10+ things to do over Labor Day Weekend in Pittsburgh

What’s going on in Pittsburgh during Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3-7? Find out here.

Don’t miss our Live Music Guide for details about festivals and concerts on the horizon this fall. For a comprehensive guide to September art happenings around the region, don’t miss our NEXT in the Gallery series.

Have a cool event we should know about? Email us.

Thursday, Sept. 3-Sunday, Sept. 6
Taste of Greece Food Festival at Holy Trinity Church
11 a.m.-9 p.m.
One of the most delicious times of year is almost here. If you’re looking for a break from backyard barbecues and grilling, head to the North Hills to take a food excursion through Greece. Located adjacent to the McCandless Crossing shopping complex, the culinary celebration pairs four days of mouth-watering Greek dishes with cultural experiences. Savor authentic specialties like moussaka, spanakopita and tiropita, along with new twists on traditions like the “Yinzer Gyro.” Festival-goers can also check out Greek music and youth dance performances and join a church tour to see historic hand-carved woodwork and iconography. Hop on the free shuttle running from the UPMC Passavant Green Lot. Check out the menu online to plan your visit. Information. Find more food festivals at NEXT.

Kickoff and Rib Festival. Photo courtesy of Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers.
Kickoff and Rib Festival. Photo courtesy of Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers.
Kickoff and Rib Festival. Photo courtesy of Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers.

Thursday, Sept. 3-Monday, Sept. 7
Kickoff and Rib Festival at Acrisure Stadium
Various times
Score a touchdown when two of Pittsburgh’s favorite pastimes team up for this Labor Day weekend tradition. Savor heaping helpings of homemade ribs along with fun festival foods from local and national chefs while kicking off football season. It’s a winning combination of smoked cuisine and black-and-gold pride. Watch 12 nationally renowned chefs bring the heat and compete for the championship title in the PA Pork Pitmaster Awards judged by a celebrity panel. With a variety of vendors crafting everything from classic dry-rubbed racks to ribs drenched in tangy, sweet and fiery sauces, there’s something for every palate.

Rib lovers can also check out Steelers memorabilia and trophies, attend a street party with DJ Steve Maffei Jr., and enjoy carnival attractions, rides and games. The event’s Jim Beam Experience will be equipped with action stations, a mobile bar, lemonade on draft, and a 360 photo booth. In between bites, check out live music by House of Soul, Guitar Zack, Billy Price, DJ Bonics, West 22nd, Junior Guthrie and The Push, and The Jack Wharff Band. Sunday is the 12th annual Cornhole Classic presented by Veterans Place. Festival hours and information.

“The Paper Bag Plan.” Film still courtesy of Film Pittsburgh.

Thursday, Sept. 3-Sunday, Sept. 6
ReelAbilities Pittsburgh Film Festival at the Pittsburgh Playhouse and online
7 p.m.
The remarkable life of Quaker, abolitionist and writer Benjamin Lay. A blind Indigenous artist who pioneers adaptive sculpting techniques in Vietnam. One man’s decision to take a dangerous job with the mob in order to raise the $120,000 needed for his hearing loss surgery. These are just some of the powerful stories coming to screens large and small during this 14th annual film festival showcasing new, independent cinema exploring the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people living with disabilities. Don’t miss Thursday night’s opening festivities at the Pittsburgh Playhouse.

This year’s feature films include “Silent Notes,” “The Paper Bag Plan” and “Becoming Benjamin Lay.” Schedule and tickets. Read more about ReelAbilities in NEXT.

Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Soul Food Festival.

Friday, Sept. 4-Sunday, Sept. 6
A Soulful Taste of the Burgh in Downtown Pittsburgh
11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Honoring the rich history of African American chefs and culinary entrepreneurs, this celebration will showcase 100 proprietors and small business vendors. Savor a wide array of soul food dishes, from sweet potato pie and BBQ delights, to Jamaican cuisine, grilled goodies, African recipes and more. Setting up shop along Stanwix Street and Liberty Avenue, the seventh annual event will also highlight additional culinary traditions from a variety of cultures, including Asian, Greek and Italian specialties.

There will be live performances by national artists on two outdoor shows stages, including Montell Jordan, Def Loaf and Leela James. The largest African American food celebration in Pennsylvania, the extravaganza also includes DJs, educational sessions and a youth fun zone. Information. Read more about the festival in NEXT.

Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks presents “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” Photo courtesy of Cat Aceto.

