It’s winter in Pittsburgh, and suddenly the sun sets at 4:30, and your car becomes a mobile ice sculpture. Your retired neighbor becomes an amateur meteorologist with strong opinions based on his knee joints, and the rest of your ‘hood is whipping out their parking chairs.
Isn’t winter here magical?
Our 2025 Winter Guide might help you get through the season with your sanity intact. Not only do we offer some clever cold-weather hacks, but we also have two guides for squeezing every ounce of fun out of these chilly months: The Big Pittsburgh Winter Guide for seasonal fun and our Big Pittsburgh Holiday Guide.
Pittsburgh goes all-in once the temperatures drop, rolling out everything from neighborhood light displays to The Nutcracker, ice skating dahntahn, late-night comedy shows, pop-up markets, brewery parties, and more.
Consider City Paper‘s Winter Guide your not-too-serious roadmap to winter in Pittsburgh.
The Big Pittsburgh Winter Guide
Thu., Dec. 4 THEATER • DOWNTOWNPlaybox presents 1984. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., Dec. 7. Three Stories. 937 Liberty Ave., Downtown. playboxproductions.com COMEDY • ALLENTOWNDan Donohue. 8 p.m. Doors at 5 p.m. Bottlerocket Social Hall. 1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. $24.05. bottlerocketpgh.com MUSIC • LAWRENCEVILLEThe Heavy Heavy with Laney Jones and the Spirits. 8 p.m. Doors…
The Big Pittsburgh Holiday Events Guide
Thu., Dec. 4 Fly into festive fun when the National Aviary presents Jingle Bell Flock, a new immersive show that combines seasonal music with animal encounters. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 700 Arch St., North Side. $5, $4 for members. All ages. aviary.org Roar into the holidays when the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium presents Wild Illuminations, a…
The ultimate Pittsburgh winter survival guide
Navigating Pittsburgh winters can frustrate even the most seasoned Pennsylvanian. For transplants, especially those from warmer climates, it can become downright soul-crushing, with its unpredictable temperatures, icy conditions, and snow that goes from idyllic, Victorian Christmas white to bleak grey in a matter of hours. Pittsburgh City Paper staff compiled a guide to help locals avoid…
