Autumn Adventures Await: Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Unveils Fall Program Guide
From community campfires to harvest festivals and spooktacular activities, there’s plenty of festive fun to kick off the fall season.
Pittsburgh – September 2, 2025 - Fall is underway in Pittsburgh’s parks, and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is launching its Fall Program Guide, packed with unique ways to celebrate spooky season and autumn glory. From Community Campfire to Freedom Harvest Fest, this season offers endless ways to commemorate fall as the leaves take on vibrant hues of red and orange.
September kicks off with the opening of The Pittsburgh Plein Air Collective’s art exhibit at the Frick Environmental Center (FEC)— Frick Park & Nature's Palette—on Thursday, September 4. The exhibit features paintings created in the park that capture the natural beauty of Frick Park and will be on view through the end of November. That same weekend, hundreds are expected to visit the FEC for the annual Freedom Harvest Fest celebration (a RAD Days event), now in its second year. The community event celebrates unity and the harvest season and centers around the From Slavery to Freedom Garden. The main stage will come alive with vibrant jazz, hip-hop, and reggae performances, local food vendors will offer a variety of culinary delights, and the garden will be bustling with educational tours. Additionally, community partners and Parks Conservancy educators will offer a variety of activities the whole family can enjoy.
“The Freedom Harvest Fest sheds light on the often-unseen connections between land, food and the enduring struggle for freedom in our history,” said James A. Brown, director of education and the Frick Environmental Center. “We invite everyone to explore our nation’s past and celebrate the present at this lively community day with live music, delicious food, and family-friendly fun.”
Families can head over to Schenley Plaza on September 28 and October 19 for the final Family Day events of the season. The Family Day Fall Festival and Halloween Spooktacular will feature free carousel rides, special guest appearances by ghoulish guests, and an opportunity for everyone to show off their Halloween costumes, whether frightening or festive.
The start of October brings the return of Riverview Park day on October 5. The annual community gathering raises important funds for Riverview Park, in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh, Friends of Riverview Park, and The Northside Leadership Conference. Visitors can expect live music, food vendors, and a variety of interactive activities from a lineup of community partners. Families can also welcome fall with the Community Campfire in the Frick Park hollow on October 18. Guests can cozy up by the fire to roast marshmallows while listening to the jazzy sounds of Northside Organ Trio. The evening also includes pumpkin painting, lawn games, and plenty of hay bales to get everyone in the fall spirit.
“Community Campfire is a festive gathering where visitors can share special moments with family and friends over the campfire,” said Amber Stacey, naturalist educator. “Experiencing live music against the backdrop of autumn’s changing leaves is truly special.”
Additionally, this season is bursting with reptiles, amphibians, and avian friends. For the herp-curious, there is Herping 101 at the Frick Environmental Center and a new Reptile Rendezvous series at the Schenley Park Visitor Center—both promising an up-close-and-personal look at some of the region’s snakes, lizards, and turtles. Birdwatchers can get a sneak peek of the bird banding operations underway in Hays Woods Park, in collaboration with Bird Lab, and explore the flora and fauna of the same park with monthly trail tours. Finally, the Parks Conservancy is teaming up with the Pittsburgh Park Rangers to bring guests Creatures of the Night Fall Hikes in Schenley Park, where participants will learn to spot the fascinating animals that come out after dark.
Lastly, popular series like Forest Bathing continue throughout various parks, including Frick, Riverview, and Allegheny Commons. Stewardship Days, allowing volunteers unique opportunities to care for their parks, also continue for part of the season, including the introduction of Frick Park Stewardship Days. Whether visitors are eager to explore the biodiversity of Pittsburgh’s parks this autumn or connect with others around a community campfire, there is something for everyone this season.
To view the entire programming calendar and register for select events, visit PittsburghParks.org/events.
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About Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy:
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy was founded in December 1996 by a group of citizens concerned with the deteriorating conditions of Pittsburgh’s historic city parks. A non-profit organization, the Parks Conservancy works closely with the City of Pittsburgh under an official public-private partnership agreement to restore and improve the city’s park system to its full potential. To date, the Parks Conservancy has raised more than $150 million and completed 23 major park improvement projects. The Parks Conservancy works with thousands of volunteers, hosts hundreds of events, and provides programming for more than 7,500 children annually.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Bethany Wells
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
412.956.0788
bwells@pittsburghparks.org