What’s going on in Pittsburgh this weekend, Dec. 11-14? Find out here. Know of a cool event? Email us. Thursday, Dec. 11: Smithsonian Lecture Series: Funny Stuff at the Senator John Heinz History Center6-7:30 p.m.While the Heinz History Center regularly examines many very serious topics throu gh its exhibitions and programming, it’s all about the laughs at the Strip District museum on Thursday night. As part of the Smithsonian Lecture Series, the program will explore how the country’s comedy history is collected and preserved. Ryan Lintelman, entertainment curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, will share insights from his forthcoming book, “Funny Stuff: How Comedy Shaped American History.” The book offers a look at “how humor has reflected and influenced the American experience, from 19th-century vaudeville and minstrel shows to modern stand-up, television satire and internet memes.” Tickets. Bastard Bearded Irishmen. Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Irish Festival. Thursday, Dec. 11: A Celtic Rock Christmas at Velum Fermentation6-10:30 p.m.Celtic rock and community spirit will converge when the Pittsburgh Irish Festival and YaJagoff team up to host the inaugural edition of this holiday fundraiser. While spreading Irish cheers you’ll be treated to high-energy performances by some of the country’s top Celtic rock artists, including Ally the Piper, The Low Kings and Bastard Bearded Irishmen. Also showcased performance by the Bell School of Irish Dance and Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance. Sip specialty cocktails and brews while participating in the charity raffles and opportunities to give back to the community. The Irish Design Center will be on hand selling authentic wares, so you can also get some holiday shopping done. Proceeds will support the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and Pittsburgh Irish Festival’s mission to preserve, promote and celebrate Irish culture. Tickets. Black Nativity. Photo by Redwood Media Group. Friday, Dec. 12-Sunday, Dec. 14: Black Nativity at the Stephen Foster Memorial Charity Randall Theater8 p.m., 5 p.m. 3 p.m.Get into the holiday spirit with this classic retelling of the Nativity story from an African American perspective presented by the Shona Sharif African Dance Drum Ensemble. Running through Dec. 21 at the Oakland venue, the annual holiday tradition is celebrating its 32nd anniversary production in Pittsburgh. Adapted and directed by Maurice Redwood, the passionate production features gospel music, dynamic actors and African drumming and dancing. In addition to Redwood, the production team features Artistic Director Oronde Sharif, Musical Director Chuck Anderson, Vocal Director K. Woodruff and Vocal Coach Tim Woodruff. Tickets. Winter Heat. Photo courtesy of Carnegie Museum of Art. Friday, Dec. 12: Winter Heat at Carnegie Museum of Art8 p.m.-midnightYou have not one but two terrific opportunities to experience tidings of comfort and joy at Carnegie Museums this month. Feel the energy emanating from the dance floor when Carnegie Museum of Art transforms the Hall of Sculpture into a winter disco for the ages. As the museum stays open late into the night, DJs Arie Cole, HUNY XO and Big Phil will bring the beats and turn up the heat to deliver a night of “ice-melting magic.” Partygoers will have exclusive access to the groundbreaking Black Photojournalism exhibition, and a crew of talented photographers will be on hand to capture your looks, moves and antics throughout the museum. Tickets. Read more about Winter Heat in NEXT. Saturday, Dec. 13: Sports360 Exhibit Opening: A Family-Friendly Tailgate Celebration at the Kamin Science Center10 a.m.-5 p.m.Before Pittsburgh hosts the highly anticipated NFL Draft in April, another sports milestone will land on the North Shore. With a new twist on exhibition openings, Kamin Science Center invites sports fans of all ages to experience all the energy of the arena and celebrate the grand opening of its newest exhibition with a family-friendly tailgate party. Fusing curiosity and competition, the high-octane exhibit explores the “science, technology and passion behind sports.” Be among the first to experience the largest exhibition ever at the science center.Encompassing 9,500 square feet, Sports360 is divided into four interactive zones – Prepare, Practice, Participate and GoPro – with 25 hands-on stations inspired by football, baseball, hockey, basketball, soccer and the Olympics. Tickets. Read more about Sports360 in NEXT. Photo courtesy of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center. Saturday, Dec. 13: Holiday Community Day at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center12-4 p.m.Head Downtown for