If you are looking for something fun to do with kids in Baldwin, Bethel Park, Brentwood, Bridgeville, Castle Shannon, Dormont, Jefferson Hills, Mt. Lebanon, Mt. Oliver, Mt. Washington, Pleasant Hills, South Park, South Side, Upper St. Clair, West Mifflin and the surrounding areas, MacKID South Hills has you covered by finding five fun things for you to do with your kids in the area or a short drive away over the coming week. Let us help you find your family fun!
Macaroni KID South Hills' top picks of fun things to do with kids in the South Hills of Pittsburgh area from Monday, October 9th through Sunday, October 15th. Click on the links for all the details.
1. Fall/Halloween Contests and Crafts
Oh my! So many fun, festive crafts are in the air. Decorate pumpkins and scarecrows or make some ooey, gooey slime. There are even more options than the ones I have already listed right now. Libraries near you are hosting many crafts events for Fall and Halloween.
- Peters Township Public Library is holding their very own Pumpkin Decorating Contest on October 9th. The rules include picking out your own pumpkin at home and decorating your favorite book character. Once you have finished that pumpkin bring it down to Peters Township Public Library and have it voted on by other library users. The pumpkin has to be dropped off by Friday, October 20. All voting takes place from October 23rd-25th and winners will be announced on October 26th. In addition to the Pumpkin Decorating Contest at Peters Township Public Library, there is a Scarecrow Decorating Contest. This is the chance to see scarecrows popping up everywhere?! Place a decorated scarecrow in front of your home, a shop you love, or even an office, just make sure it is VISIBLE! All judging will be held on October 25th and the winners will be announced on October 27th!
- Get in the Halloween spirit EARLY at Green Tree Public Library for a Mini Skeleton Decorating Contest. Your kiddos will use their creativity and decorate a mini skeleton that will end up being displayed for everyone to see in the library. Make sure to stop in through the week of October 9th-14th to get all registered with your packet and your tiny skeleton! All winners will be announced on October 24th.
- Don’t worry about making a watercolor mess at home, Ms. Dani from Pleasant Hills Public Library will walk your family through a ghoulishly fun paint sesh with Family Craft Night: Spooky Watercolor Silhouettes on October 9th. Looking for a more fall-themed craft? Don’t worry, Whitehall Public Library is holding a Family Night: Autumn Art Fun Night on October 9th. Celebrate all the colors that Fall has to offer. Enjoy different projects or create your own magic within your creation.
- TweenMade: Halloween Pour Painting at Peters Township Public Library is being held on October 10th. Tweens in grades 4-6 will have the ability to create an abstract painting using a unique technique where the artist pours fluid acrylic paints on a surface to create their own art. At Western Allegheny Community Library on October 9th, get your craft on with Teen Art Night: Yarn Letters. Teens can create beautiful yarn letters to take home and keep forever.
- Kids ages 13 to 17 will create DIY: Pumpkin Succulents at Peters Township Community Recreation Center on October 11th . Teens can transform a normal pumpkin into a floral centerpiece with succulents. All supplies will be provided.
- Tweens in grades 4-6 can make some creepy slime to take home from South Park Township Library on October 9th This drop-in program starts at 4:30 p.m. and ends at 7 p.m.
- Find your kiddos creating spooky creatures at Pleasant Hills Public Library on October 9th. They could create bats, monsters, spiders, ghosts, and more. Have your ghouls and goblins have the ability to create any of these creatures will be fun materials and techniques.
2. National Walk to a Park Day
National Walk to a Park Day is here. Look at our Ultimate Guide to Playgrounds and Parks in the South Hills so you can spend this day doing what you are supposed to do. Enjoy the park and enjoy the beautiful weather. Within these parks, of course, you and your family can find super exciting and adventurous activities to do together! Enjoy a game of flag football at Kelly Park on October 15th. At North Park on October 15th, a discovery archery course is happening. Determine if archery is one of your passions that you might never have known you had. There will be introductions and safety tips while receiving helpful advice on the proper way to hold the bow and how to release the arrow with great accuracy and precision. On October 14th there will be a Dek Hockey Pick-Up Game at South Park for ages 4-6. Experience a real-game situation and put your skills to the test. Equipment like sticks, helmets, gloves, and shin guards will be provided as well.
3. National Dessert Day
Oh me, oh my! Celebrate National Dessert Day on October 14th at Scott Township Public Library. Learn how to make your own worms and dirt, enjoy some delicious treats, and taste-test cookies. This celebration is for ages 13-17! You and your family can also check out some amazing local dessert places near you! Check out Signature Desserts on Liberty Road, Potomac Bakery on Potomac Ave, and Scoops on Beverly on Beverly Road for the best sweet treats around town!
