Point Park University – Local Festivals

In the heart of downtown Pittsburgh is Point Park University, a liberal arts university that offers undergraduate and graduate programs. Their classrooms are located in buildings throughout downtown Pittsburgh, immersing students in the city atmosphere.

There’s a lot to do in the ‘Burgh on any given day, but there are also festivals and special events happening on a regular basis that bring some extra-special fun to the city. Those at Point Park University can easily attend these festivals, as many of them take place downtown.

In addition to classic city festivals, Pittsburgh hosts unique events for the community to enjoy. The festivals below are certainly unique and promise days of fun for all visitors and students at Point Park University.

 

Handmade Arcade

Every December, Handmade Arcade showcases close to 200 artists, designers, and craft-makers from Pennsylvania and beyond. Every artist featured in the festival hand-makes the items they sell, ensuring that the selection at Handmade Arcade is unlike anything attendees have seen before.

The fair focuses on recycled items, and prioritizes eco-friendly materials and techniques. Examples include pillows made from vintage cloth, all-natural soap and body care, hand-knitted clothing, and jewelry made from repurposed items.

Vendors at the Handmade Arcade festival are of all ages and skill levels, and have their own unique styles. Over the course of this one-day festival, hundreds of artists gain exposure to the 13,000-plus attendees. This gives emerging artists an outstanding opportunity to share their art, while the community can feel good about supporting these entrepreneurs. Handmade Arcade takes place at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, which is only a 15-minute walk from Point Park University.

 

South Side Soup Contest

While the name implies that the entire festival is focused around soup, one of the goals of the South Side Soup Contest is to encourage attendees to explore small, locally-owned businesses in their neighborhood. This is done, of course, by tasting some of the best soup in the area.

The South Side Soup Contest started in 2005 and has grown into a festival Pittsburgh looks forward to each year. Attendees visit participating businesses and sample soups like chowders, bisques, and vegetarian options. Once you’ve sampled your fill of soups, you can decide what soup should win the Best Soup, Best Vegetarian, Most Unique, and Best Host Location awards.

The event raises money for the Brashear Association Food Pantry and provides necessities to low-income families in the area.

 

Picklesburgh

Pickle fans will relish the annual Picklesburgh event! As the home of Kraft Heinz, it makes sense that Pittsburgh holds a festival that focuses on everything pickled.

Pittsburgh visitors have toured the Heinz factory with great interest since the 1880s, when H.J. Heinz gave out charming pickle pins as an incentive to visit his factory. These pins have become some of the most well-known marketing initiatives in the country.

Today, Picklesburgh is more than just a sampling of Heinz pickles. It’s a celebration of everything pickled! Guests can try pickle liquor, pickle slushies, chocolate-covered pickles, artisanal peppers, pickled burger toppings, and more. The event also features funky cocktails, live music, farm-to-table vendors, canning demonstrations, and more.

 

Pittsburgh Pierogi Festival

If there’s one food Pittsburghers can agree on, it’s pierogis. Pittsburgh is referred to as the City of Dumplings, after all!

The Pittsburgh Pierogi Festival began in 2013 and has been welcoming thousands of attendees ever since. Lovers of this comfort food staple can spend a whole day celebrating pierogis by trying samples from more than 20 chefs, restaurants, and food stands. In addition to classic pierogis, there are pierogi pizzas, kebobs, nachos, and more.

But the fun doesn’t stop once you’ve sampled every dish. Vendors fill the festival, selling all sorts of merchandise. Ultimate fans can purchase pierogi-themed goods, including T-shirts, magnets, jewelry, pillows, aprons, and more. The Pittsburgh Pierogi Festival also features a merry-go-round, giveaways, live music, and other family-friendly activities.

 

Pittsburgh Fringe Festival

The Pittsburgh Fringe Festival is hard to define, and that’s the way they like it! Fringe festivals began in 1947, when performers who wanted to showcase their talents at the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland were not admitted entry. Instead, they held their own event on the fringes of the main festival. Ever since then, 200 fringe festivals have popped up worldwide, including 50 in the United States.

Pittsburgh has held their Fringe Festival since 2013, and has been putting on unique performances ever since. Adventurous artists cover everything from comedy, dance, events, workshops, live music, musicals, opera, performance art, and theatre. There’s no limit to what you can experience here, as the Fringe Festival is incredibly inclusive.

For four days, 50 to 80 performances take place in venues all over the city. Productions take place in traditional theaters, city parks, and even public bathrooms. The unforgettable Pittsburgh Fringe Festival is definitely one to check out if you’re near Point Park University.

 

Fresh Fest Beer Fest

A history-making festival takes place every year right in Pittsburgh. On its founding year, the Fresh Fest Beer Fest made national headlines as the country’s first black brew festival. This event celebrates the contributions black brewers have made to the craft brewing industry, which is made of predominantly white businesses.

This one-of-a-kind experience invites brewers, musicians, and food trucks to take part in the festival. Vendors and performers of all kinds are welcome, so long as they are making efforts to connect with and support the black community.

One of the founders of the Fresh Fest Beer Fest explained that the impetus behind the festival was encouraging collaboration and partnerships between business owners of all backgrounds and communities.

There’s so much in store for the future of this fantastic celebration, where attendees get to drink fantastic beer while black-owned businesses gain exposure.

 

Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer

Those who love to browse antique stores will be completely enamored by the Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer. This twice-a-year event fills a massive venue with vintage items from vendors based in the Pittsburgh area. The goal of the Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer is to create a space where vintage-lovers and antique-collectors can come together to celebrate their shared interests.

Almost 18,000 people attend the Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer and peruse approximately 60,000 vintage items. These include home furnishings, houseware, clothing, records, jewelry, art, and more.

In addition to shopping, the Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer offers live music from local DJs, cocktails, food trucks, special events, and even guest lectures. It’s a massive festival you have to see to believe.