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!
Kennywood Opens At Home
This weekend was supposed to be opening weekend for Kennywood Park before it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but fear not fellow ride-enthusiasts! The park has set up a Fun-At-Home page where you can get your quarantine fill of some of the world’s most exciting rides, including the Jack Rabbit - which turns 100 this year! From simple activities like the Kennywood Word Search, to 360° videos of their most famous rides, the Fun-At-Home page has something for everyone.
Phipps’ Carnivorous Plants Webinar
You’ve heard of the Venus Flytrap, but have you heard of the Butterwort or Sundew? Now is the time to learn all about these strange plants that eat everything from insects to lizards! Phipps Conservatory is hosting a webinar on carnivorous plants on Wednesday from 1:30-3 p.m. on zoom. Make sure to sign up here to participate. The program is $12 for members and $14 for non-members.
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 is putting on Beauty And The Beast! The PBT has included a children’s activity guide as well as a general audience guide that includes details on the origins of the story and a break down of the costumes and sets. You can view it directly on the PBT’s Facebook page.
Take Steps Virtual Trivia Night
Gather the family for a night of fun and test your knowledge for a good cause. The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of Western PA and West Virginia Chapter are hosting Pittsburgh Take Steps Virtual Trivia night on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. The fun and easy competition requires just a $10 donation to join, and every participant has a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card. Make sure to join here by making a gift donation.
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.
JFilm, Re-imagined
Film Pittsburgh’s 27th annual JFilm Festival has been re-imagined as a virtual festival! JFilm is a celebration of the Jewish film arts. For each day that the festival would have met at a theater, they will send out an e-mail link to an engaging Jewish short film. In addition to the films that have been curated, the festival also offers prerecorded interviews with the directors of some of the most highlighted films. You can sign up for e-mails to follow along! The festival runs until May 3rd.
Earth Day Film Festival
We celebrated Earth Day last Wednesday, but Film Pittsburgh is continuing the celebrations through this Thursday with the Earth Day Film Festival! They’ve got 4 incredible films all about Mother Earth for free on the Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s website. In addition to the films, they also have behind-the-scenes featurettes and making-of documentaries for each film.
Aviary Education
The National Aviary knows it isn’t easy to keep your children entertain 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 Gardening Webinar
If you are looking to up your gardening game and get outside as the weather breaks, Farm To Table PA is hosting a gardening webinar. Join Doug Oster, the host of The Organic Gardener Radio Show and learn “How to Grow Your Own Vegetable Garden”. This week he’ll be teaching you how to grow a vegetable garden. You can sign up for this webinar for $20 or the entire series for $120. Once you sign up you’ll receive an invite to join the webinar.
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!
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.