Friday, Sept. 4-Sunday, Sept. 6
Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks presents “The Merry Wives of Windsor”
6 p.m. & 2 p.m.
Join fellow theater lovers on the grass and under the tree canopy for a theatrical experience like no other. Kicking off its fall season of plein air plays, the adventurous troupe is taking Shakespeare’s beloved 1602 farce, “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” on the road to leafy Highland Park. Transforming the Bard’s subversive comedy into a “joyful, flamboyant celebration of queer pride set against the vibrant gay club culture of the 1980s,” the fresh adaptation is being staged across from the park’s Super Playground.

Follow Falstaff as he “pursues the purses of a sharp-witted drag queen and her best friend” as the play’s bold new twist explores love, marriage, identity, gender, revenge and community. Adapted and directed by Cat Aceto, “Merry Wives” stars Jo Getting as Falstaff. The show also features live music by Matt Calvetti, scenic design and props by Samantha Kuchta and costumes by Ricky Lyle. Audiences can expect plenty of “devious schemes, MTV-era style, Pittsburgh references, physicality, music, flirtation and merry chaos.” The free performances continue throughout September in city parks. Schedule and information.

Sunday, Sept. 6
Neighborhood Flea at Schenley Plaza
11 a.m.-4 p.m.
September may already be here, but the flea market season is far from over. This year, Pittsburgh’s popular flea market series has teamed up with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to bring treasures of all kinds to Oakland’s iconic green space. Transforming the Schenley Plaza lawn into an open-air marketplace, the pop-up event features 85 local vendors selling everything from vintage collectibles and eclectic clothing to upcycled goods and novelties. While enjoying the thrill of the hunt and getting to know the sellers in person, shoppers can also enjoy live music, play lawn games and hop on the historic carousel. Bring your blanket to relax on the grass and enjoy a picnic lunch from the market’s food trucks and small-batch food purveyors. Information.

Sunday, Sept. 6
Painting with Paul on the Spirit Rooftop Garden
4-6 p.m.
Pittsburgh’s own Bob Ross is here to help painters of all skill levels get those creative juices flowing at the end of summer. Pick up a paint kit for $25 to support Spirit’s Rooftop Garden and enjoy some of the Burgh’s best pizza and drinks. Join Spirit’s dedicated resident gardener, who is also a talented local artist, while listening to tunes and enjoying the neighborhood vibes. Paul will share painting insights along with his expertise creating the verdant garden that sits atop Spirit’s roof. The event also provides a welcoming and casual gathering space for local gardeners to swap ideas and share knowledge. Tickets.

Photo courtesy of P3R.
Photo courtesy of the Steelers Run and Walk.

Monday, Sept. 7: Steelers Run and Walk at Acrisure Stadium
8 a.m.
Lace up, wave your Terrible Towel and kick off the 2026 football season while giving back to the community. A major fundraiser benefiting the Art Rooney Scholarship Fund and Chuck Noll Foundation, the 38th annual race features a 3.1-mile level course on the North Shore culminating with an exhilarating finish on the Acrisure Stadium warning track. All registrants will receive a commemorative 2026 medal, Steelers Run Walk T-shirt and goodie bag. New this year, participants will have the chance to win autographed Steelers items during the post-race raffle. The region’s youngest football fans can get in on all the excitement with the Kids Fun Run. Register.

Monday, Sept. 7
Labor Day Parade in Downtown Pittsburgh
8 a.m.
Start your holiday by joining one of the country’s largest and oldest Labor Day parades. Support the Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council, along with a host of regional unions and special guests from across the country for the parade’s 41st anniversary. Honoring the U.S. labor movement, the parade route follows Centre Avenue to Grant Street, and then heads down the Boulevard of the Allies, making its way to the finish review stand in front of the Steelworkers Building. The parade lineup begins at 8 a.m. at the Melody Tent Lot located at 1418 Centre Ave. Not marching? Cheer on the parade beginning at 10 a.m. Information.

Photo of the Dormont Doggie Dip courtesy of HARP.
Photo of the Dormont Doggie Dip courtesy of HARP.

Monday, Sept. 7
Dormont Doggie Dip at Dormont Pool
4-7:30 p.m.
Since all three Pooches in the Pool sessions already sold out at Allegheny County pools, you had better gallop to get tickets for the Dormont Doggie Dip while you still can. With 90-degree temps back this week, the extended dog days of summer are all for the dogs on Labor Day. The only consolation to the saddest day of the year — when pools close for summer — is that our four-legged besties get to jump right in after us. This beloved Labor Day tradition invites the region’s fur babies to cool off and make a splash. There’s room for water dogs of all sizes to swim, fetch and paddle at Pennsylvania’s largest pool, which offers three sessions. Tickets.