monumental regatta. Three Rivers Regatta
VegFest
August 5
Celebrate all things vegan at one of Pittsburgh’s favorite summer food festival. Now in their third year, VegFest in Allegheny Commons Park, brings in some of the best vegan food suppliers, as well as animal wellness organizations, and cruelty free vendors. Famously, the first 250 guests to the festival get loaded vegan swag bags (get ready to stand in line). For more information on what to expect, check out our post about the event.
Beer & Food Round Up At Bay 4 in Lawrenceville
August 11 – August 12
Franktuary and Bay 4’s monthly beer and food truck roundup series returns this August with live music, beer from Helltown Brewing, and food from Pittsburgh Smokehouse, Franktuary, Edgars Best Tacos, Santa Fe Express, Evil Swine BBQ, and Pig Iron Public House. This event takes place all weekend. In addition to food and drink, there will be games and yoga. Admission is free and open to the public, and children and dogs are welcome. Find out more online.
11th Annual Millvale Brew Fest
August 12
The Millvale Brew Fest is back again for its 11th year. Held at the Millvale Riverfront Park, this event features over 180 craft, micro, nano and specialty brews from around the country. Local food trucks and restaurants will be onsite selling food. Money raised benefits the Millvale community. There are two session for this event, and tickets can be purchased online.
Pittsburgh Restaurant Week
August 14- 20
The summer edition of Pittsburgh Restaurant Week will take place during the second week of August. 39 local restaurants are participating in the “most delicious time of the year,” and providing a special, discount menu deals for restaurant week. Full information on the deals can be found online.
Little Italy Days in Bloomfield
August 17 – 20
Four days, three stages, and over 30 acts – it is almost time for Little Italy Days! Stop through for activities like celebrity bocce, Miss Little Italy pageant, Italian Idol singing competition, and much more. Tons of Italian food and drink will be available for purchase during the event. Now a Pittsburgh tradition, Bloomfield’s Little Italy Days started in 2002 as a way to celebrate Bloomfield’s Italian heritage, and create a destination for Italian-themed entertainment and food in Pittsburgh. Little Italy Days
Corks & Kegs in Washington County
August 19 – 20
Get ready for two days of beer, wine, spirits, and food at the Meadows Racetrack for Washington County’s premiere craft beer festival. Hosted by the Observer – Reporter, over sixteen breweries, six wineries, and two spirit companies will be at this event. Eight different food trucks, including the Pittsburgh Pierogi Truck, Vagabond Taco Truck, and Wicked Ribs N’at will also be in attendance, as well as tons of regional vendors. Admission to this event is free. Corks & Kegs
Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival
August 19 – 20, August 26 – 27, September 2 – 4, September 9 – 10, September 16 – 17, September 23 – 24
Here ye, here ye! A true sign of the arrival of Fall in Western PA is the return of the annual Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival. Stop through for Renaissance themed games and shows (jousting, archery, fire breathing, fortune telling, ect.) There will also be a lot of classic Renaissance festival food and drink (giant drumsticks and beer). Tickets can be purchased online.
FEASTival in McKees Rocks
August 26
The name says it all for this event! This McKees Rocks festival is all about food, music, and art. This event began in 2013 as a way to showcase the development in McKees Rocks business district. Proceeds benefit the redevelopment of McKees Rocks. Keep an eye on the website for an official food vendor list.
September
Final Garfield Night Market of the Year
September 1
September marks the final Garfield Night Market of 2017. Be sure to cruise down N Pacific Ave during the Unblurred Gallery Crawl to shop local wares, and eat local food. Several local food trucks and vendors will be in attendance. More information can be found online.
Penn Brewery Oktoberfest
September 8 – 10, September 15 – 17
No need to travel to Germany – Penn Brewery is bringing Oktoberfest to you! Don your lederhosen and get ready to party. This annual event is always a good time, with tons of food, live music and an endless supply of German-inspired beer. It wouldn’t be fall in Pittsburgh without Oktoberfest at Penn Brewery. Penn Brewery Oktoberfest
Pittsburgh Irish Festival
September 8 – 10
Pittsburgh Irish Festival is returning in September for its 27th year! Stop by for plenty of Irish entertainers, vendors, activities, and more. Bands like Gaelic Storm and the Screaming Orphans will be in attendance. McCarricks, Kells Bay, Craig’s Fine Irish Food, Mairin’s Irish Kitchen will be serving dishes like Irish stew, corned beef and cabbage dinner, bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie, and much more, for one of the best Pittsburgh food festivals of the year! More information can be found online.
