The Pittsburgh Cultural Arts Meetup Group

Please join us for the 10th Annual PicklesBURGH which has been voted the #1 Specialty Food Festival by the readers of USA Today. PicklesBURGH goes beyond the dill pickle to feature handcrafted food and artisan drinks featuring pickled ingredients from local chefs, restaurants, and more embracing the farm-to-table movement. Plus, don’t miss pickle-themed snacks and merchandise, fun contests, DIY demos, and live music.

Parking Here is the ParkPGH website with real-time info on downtown parking garage availability where you can also download apps and get garage availability via text messaging. You can also call 412-423-8980.

Stay tuned for updates!

This event begins at Café Carnegie (inside Carnegie Museum of Art) so people can socialize and get coffee/tea/wine/drink or quick lunch Please note that Café Carnegie does not require museum admission which makes it particularly suitable as we plan the rest of the afternoon.

Because we expect a large turnout for this event (although we'll have a better idea once we know the weather forecast, etc.), we'll incorporate some flexibility.

We realize that while some people may only have a few hours of free time, others may enjoy spending the afternoon or early evening checking out all of the exhibits or perhaps meeting for an optional dinner.

After we're done meeting/eating/drinking at Café Carnegie, we'll gauge of the interests of everyone and the possibility of smaller groups (perhaps 5-20+ people) exploring the following options from 12-5 PM or even later with optional dinner.

Option A -- Spend the afternoon inside the many galleries and exhibits of the Carnegie Museum of Art and Carnegie Museum of Natural History Of note is that there will be a docent led tour at 1 PM for the Carnegie Museum of Art. We expect at least 10 people will be able to get into Carnegie Museums for free based on those in the group that have Carnegie Museums memberships that allow them to bring guests. For those that are interested, priority for free admission will be decided by the order of arrival and recognition of members that are relatively new to the group.

Option B -- Walk over to the nearby Phipps Summer Flower Show: Jungle Quest that is on display through September 21. Advanced timed tickets are required, although we expect timed tickets will be available at the door.

Option C -- Walk over to check out the 31 Nationality Rooms inside the Cathedral of Learning Of note is there is an option for a very informative 90-minute docent led tour ($10 Adult, $6 Youth) from 1-2:30 PM and 2:30-4 PM. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door if the time slots aren't sold out before each tour begins.

Option D -- Check out the annual Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix in Schenley Park where there will be hundreds of antique cars on display (as well as races featuring cars/drivers from all over the country) along with vendor booths, food trucks, etc. Free shuttles will take visitors to several locations to check out the PVGP races and festivities.

Check out this actual driver’s video to get a feel for the racecourse and visitor atmosphere during the PVGP antique car races in Schenley Park.

Option E -- People can discuss if they'd to have lunch or dinner at a nearby restaurant such as The Porch in Schenley Plaza or one of the many restaurants along Craig Street, Forbes Avenue, etc.

In terms of Admission Charges, we'll see if anyone has memberships (e.g., Carnegie Museums, Phipps) which allow them to bring guests in for free. We expect at least 10 people will be able to get into Carnegie Museums for free and several more people for free at Phipps.

Parking The Carnegie Museum has plenty of parking which is conveniently located near the museum entrance at the corner of Forbes Ave & S. Craig Street. Here is a link with more info about parking and directions http://cmoa.org/visit/directions-maps-parking/

Stay Tuned for updates!

1. Everyone is encouraged to arrive as early as possible downtown to enjoy the Gallery Crawl festivities, which includes both indoor and outdoor activities.
2. Please be mindful that not everyone's interests are the same -- so while some will spend more time listening to live music, others will walk around quickly to check out art galleries, get food, etc.
3. The Gallery Crawl provides a wide variety of activities so there is something for everyone, whether people spend only 10 minutes or longer (20-30+ minutes) at each location.
4. With many activities unfolding simultaneously, the Gallery Crawl is well suited for people to enjoy in smaller groups or on their own with family/friends.
5. At any given time, there could be anywhere from 0-30+ people from Meetup dispersed among thousands (art enthusiasts, general public) attending the Gallery Crawl.
6. Because everyone has different schedules, people will arrive and leave at different times. Thus, we'll try to have flexibility with suggested possible gathering times/locations. We'll check the weather forecast since the Gallery Crawl includes both outdoor and indoor venues.
7. It is not realistic to post comments asking where other people in the group are and expecting a timely response. Many people enjoy the Gallery Crawl without feeling the need to constantly check cell phones -- and are simply happy enough when they run into people they know as they walk around.
8. Please be mindful that when gathering times/locations are provided, people that show up 'on time' should not be expected to 'wait around' for others that may or may not show up at a given time.

Parking Here is the ParkPGH website with real-time info on downtown parking garage availability where you can download apps, get garage availability via text messaging, or call 412-423-8980.

28th Annual Shadyside Arts Festival on Walnut Street August 23rd & 24th, 2025

Saturday 10am - 5pm & Sunday 10am - 5pm

Free Admission!

This is a great opportunity to spend a weekend afternoon in a relaxing atmosphere at one of our region's signature festivals. We'll walk around a bit while checking out booths featuring local artists and artists from around the country working in a wide range of different mediums, such as painting, sculpture, etc.

This is also a chance to visit various Shadyside boutiques, shops, and galleries mingled with national retailers in a neighborhood of tree-lined streets, historic homes, and distinctive restaurants.

There is also plenty of time to take breaks for coffee/tea, ice cream, cool drinks, and perhaps even lunch or dinner.

The Shadyside Arts Festival includes over 140 artists/activities along Walnut Street -- centered primarily between the intersections with S. Aiken and Ivy. What started out as a neighborhood street fair, is now regarded as one of the top shows in our region.

MEETUP Considerations

1. When people RSVP for a festival, this indicates some general interest for the entire festival. A large RSVP response (40+ RSVPs) suggests that many people could be arriving or leaving on Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, Saturday night, Sunday morning, or Sunday afternoon. The RSVP count for a festival is certainly not an indicator of how many people from the group may show up at any given particular time.
2. At any given time during the Shadyside Arts Festival, there could be anywhere from 0-20 people from Meetup dispersed among many hundreds of arts enthusiasts, festival vendors/donors, Shadyside residents, general public, etc.
3. Because people have different schedules, they will naturally be arriving and leaving at different times throughout the festival.
4. Please be mindful that most people are simply happy enough to say hi to whoever they already know -- and happen to run into -- as they walk around the festival.
5. As always, it is fine if people prefer to check out the festival on their own with family/friends or in smaller groups.
6. It is not realistic to post comments asking where other people in the group are and expecting a timely response. Many people are there to enjoy the festival without feeling the need to constantly check their cell phones.
7. Please be mindful that whenever gathering times/locations are provided for Meetup events, there is always a tradeoff as to how long people that show up 'on time' should be expected to 'wait around' for others that may or may not show up at a given time.

Parking
While there is a Pittsburgh Parking Authority garage in Shadyside that charges fairly reasonable rates ($3-$12 depending on how long one stays), the garage may be busy and thus, people may try street parking since there are many side streets in Shadyside. But if you want to try swinging by the garage, it is located at 714 Bellefonte Street or call 412-683-9017.

There is also public transportation with stops within 2 blocks of the festival (64, 71B, 71D, 75) and 3-5 blocks of the festival (P1, 71A, 71C, 82, 86)

Stay tuned for updates!