Spring is officially here, but the weather is still fickle. So, while we’re waiting for March to go out like a lamb, here are some fun (and mostly indoor) events to pass the weekend around the Pittsburgh region.
NatureFest
On Saturday, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Oakland will celebrate NatureFest. The day-long celebration of the great outdoors is free with admission, though advanced registration is recommended.
The day will include a symposium on land stewardship, a screening of the film “Seeing the Unseen: Aquatic Invaders & What’s at Stake,” 30-minute tours of exhibit “Uprooted: Plants out of Place” and a whole slew of nature-oriented family-friendly activities.
The event will last from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Learn more at carnegiemnh.org.
Fringe Festival
The Pittsburgh Fringe Festival — one of many offshoots of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival — returns this week and runs through March 29. The festival will have scores of different performances across Bloomfield, Garfield and several other venues around the city.
Fringe is a great opportunity to see a wide variety of different performances and art forms from international, national and local artists. The festival encompasses theater, music, comedy, dance, spoken word and much more.
Tickets to individual shows are available, and those planning to see multiple shows can buy a Fringe Festival button (which offers a discount for each show) or a pass. See more about shows and venues at pittsburghfringe.org.
The Thaw: Warm Up Music Festival
The last weekend of Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s new festival The Thaw is here! This transition into spring will include “a fiery celebration of music.”
It will even include a symbolic snowman burning to signify the end of winter at 7:30 p.m. Friday. But this weekend is really focused on music, with acts performing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The music will come from a wide swath of genres, from rock to funk to country and bluegrass.
There will also be fire pits and fire performances throughout the weekend to really stay on theme. The festival will start at 4 p.m. Friday and noon on Saturday and Sunday, all in Market Square. To learn more, visit downtownpittsburgh.com.
‘Speed: The Musical’
Buckle up for “Speed: The Musical, An Unauthorized Parody,” based on the 1994 film starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. Movies turned into musicals can seem pretty tired, but you’ve never seen one like this before.
This campy show has original music and a live band to perform it. How do they pull off a stage production about a runaway bus? You’ll have to see it to find out.
Performances will be held Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Glitterbox Theater in Homestead. Tickets can be purchased at speed-the-musical.com.
Breakfast with Snow White
Now that a new “Snow White” movie is out, a whole new generation will be introduced to this Disney princess — and they can meet Snow White at this Sunday breakfast event.
Eliza’s Hot Metal Bistro inside the Hotel Indigo Pittsburgh in Oakland will host the event, which will include a delicious breakfast, meet and greet with Snow White, activities, a craft, a treat bag and face painting.
Tickets can be purchased for 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. sessions of this Sunday event. Visit the Facebook event page to find out more.