Steel City Big Pour
September 9
Drink local beer at one of Pittsburgh’s biggest craft beer festivals! Over 50 brewers and 20 food vendors will be at the 2017 edition of Big Pour. Check out local breweries like Allegheny City Brewing Co, Couch Brewery, Fury Brewing Co, and more, plus local food vendors like Burgatory, Industry Public House, Prohibition Pastries, Sharp Edge, and more. Tickets to Big Pour 11 includes samples from all food and drink vendors. Hosted by Construction Junction, the proceeds from the event support material reuse. There will also be live music and art. Steel City Big Pour
Next 3 Days from NEXTPittsburgh
September 15-17
NEXTPittsburgh, The Mayor’s Office, and the URA are teaming up for a special festival in Carrick entitled “The Next 3 Days.” The festival works to to showcase emerging Pittsburgh neighborhoods by taking three days to celebrate the neighborhood’s culture, businesses, amenities, and housing. The series first launched in October of 2015, and past neighborhoods featured include Troy Hill, Allentown, and Mt. Washington. The focus of this series is Carrick, located south of the city. There will be many events over the three days including tours, cocktails, live music, local bites, beer, food trucks and more. More information can be found online.
Beaver Wine Festival
September 16
Held on Third Street in Beaver, PA, fifteen different wineries come together for the Beaver Wine Festival. Sip drinks from places like Vollant Mill Winery, Wilhelm Winery, Wapiti Ridge Wine Cellars, and more. There will also be local food trucks and talented musicians. Tickets can be purchased online, or at the festival.
Lebanese Food Festival
September 15 – 17
Explore foods from Lebanon at the annual Pittsburgh Lebanese Festival, held at Our Lady of Victory Church in Scott Township. Enjoy spinach pies, tabbouli, kibbee, lamb kabob and more. Held over three days, enjoy live music and even more fun. Admission is free to this event. More information can be found online.
Best Slice of Indiana
September 22
Sample pizza to figure out who makes the best slice in Indiana, PA, while supporting a good cause! Held in Downtown Indiana, tickets to this event include live music, pizza samples from each participant, and the ability to vote on your favorite slice. All proceeds benefit the ICCAP Power Pack Program which provides 80,160 nutritious meals to feed insecure children on weekends each school year. Tickets can be purchased online.
2017 Etna Art Tour
September 23
If you’ve never explored Etna’s business district, the 3rd Annual Etna Art Tour is the perfect time to check it out! This art walk celebrates different art and artists of Etna! Guests are welcome to visit artists’ studios, galleries and shops and enjoy community art activities and performances, including an outdoor concert on Butler Street. There will also be food trucks and local eateries, including Quickhatch Coffee+Food, PGH Taco Truck, and Cop Out Pierogies. Admission is free and all are welcome. More information can be found online.
Hops on the Mon
September 23
Head to Morgantown, WV – less than an hour and a half from Pittsburgh – to sample beer from the West Virginia beer community. The festival will feature 50 breweries, some local to WV, and some international, but all rigorously selected based on product quality and style distinctiveness.
Guests are welcome to vote on their favorite brewery, and in the Great Grilled Cheese Challenge for best grilled cheese at the event.
Tickets can be purchased online.
Brews in the Park at Kennywood
September 23
Enjoying a beer at Kennywood Park? Sounds like a pretty good time. Listen to live music and sample dozens of different craft beers for Brews in the Park. The Sky Rocket, Jack Rabbit, Racer, Aero 360, Thunderbolt, Merry Go Round rides will be open from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., and beer tasting and live music will take place from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online.
Butler Fall Festival
September 23
It is almost time for Main Street in Butler, PA, to transform for their annual fall festival. Attendees can expect food, crafts, two stages of live music, and a kids zone with a petting zoo, barrel train, face painting and more. Food vendors include PGH Halal, Boyers Ice Cream, PGH Crepes, BRGR, Tango Food Truck and more. More information can be found online.
