Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Nov. 7-9

Before things really gear up for the holiday season, take advantage of this less-busy weekend with tons of happenings around the city. Try these out!

Pet Expo

Do you have a pet? Do you want a pet? Do you have family or friends with pets? This would be a great weekend to make the trek to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh for the Pittsburgh Pet Expo.

The three-day-long pet-palooza will feature competitions, photo opportunities, vendors, demonstrations and more. Bring your pup for a photo with Santa, watch high-flying dogs, turtle races and other entertainment. Find your new furry friend with adoption opportunities, and don’t forget to check out the massive amount of vendors for your new favorite pet-related products and holiday gifts for the furry friends in your life.

Hours for the expo will be Friday from 5 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Learn more at pghpetexpo.com.

Pittsburgh Wine and Spirits Festival

Eat, drink and be merry at this festival that brings together hundreds of wineries, distilleries and company representatives to provide delicious beverages to attendees.

Held at Rivers Casino, this festival will be chock-full of different wines and festive seasonal cocktails for tasting. Enjoy your evening and find a new favorite drink — and some great gifts for upcoming holidays and parties. There will also be a buffet dinner provided for ticketholders, and Fine Wine & Good Spirits will be on-site with exclusive deals so you can pick up that shiny new bottle.

Tickets are $75, $40 for designated drivers. Parking at Rivers Casino is complimentary. The event will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday. Get tickets at finewineandgoodspirits.com.

‘Stop Making Sense’ on the big screen

Widely considered one of the greatest concert films ever made, “Stop Making Sense” brings audiences into the world of the innovative band Talking Heads. The film was directed by Academy Award-winning director Jonathan Demme and features performances of hits including “Psycho Killer,” “Burning Down the House” and “Once in a Lifetime.”

This weekend, music fans will get the chance to see “Stop Making Sense” on the big screen — even better, on the giant screen. Specifically, the Kamin Science Center will play the film at its Rangos giant cinema. The 88-minute movie will play at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Science Center, located on the North Shore.

For more information, visit kaminsciencecenter.org.

Equality Gala

The Pittsburgh Equality Center has organized this celebration around the local LGBTQIA+ community and this year’s theme, “Bridging the Future.”

The night will include drag performances, great tunes for dancing and the presentation of awards to activists, community members and allies of the community. Make sure to come dressed in your best, most colorful look to show off.

The gala will be held at City Winery Pittsburgh in the Strip District on Friday night. VIP admission will begin at 6 p.m. and the general admission event will go from 7 to 11 p.m. Get tickets and details at pghequalitycenter.org.

‘Hell’s Kitchen’ at the Benedum Center

This Broadway show mixes showtunes with the R&B music of Grammy Award-winning singer, musician and composer Alicia Keys for an exhilarating and heartwarming experience. “Hell’s Kitchen” tells the story of a 17-year-old girl looking to make her dreams come true in New York (“Concrete jungle where dreams are made of”).

Featuring new songs and favorites from throughout Keys’ discography, “Hell’s Kitchen” stages hits including “Girl On Fire,” “If I Ain’t Got You” and “Fallin’.” The show received 13 Tony Award nominations and racked up two awards at the 2024 ceremony.

Performances will be held Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. For tickets, visit trustarts.org.