this free community day celebrating the warmth of the holiday season and sharing the richness of African American culture. Families, friends, neighbors and visitors alike will gather to share traditions, explore art and participate in a festive afternoon showcasing unity, creativity and community. As 2025 comes to a close, the August Wilson African American Cultural Center has a lot to celebrate: The 15th anniversary of the building’s opening and what would have been the 80th birthday of its legendary namesake. Make a dent in your holiday shopping list at the event’s marketplace featuring local vendors and one-of-a-kind gifts. Enjoy Kwanzaa drumming and dancing with Opoku Outreach and choir performances by Parrish Davenport Music Ministry. Pose for keepsake photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, sip delights from the Café Ase Hot Chocolate Bar and enjoy face painting with Markeeta See Art. Information. Read more about the event in NEXT. Photo courtesy of the Lawrenceville Cookie Tour. Saturday, Dec. 13, Sunday, Dec. 14: Lawrenceville Cookie Tour along Butler Street Penn Avenue12-5 p.m.In Lawrenceville, supporting independent businesses is baked into the community. Back for its 28th sweet year, the neighborhood shindig invites holiday shoppers to munch their way through a 30-block-long neighborhoodwide cookie table. Satisfy your sweet tooth, add new recipes to your holiday menu and put your dollars back into the local economy at one of the region’s largest and most anticipated holiday sensations. From noon to 5 p.m., storefronts along Butler Street and Penn Avenue will offer homemade cookies, warm beverages and shopping deals. Pick up a map, start shopping and see how much the neighborhood has to offer. Need a lift? Hop on the cookie trolley! Also don’t miss the Radiant Hall Pop-Up Market and Cookie Mall at the Boys Girls Club. Information. Read more about the Cookie Tour in NEXT.Saturday, Dec. 13: Keepers of the Flame Awards at the Energy Innovation Center6-9 p.m.Join the Legacy Arts Project to honor the “artists, elders, youth and community leaders who are preserving and advancing African diasporic traditions in Pittsburgh.” The 17th annual “Keepers of the Flame” Awards will amplify the achievements of five elder honorees and four youth honorees. The celebration includes live performances, visual tributes and cultural storytelling, as well as a silent auction and community reception. Funds raised will benefit Legacy Arts’ year-round programming, which includes youth arts education, cultural dance and drumming classes, intergenerational workshops and summer and after-school programs. Tickets. Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Center for Arts Media. 3 art markets happening Saturday, Dec. 13 Saturday, Dec. 13: Winter Artists’ Market at Pittsburgh Center for Arts Media10 a.m.-4 p.m.Equal parts artist market and open house, the one-day holiday sale showcases original work by more than 40 artist vendors, along with refreshments from Farmer x Baker. Held indoors, the market encompasses the center’s studio building and three floors of artwork from a wide range of mediums. The winter market also coincides with the opening of the center’s Holiday Shop, which will feature handmade gifts, cards and ornaments from local artists. Information. Saturday, Dec. 13: Winter Pottery Pop-up at the Union Project11 a.m.-4 p.m.Following on the heels of its most successful Mother of All Pottery Sales event ever, the Union Project is back with its Winter Pottery Pop-Up. Returning with an expanded selection, this “celebration of craftsmanship, creativity and community” features functional and decorative work by 16 local ceramicists. Union Project’s historic Highland Park building provides a welcoming and warm hub where makers, collectors and fans of pottery makers come together. Purchase distinctive, one-of-a-kind pottery directly from local artists and find handmade pieces that will add charm to any home, studio or office space. Providing a vital holiday sales opportunity for emerging artists and an informal setting for shoppers, the event also features soothing beverages and a festive cookie table. Information. Saturday, Dec. 13: Crafts Drafts Holiday Market at East End Brewing Co.12-4 p.m.Pittsburgh’s longest-running brewery craft show will wet your whistle and help you conquer that gift list. Craft goods and craft brews are on tap at this popular holiday market in Larimer. Peruse lovingly made goods from 14 local makers. While there, grab lunch and libations from the beer-and-pizza-making wizards from East End Brewing and Chewing. The craft show is curated by Matt Buchholz of Alternate Histories, who will provide the day’s festive shopping soundtrack. Information.