Soergel’s Fall Festival
Every weekend September 23 through end of October
Soergel’s is celebrating the season with six weekends of fall festivals! Each weekend will feature food from Sorgel’s BBQ and food bar (including roasted corn while supplies last), as well as desserts from their Sweet Saloon. There will also be hayrides, a pumpkin patch, kettle corn, pick your own apples, face painting, games, and so much more! For the 21+ crowd Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka, Arrowhead Wine Cellars, Arsenal Cider, and Aurochs Brewing Company will be on site. More information can be found on their Facebook page.
Pittsburgh Pierogi Festival
September 24
Kennywood is hosting the Pittsburgh Pierogi Festival – an event dedicated to one of Pittsburgh’s most popular foods, and a symbol of the city. Eat specialty pierogis from dozens of vendors, paint your own pierogi with Paint Monkey, and ride a select number of rides. A beer garden will be available for 21+ guests. Tickets can be purchased online.
Reyna Pepper Fest
September 24
It is going to get hot in Pittsburgh for Renya’s 6th annual Pepper Farm Festival. Head out to Allison Park and experience peppers roasting all day, featuring Hatch and New Mexico Chile Peppers. Buy your peppers fresh off the plant, or hot out of the roaster at one of the hottest Pittsburgh food festivals of the year. Casa Reyna and other food vendors will be at the event selling spicy foods. Find out more online.
33rd Annual Autumnfest at Seven Springs Mountain
September 30 – October 1, October 7-8, October 14-15, October 21-22
Seven Springs Mountain Resort celebrates 33 years of Autumnfest this year! Held over four weekends, each weekend has a different theme to celebrate fall. Weekends include Oktoberfest (first two weekends), Chili (with a ‘Chili Extravaganza’), and Kids’ Halloween Weekend. All celebrations will include live music, and an ‘Autumnfest Buffet’ with delicious entrees, a carving station, dessert table and various selections based on the theme of the weekend. There will also be pumpkin painting, face painting, a hay bale maze, a petting zoo, pony rides, magicians, fire breathers, 70+ artisans and crafters and wagon rides. Seven Springs is offering special packages to guests who wish to stay overnight. A full lineup of activities for every weekend and theme can be found online.
Booktober Fest
September 30
Crafton Public Library is celebrating its First Annual Booktoberfest with frosty beer, festive food, and lively entertainment. There will also be live music, freshly grilled brats and dogs, and more fun. Proceeds from admission go directly to the Library. Tickets can be purchased online.
Freedom Farms Fall Festival 2017
September 30
Every year for the four weekends leading up to Halloween, Freedom Farms invites everyone to the farm for a large variety of fun activities including as hayrides, a hay maze, pony rides, face painting, contests, corn pit, hay mountain, and much more for a $10 admission! There will also be breweries and wineries available for adults, as well as vendors and food. Admission can be paid at the gate, and more information can be found on the Freedom Farms Facebook page.
October
Hoptoberfest at Hop Farm Brewing
October 1
Hoptoberfest is returning to Hop Farm Brewing this October for the 4th year in a row. In the past, this event has featured between 22 and 25 food and beer pairings from local restaurants, culinary experts, and local and national breweries. Additionally, all of the proceeds have benefited Camp Chihopi, an annual summer camp for children who have undergone a transplant at Pittsburgh’s Children’s Hospital. Follow Hop Farm on Facebook for their official announcement of 2017 Hoptoberfest.
Harvest Feast
October 1
Gow Pittsburgh and The Frick Pittsburgh are hosting a Harvest Feast event to celebrate gardens across the region. The event will feature food, activities, lawn games, and music. Guests can also explore the Elise Adibi “Respiration Paintings” installation in the greenhouse and will have discounted admission to Clayton, the historic home of the Henry Clay Frick family. The working area of the greenhouse, where Grow Pittsburgh grows seedlings and produce, will also be open for tours.
Pittsburgh Specialty Coffee Week
October 2 – 8
Commonplace Coffee is hosting Pittsburgh’s most caffeinated week this October. Coffee shops across the city participate in this event, and share their love of all things coffee. In addition to specials at the store, there are also special events. In the past guests have enjoyed events like “Coffee Cocktails,” coffee cupping, and a “Latte Art Throwdown.” Keep an eye on the Pittsburgh Coffee Week Website for an updated 2017 schedule.
