January is one long month, and this has been an especially tough one. If you’re feeling stir- crazy, there’s lots to do all over Southwestern Pennsylvania this weekend where you can stay warm and still have fun. Here are a few ideas.
Penguin-Palooza
Especially in Pittsburgh, penguins deserve lots of appreciation. This weekend, the National Aviary on the North Side will bring these flightless birds to the forefront with Penguin-Palooza on Saturday and Sunday.
This fun and educational event will be included with admission. Visit Penguin Point to watch these feathered friends get fed, then head to the Penguin Discovery Zone. There, guests can learn about penguin adaptations, nest burrows and more. There will also be games, crafts, penguin trivia and a penguin book nook. Then, explore the rest of the Aviary and participate in a penguin scavenger hunt.
Activities will happen throughout the day on Saturday at the National Aviary. See the full schedule of events at aviary.org.
Pittsburgh Opera’s ‘Curlew River’
Pittsburgh Opera will continue its 2025-26 season with “Curlew River” by Benjamin Britten, a tragic story adapted from the Japanese play “Sumidagawa.” This story of a mother’s grief was morphed into a Christian parable and set to music in the style of monastic plainsong.
It’s appropriate, then, that “Curlew River” will be performed at Calvary Episcopal Church in Shadyside. The show will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at the church, and additional performance dates will be held in the following week. Tickets are $65. To learn more, visit pittsburghopera.org.
Red Light and Blue Celebration
This year will mark America’s 250th anniversary, and Westmoreland County will be doing it up in style, kicking off with this program on Friday.
The ceremony will include performances by local organizations including “Hands of Flight” Ligonier Valley High School Air Force JROTC and Westmoreland Performing Arts. Local officials will also make remarks for the occasion, and the event will culminate in the illumination of the Westmoreland County Courthouse in red and blue lights.
Gather together to set the tone for this year of reflection. The event will take place at 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Westmoreland County Courthouse, 2 N. Main St., Greensburg. For more information, visit discoverwestmoreland.com.
Ligonier Ice Fest
We’re probably all tired of the cold, and this week has been colder than most. But out of ice also comes the beauty of ice sculptures. This weekend in Ligonier, more than 50 intricate pieces of ice art will be on display.
The installations, which are by Glacial Ice Works in Jeannette, will be set up throughout Ligonier’s Diamond and on its streets, so make sure to take a stroll and see them all. There will also be live ice sculpting on Friday and Saturday, treats by Hanson’s Original Kettle Korn on sale in front of the library and horse-drawn sleigh rides available for $5 per person, assuming the weather behaves.
Don’t forget to patronize all of the businesses throughout Ligonier while you’re there. The Ice Fest will take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Downtown Ligonier. To learn more, visit business.ligonier.com.
‘Frozen’ CineBrunch
It’s been a pretty chilly week. Why not embrace it with Disney’s 2013 blockbuster animated musical “Frozen”? The Oaks Theater in Oakmont will hold a brunch-and-movie event this Saturday, even offering a princess meet-and-greet opportunity for an additional fee.
Brunch will start at 10 a.m., and the movie will start at 11 a.m. Brunch offerings include egg and cheese breakfast sandwiches, bacon, hash browns, donuts and pastries (from Oakmont Bakery), coffee, tea and juice. They will also have their bar open, and other snacks will be available for purchase.
Tickets are $20, and limited meet-and-greet tickets are an additional $10. The meet-and-greet will take place from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Learn more and get tickets at theoakstheater.com.