We’ve all been stuck at home as we social distance and help flatten the curve during the COVID-19 pandemic. That doesn’t mean there isn’t anything fun to do!

Whether you are looking to entertain your children or blow of some steam and relax, we’ve got 11 things you can do this week without leaving your neighborhood!

Harris Theater @ Home: NY International Children’s Film Festival

Celebrate the New York International Children’s Film Festival from the comfort of your home! Grab a bag of popcorn and get comfy on the couch with this streaming festival for all ages. There are two hour long streaming rentals to choose from that compile the best of the NYICFF’s short films. Kid Flicks One is recommended for kids aged 3 and up, and Kid Flicks Two is recommended for ages 8 and up. You can get tickets to either one here and here, and the festival runs through Sunday.

Dance The Story At Home!

Join the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater on Tuesday or Thursday at 10 a.m. on Facebook Live for an up-on-your-feet story time for the kids! This week the troupe put on a rendition of Swan Lake that you can check out at any time on Youtube! There will also be a live reading of One Duck Stuck by Phyllis Root on Thursday at 10 a.m. You can view it directly on the PBT’s Facebook page.

EQT Children’s Theater Festival

The beloved local festival come home this year. This four-day festival runs from Thursday-Sunday and features tons of free activities for families to enjoy. To kick off the celebration, Grammy-Award winning artists Dan and Claudia Zanes will release a special performance. In addition to scavenger hunts, story times, and singalongs, there will be live interactive shows and workshops, as well as sensory-friendly performances and educational resources. Times of events and activities vary, so make sure to check out the event’s website for details.

Shubrew Virtual Trivia

Up in Butler County, fan-favorite brewery Shubrew in Zelienople hosts a virtual trivia night for those who are looking for a more traditional bar trivia night. Enjoy trivia, laughs, and beer talk every Wednesday at 7 p.m. on the brewery’s twitch page. The top two teams win gift cards.

Aviary Education

The National Aviary knows it isn’t easy to keep your children entertained and educated at the same time, so they are providing a number of educational programs on their website. CyBIRD Learning is an online platform to help your family learn all about birds from the experts at the Aviary. Learn about topics ranging from birds and their habitats, the rain forest, and penguins. The 30-40 minute programs are available daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can find more information on how to sign up here.

Farm To Table PA: Grow Your Own Vegetable Garden

Farm To Table PA has teamed up with master gardener, author, and Emmy winner Doug Oster to bring you weekly gardening webinars. The one-hour sessions take place every Thursday from 4-5 p.m. and are only $20 per session. You can get a free session by signing up for the whole year. This week’s webinar topic is “Mother’s Day Organic Gardening-It’s Easy & Safe” and you can register here.

Carnegie Science Center’s Daily Activities

Even though the Carnegie Science Center is closed right now, they are providing great resources to keep your family educated and entertained! Each day they list a daily roundup of science-y things to read, watch, and do on their Facebook and Twitter pages. You can also find simple science experiments you can do from home on their Instagram page every day!

CLOse Ups: Cocktails & Conversations

He’s played Maxwell Sheffield in “The Nanny,” Captain Hook in “Peter Pan” and Shane Donovan in “Days of Our Lives," now actor Charles Shaughnessy is inviting you to join him for happy hour! This fun behind-the-scenes show is on Thursday at 5 p.m. on the Pittsburgh CLO’s Facebook page. Producing Director Mark Fleischer will lead this sneak peek of what the CLO does on a daily basis to put on shows.

Phipps Virtual Story Time

If you are looking for a fun story time experience for your children, look no further than Phipps! Every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. the Conservatory hosts a 15 minute story book reading. This week there will be a discussion on making good decisions, adapted from the book Making Good Choices: Lessons For Kids by Jennifer Lowery. Then the group will cover learning to read with the letter "D" and making “decisions”. The main reading for the day will be Leonardo, The Terrible Monster by Mo Willems. Finally, you can stick around for a group singing of “Old MacDonald.” Make sure to register for either reading before hand.

Fire Safety Coloring Contest

Residents in Cranberry Township can show their support and raise awareness on the responsibilities of firefighters and first responders by joining in on this coloring contest! The CTVFC is hosting the contest, and entries will be accepted until May 19th. All you have to do to enter is follow Cranberry Township’s Facebook page, and submit your artwork via Facebook Messenger. Winners will be chosen by popular vote (likes).

The Frick Museum Virtual Experience

Did you know you can explore the entire Frick Museum online right now? Now you do! The museum has posted a number of kids’ activities for children from early childhood through high school, including at home art projects. There are also some virtual events you can attend, such as Maker & Muse Curator’s Lecture on Wednesday, April 22nd at 7 p.m. The events are free, but make sure to register in advance if you plan to attend.

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