Hough’s Dunkin’ Pumpkin’ Beer Festival
October 7
If you love pumpkin beer, you’re gonna love Hough’s Dunkin’ Pumpkin’ Beer Festival. In the past, tickets to the event have included all-you-can-drink samples of over 25 pumpkin beers, light snacks in a ‘Trick or Treat’ bag, and a voucher to fill a 32oz to-go can with a pumpkin beer draft. Tickets can be purchased online.
Pittsburgher’s BBQ Burger Bash & Cocktail Competition
October 7
Head down to the South Side this October to spectate, and munch along as some of Pittsburgh’s top restaurants compete to be named, “The Best Burger In The Burgh.” Enjoy live music, drink, and plenty of burgers at the event. This year, the judges have added a “cocktail competition” to the mix. Follow the Pittsburgher on Facebook for updated information on ticket sales for the event.
GoodTaste! Pittsburgh’s Hometown Homegrown Festival
October 7
GoodTaste! Pittsburgh is hosting a “Hometown-Homegrown” event to celebrate Pittsburgh’s passion for food. This year over 40 local vendors supplying food sampling, demonstrations, spirit sampling, games, live music and more will be in attendance. Don’t miss Pittsburgh chefs doing live demos. Tickets for this event will be sold at the door. More information can be found online.
Apple Whiskey Fest at Wigle Whiskey
October 6 – 8
Each year, to celebrate the release of Walkabout, Wigle’s Apple Whiskey, the Pittsburgh distillery celebrated with weekend of fall fun. In the past, the event has featured autumnal events, apple bobbing, live music, apple whiskey sampling, apple whiskey cocktails, cider pressing and Johnny Appleseed look-alikes. Keep your eyes on the Wigle Whiskey Facebook page for an official announcement of this year’s Apple Whiskey Fest events.
Smoketoberfest from Roundabout Brewing
October 8
Roundabout Brewing’s Smoketoberfest will take place on October 8th this year. Guests can expect live music, smoked dishes from local vendors, and even smoked beer! Also expect your favorite Roundabout drafts and maybe a guest beer from another brewery. Follow Roundabout on Facebook for an official announcement and information on ticket sales.
Pumpkinfest 6 from Blue Dust
October 14
Blue Dust in Homestead is bringing Pittsburgh another extra special pumpkin extravaganza. Located at Blue Dust, in the past this event has featured live music, pumpkin beers, food trucks, and infused cocktails! Follow the Facebook event page for updates on Pumpkinfest 6.
Pittsburgh ZooBoo
October 21 – 22, October 28 – 29
Things are getting spooky at the Pittsburgh Zoo this October. Trick-or-Treat throughout the Zoo and collect yummy candy at this family favorite event. Enjoy two (not-so-spooky) haunted houses, a costume competition, and even more Halloween activities. ZooBoo is covered as part of general admission. The official ZooBoo schedule can be viewed online.
November
Peoples Gas Holiday Market
November 17 – December 23
Inspired by the German Christmas Markets, every holiday season Market Square Downtown transforms into a traditional European holiday market. Shop for holiday gifts, munch on festive foods, skate in an ice rink, visit santa, and enjoy live music. Check back the Downtown Holiday’s website in early November for information on this year’s holiday market.
December
Lawrenceville Cookie Walk
December 1- 3
This Pittsburgh tradition happens each year, providing patrons of Lawrenceville with delicious cookies. This event, which started in 1997, is a free and family friendly. Guests stroll through the neighborhood following a cookie map, and sample cookies at their pace. Keep an eye on the Lawrenceville Corporation website for date for the 2017 Cookie Walk.
Krampusnacht in Market Square
December 5
For the past few years, Pittsburgh has been celebrating Krampus Night in Market Square. Thi s ancient European holiday joins the merriment at the People’s Gas Holiday Market. Krampus will be joining St. Nicholas, and dispensing coal and the ruten bundles to bad children. Follow Krampus in Pittsburgh for updates on the 2017 edition of this celebration.
Cheryl says
Cookie Walk sounds interesting. Would like to learn more to possibly use in our area for church stops. Can you provide additional details on how it works?
Emily Catalano says
Hi Cheryl! The Lawrenceville Corporation puts on the Cookie Walk every year, and they may be able to answer your questions. You can find out how to reach them here: http://lvpgh.com/cookietour2016/. Thanks for reading!
Christine Iksic says
Gear Fest with lots of great local beer is Oct 14th http://www.gearfestpgh.com