The 13th Annual RADical Days in Pittsburgh will offer amenities such as free tours of Heinz Field, admission to the Carnegie Museums and a gallery and sketch crawl provided by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.
The month-and-a-half-long tribute to the people of Pittsburgh also includes free art classes at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and the opportunity to see the flowers at the Phipps Conservatory.
Children and families can enjoy events such as free admission to the Carnegie Science Center. Kids can enjoy the Science Center’s new “blue” exhibit where they can build and learn for free.
These are just a few of the free events planned for RADical Days, which was started by the Regional Asset District, a government agency that uses tax funds to enable cultural and recreational organizations throughout the city.
The organizer of the agency says it is a way to thank the people for contributing public funds to make the wide range of cultural and recreational facilities and events more affordable.
“It started as sort of a thank you, and it was designed as one for people who support these regional assets.” RAD director David Donahoe said. RADical Days was originally just a weekend event, and this year it is spread out over 20 days.
“I got the idea from Cleveland of all places,” Donahoe said. “I was visiting my kids in Cleveland when I saw the city offering activities for people to do.”
Donahoe took what he saw in Cleveland and implemented it here, and it has morphed from just a weekend to over 20 days of fun for everyone in the region.
RADical Days make it easy for families to attend events throughout the city. All four Carnegie museums are open on Oct. 5 with the Science Center open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 12 with the Andy Warhol museum open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the museums of art and natural history open on Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Events at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts start Oct. 1 from 5 to 7 p.m. with artist talks and gallery tours, and again Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with more gallery tours and free art classes.
“They make it easier to take my kids to do these things,” Kristy Rossi, a local food service worker in the city said. Through RADical Days, families have an opportunity to learn about art and robotics at the Carnegie museums.
RADical Days offers lesser income families a chance to do things together, such as outdoor activities at Hartwood Acres, throughout the city on a daily basis for free.
It especially benefits families in outlying areas.
“My family enjoys coming to Pittsburgh to enjoy a different atmosphere,” said Amanda Washington, a Zelienople resident. “We can go to these events that are not offered in small town areas. We especially enjoy the children’s museum. I have a 2 year old son, and he can enjoy all the activities offered [there].”
With a lot of small town areas around the city, everyone from around the region is able to attend these events at any time, even students on a busy college schedule.
“It gives me more of an incentive to go explore Downtown,” said Emmiley Stern, a junior advertising and public relations major at Point Park University. “I get to do a lot more with my friends.”
“I know already what I can and cannot afford,” Stern said. “It’s nice because RADical Days offer students a chance to get together and go explore Downtown when they normally might be reluctant to do so. [They] can get downtown and do things they normally would not get a chance to on a college budget.”
Other events include free tours of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, admission to the Pittsburgh Glass Center and admission to the Pittsburgh Zoo. Information of all the events can be found on radworkshere.org.