 Saturday, Dec. 13 Sunday, Dec. 14: “A Musical Christmas Carol” at the Byham Theater1 p.m., 6 p.m., 11 a.m. 4 p.m.If you love him in the acclaimed play, “Take Me Out,” and as vampire king Russell Edgington in HBO’s “True Blood,” you can’t miss Denis O’Hare when he takes on the classic holiday role of Ebenezer Scrooge in the Civic Light Opera performance. The award-winning American actor joins Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and a host of ghosts for a fresh take on the Dickens’ classic directed by Scott Evans. Running through Dec. 23, the festive family favorite explores the concept of redemption and features special effects and intricate costumes. Sing along to your favorite yuletide melodies while rediscovering the holiday magic and wonder of your childhood. Tickets.Saturday, Dec. 13 Sunday, Dec. 14: The Momentum Festival at City Theatre CompanyVarious timesWhat leads up to opening night of a play or production? Relaunched, refreshed and reimagined, City Theatre’s Momentum Festival gives theater lovers the rare opportunity to experience four new plays presented at different stages of their development. On hiatus since 2023, the Momentum Festival serves as a “long-standing laboratory for playwrights to workshop new scripts with directors, dramaturgs and actors.” To bring it back this year, City Theatre is teaming up with Carnegie Mellon University’s acclaimed Center for New Work Development. The event will spotlight some of the country’s most exciting contemporary playwrights while supporting the next generation of theater artists. Don’t miss workshops and public readings, plus a new work slam at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Three Stories venue. Tickets. Zuly Inirio. Photo courtesy of the New Hazlitt Theater. Saturday, Dec. 13: Sounds of the Season at The New Hazlett Theater7:30 p.m.Getting in on the holiday spirit, the historic North Side theater is unveiling a brand-new series. Designed to nurture community engagement and spread cheer, the “enchanting evening of diverse holiday music” is open to audiences of all ages. Curating a fresh new twist on holiday classics, the production features jazz, soul and international rhythms by leading Pittsburgh musical artists, including Dr. Zuly Inirio, Hugo Cruz Caminos, and Dr. Kendra Ross  Brendan Williams. To kick off the festivities in style, patrons can attend the VIP Holiday Cheer Hour (pay what you want tickets) from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., which offers holiday-themed cocktails and mocktails, hors d’oeuvres and DJ music, plus exclusive early entry to the theater. Tickets. Photo courtesy of Pittsburgh Record Fest. Sunday, Dec. 14: Pittsburgh Record Fest at Spirit
11 a.m.-7 p.m.
They might not fit inside a stocking, but vinyl records will make the music lovers on your gift list very, very happy. Plus, you can also score cassettes, CDs and 45s when Pittsburgh’s popular record fair returns for its holiday edition. Dust off that turntable and dig through the crates for records representing all musical genres. Enjoy the thrill of the hunt and celebrate physical media as you discover rarities, great deals and new sounds. Along with vendors and shops, the all-ages event also includes music memorabilia, local DJs, and food and drink specials.
Information. 10 more things to do this weekend Running through Dec. 20: Pittsburgh Savoyards presents “It’s A Wonderful Life” at the Margaret Partee Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m.Running through Dec. 21: James Seabright presents “YIPPEE KI YAY (the parody celebration of ‘Die Hard’)” at the Greer Cabaret Theater, various timesFriday, Dec. 12: Sharmistha Ray’s “Emergent Realities” at Wood Street GalleriesSaturday, Dec. 13: Grinch-y Season’s Greetings Saturdays at The National Aviary, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13: Vintage Mart Holiday Special at Construction Junction, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13: Holiday Pup-Up at Double Dog Studios, 12-3 p.m.Saturday, Dec. 13: I Made It! Merry Bright at SouthSide Works, 12-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13: The Anime Night Before Christmas at Spirit, 5:30-11 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14: Cinder Bell Rock at the Cinderlands Warehouse, 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14: Handmade Holiday Show at the Wilkinsburg Train Station Workshop PGH, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.For more things to do in December with NEXT, don’t miss our Ultimate Guide to Holiday Markets, Pittsburgh Concert Guide and NEXT in the Gallery series. The post 15+ things to do this weekend in Pittsburgh, from A Celtic Rock Christmas to the Lawrenceville Cookie Tour appeared first on NEXTpittsburgh. ...read more read less