4. Pittsburgh Zombie Assault
Enter the era of the zombie apocalypse at Urban Assault Paintball Games, October 13th through October 28th, and get the chance to face your fears and stop the outbreak! Navigate through the woods on the haunted trail while fending off vile creatures before meeting up with the rest of your zombie response team. Once the team is altogether, you’ll be taking on an interactive shoot where you all will be tasked with clearing out all of the rest of the zombies with the specially equipped markers. Make sure to work as a team and accomplish the mission. The entry pass is $25 dollars and it includes the haunted trail, 750 rounds of ammo, an outdoor movie theater, and firing range. The escape room is $35 for up to 3 people or $60 for up to 6 people with rounds being 15 minutes. Be able to walk through the Zombie shot with 750 rounds of ammo for $10. Extra ammo is $5 and Axe throwing is $5 for 5 throws. Find your tickets HERE if you want to take control of the outbreak and complete your mission.
5. Trick or Treat
Halloween is back and it's so close to being here and there are only a whooping 22 days left till Halloween night is here!! Get in the spirit early and go trick or treating. You can even look into doing some fun Halloween crafts while you stuff your face with all of those yummy candies.
- Trick or Treat Mini Golf is ready to make all of your favorite spooky dreams come true by getting that HOLE-IN-ONE at Fun Fore All Family Fun Park. Get your putting on while having an experience with Halloween-themed mini golf. $12 for adults and $10 for children 12 and younger. Everyone who participates will receive their trick-or-treat goodie bag.
- I love a sweet goodie bag and thrilling coaster rides! Kenny’s Trick or Treat is October 15th at Kennywood. Kids aged 10 and under are able to participate in a park-wide scavenger hunt from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday till October 29th. Grab the map at the headquarters, then get a stamp at all nine locations around the park to get that goodie bag you so desire. Check out how much fun Macaroni KID had at Kenny's Trick-or-Treat during Phantom Fall Fest.
Plan Ahead for some of these upcoming Hallow-evening activities with super fun trick and treating.
- October 21st is the Owl-O-Ween at the National Aviary. Make crafts and Halloween treats, wear that costume, and be a part of the parade, trick and treating and so much more.
- October 21st is Trunk or Treat at Rolling Hills Park. Make sure to pre-registered and come dressed in costume.
- Zoo BOO at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is hosting its own trick-or-treat throughout the entire zoo on October 21st. Collect those treats and support those local businesses at this very special family favorite event.
- Liberty Trick-or-Treat Trail is October 22nd at Pleasant Hills Public Library. Wear that scary or princess costume for a spooktacular after-hours evening at the Library. The library is having its own special trick-or-treat for you.
6. Live Performances
- Spider-Man, Spider-Man. Does whatever a spider can. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is here at Heinz Hall on October 9th. This concert pairs a screening of the Academy Award®-winning animated film with live musicians and turntables featuring a DJ scratcher live on stage. Emmy® winner Daniel Pemberton composed a sprawling score of boundary-pushing original music that is complimented with song contributions by Post Malone, Lil Wayne, Jaden Smith, and Nicki Minaj. Prices will range between $25 to $105 and all tickets MUST be purchased in advance at www.pittsburghsymphony.org.
- The Book of Will is of the King’s Men who are deciding to get the band back together. They have a huge goal set in place which is to gather all the masterpieces and bind them together. Come watch this theater show at Little Lake Theatre Company on October 15th at 7:30 p.m. Pricing is $15 for children 16 and under and all adults will be $25. Purchase your tickets NOW before you miss a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see The Book of Will.
- With a start time of 2:00 p.m. on October 15th, go on down to Mon River Arts and watch Oliver! The musical production of Oliver takes place the streets of Victorian England where Oliver is a malnourished orphan in a workhouse. As an Orphan he is a neglected apprentice of an undertaker which leads Oliver to make his escape to London. He finds acceptance amongst a group of petty thieves and pickpockets led by the elderly Fagin. When Oliver is captured for a theft that he did not commit where Mr. Brownlow takes him in as one of his own. Fearing the safety of his hideout, Fagin employs the sinister Bill Sikes and the sympathetic Nancy to kidnap him back, threatening Oliver’s chances of discovering the true love of a family. Pricing for adults is $22, $18 for students and seniors! Make sure to get your tickets NOW!
- Join the Pittsburgh Orchestra for Disney: The Sound of Music on October 15th at Heinz Hall. View your favorite characters and soundtracks to places you have never imagined with a big-screen in a live-to-film concert. It will take you on a magical carpet ride through all of those favorite songs and movie moments everyone cherishes. Prices will range between $25 to $105 and all tickets MUST be purchased in advance at www.pittsburghsymphony.org .
- South Park Theatre is presenting a production The Epic Quest of the Damsels in Distress that is encasing the ideals of how being a girl is hard, even in a fairytale. This production is taken to new heights never imagined and has created a beautiful piece where four girls will not be the damsel in distress. This wonderful production starts at 2:oo p.m. Costs are $5 per person and those children who are 3 and under get in FREE.
