36 Family-Fun Holiday Activities Around the Burgh 

Posted on by Kristy Jo Volchko

The 2023 holiday season is upon us and always a truly magical time of year! Glittering lights, decorative displays, marshmallow-topped cocoa, heartwarming holiday classics, cheery carols, cozy slippers, crackling fires, winter exhibits, and heaps of fluffy-white snow are all the norm around Western PA. So, embrace the season’s blessings and have a blast creating precious memories with a few family-friendly indoor/outdoor activities. Let the adventures begin, and happy Solstice 2023! 

Kick the season off with:

Light Up The Night

 Pittsburgh Light Up Night 2023 (visitpittsburgh.com)

http://www.phipps.conservatory.org/calendar/detail/holiday-magic

Hang with Santa at Heinz Hall Courtyard beginning Nov. 24, 2023 

The Nutcracker at the Pgh Ballet theatre Dec. 8-28th

http://trustarts.org/production/86829/the-muppet-christmas-carol-in-concert

Pittsburgh Jazz Holiday Orchestra Concert Dec. 21st 2023

A Musical Christmas Carol Dec 15-23rd at Byham Theatre.      

http://www.ppgplace.com/directory/the-rink/

Celtic Women Christmas December 5th 2023 at Heinz Hall

 Zoo Lights Drive Through

http://www.dazzlingpittsburgh.com/

http://www.kennywood.com/prepare-your-visit/seasons/holiday-lights

Highmark First Night Pittsburgh – Visit Pittsburgh

Magic Winter Flower Show & Light Holiday Garden

Welcome the Winter at Carnegie Museum of Art

GLOWLAND PITTSBURGH (oaklandpittsburgh.com)

Welcome This Winter

Holiday Happenings at the National Aviary

Holiday Fantasy Tour                   

You can also…

* Build a snowman and name him ‘Grinchy-McGrinch-er-son’. 

* Have a snowball battle.

* Make cookies (yummm).

* Have family game nights.

* Create colorful holiday crafts.

* Bundle up and go hiking.

* Go on a snowmobiling adventure.

* Go sledding/tubing down any one of Pittsburgh’s MANY hills.

* Ski the slopes at Seven Springs Resort.

* Check out a new release at the cinema.   

* Do a scenic winter puzzle together and frame it.

* Gather donations of warm clothing, toys, and canned goods and drop them at Salvation Army or Light of Life. http://www.wpa.salvationarmy.org/ http://www.lightoflife.org/ http://www.pittsburghfoodbank.org/

* Visit any Carnegie Library Branch for tons of kid-friendly activities.

* Cozy up and read out loud some feel-good favorites.

* Decorate the tree while listening to your favorite holiday hits.

* Snuggle and watch ‘A Christmas Story’!

Have a blessed holiday season!

Why Summer Reading is a Must!

Posted on by Kristy Jo Volchko

Summer is finally heeeyar! And no doubt that after the (insanely) long winter, kids want to play in the dirt, dance in the rain, and bask in the sun. (So do we!) Although I couldn’t agree more with lots of outside play and imaginations gone wild, they must be reading. Everyday.

Summer reading not only helps them retain what they’ve learned during the school year, it further develops and prepares them for the next. Some benefits include improved literacy and comprehension skills, stress reduction, sharpened focus, and increased knowledge and imagination. Besides being a super-fun way to exercise that brain, reading stimulates, entertains, and motivates! 

A local library or online summer reading program is a great way to get excited and can be a solid motivator in achieving their summer reading goals. They can participate anywhere, see other children reading for fun, choose from an endless variety of topics and adventures, win prizes, and grow confident in their reading abilities. Libraries rock!

Have many books/kid-friendly magazines in sight, read yourself (they learn by example), make story time a priority, go with them to the library, or take advantage of flea market/garage sale season, just fill those arms with BOOOOOKS!

Summer Reading Kickoff Event 2023

Carnegie Library Pittsburgh  

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Happy World Read Aloud Day 2023!

Posted on by Kristy Jo Volchko

Happy World Read Aloud Day, book lovers!

What better way to celebrate books and reading than to spend an entire day reading out loud? We can all agree that not only is it super-fun to read aloud with your favorite bunch (teachers, pals, little brother, cat, goldfish), but here are a few ways it’s great for ya!

* Bonding time! (Aww.)

* Reading aloud builds vocabulary.

* Bedtime stories = cozier sleep. (Am I right?)

* Reading aloud also exercises that brain!

* Develops deeper empathy and emotional awareness. (That’s nice.)

* Improves memory and brain agility.

* Stress reduction. (Yes!)

* Sharpens creativity.

* Builds an even stronger love for books and literature.


So, remember to grab a book, grab a pal, read aloud, and read it PROUD! Happy Reading!

KRISTY JO VOLCHKO is an award-winning, multi-genre author, poet, blogger, book reviewer, and human rights activist.

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