December calls for bitterly cold weather, making people want to stay indoors. Looking for fun activities can be a struggle when the snow is piled high. To remedy this, Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas are hosting multiple seasonal events throughout the winter season, both indoors and outdoors!
The Pittsburgh Restaurant Week runs from January 13, 2025, to January 19, 2025. This event highlights the variety of dining options that Pittsburgh offers, at a special discounted price!
Ice skating is a widely popular winter activity. Students can go every Friday and Saturday tp Printscape,or to the UPMC ice rink in Pittsburgh, which offers skating sessions all winter long. They offer special discounted events such as Wednesday half-priced student nights, where a ticket is $5.50 with a valid student ID, or the Valentine’s Day sweetheart special on February 14, 2025, where tickets are buy one get one free! All other events, along with prices can be found here.
Seven Springs hosts a variety of outdoor activities such as skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing. Prices start at $46.50, and this winter wonderland also offers indoor activities for people looking to avoid the frosty weather, including axe throwing, an arcade, mini golf, bowling, a spa and an indoor pool.
A classic Pittsburgh activity open year-round is Top Golf. With their heated bays, Top Golf offers a comfortable and warm atmosphere this winter for people to meet up with friends and compete in various golf tournaments.
A unique activity for anyone with a car is the Dependable Drive-In Theater in Moon Township. Enjoy the latest movies from the warmth and comfort of a heated car! They are open throughout the winter and even offer special showings of classic Christmas movies, perfect for a movie night like no other.
Another interesting activity for people looking to get outside during winter is the Pittsburgh Zoo’s winter safari! One of many events the zoo is hosting is “Wild Illuminations: A Holiday Lanterns Experience” where guests will be dazzled by hundreds of holiday-themed lanterns and lights! Kids can even stop to visit Santa while enjoying the show. Adult tickets can be bought for between $24-34 and kids tickets are sold between $21-31. The event will take place from November 15, 2024, to January 12, 2025. The Pittsburgh Zoo is also hosting “Penguins on Parade” from December 7, 2024, to February 22, 2025. The penguins of the PPG Aquarium are lined up where they then waddle around the parade route and may even interact with guests! Tickets are $65 per person, excluding park admission.
For those who want to admire nature, Phipps Conservatory’s “Holiday Magic” blends the frosty season with vibrant colors. Tickets are available now through January 5, 2025, starting at $21.95 for adults and $13.95 for children.
Kennywood offers yet another bright display with their “Festival of Lights” running from now until January 1, 2025. The festival offers plenty of activities for children, such as “Meet Rudolph and Friends,” a Santa meet-n-greet, as well as various Kiddieland rides. Adults and teenagers can join in on the fun as well, with the “Holiday Reflections Light Show,” “Spirit of the Season Concert” and many classic rides, such as the Racer, which is open during the winter for the first time. Tickets start at $44.99.
Still shopping for the perfect live Christmas tree for the living room? No worries! There are plenty of locally sourced options available. Simmons Farm in McMurray is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and has a wide variety of live pre-cut trees to choose from. This year, another option for a tree could be from Candle Tree Farm, where guests can either hand-cut trees, or buy a pre-cut one. This location is open Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
With this extensive list of winter activities, boredom is sure to be the least of worries as temperatures continue to drop. Remember to stay warm, Hillers!
