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July + August Eco-Events

by Emma Honcharski

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July 17, 2024

Whether or not summer means a break in the action for you, we hope it is a time where you can get in touch with the environment, learn about the green initiatives in your city, and make meaningful connections with friends, new and old. We’ve rounded up a list of events to energize you throughout the heat this July and August.

If you work for an environmental organization, or are just looking for a space to mingle with folks who do, Landforce has organized an event just for you. Join them on July 18 for Green Vibes & Good times, hosted at Tree Pittsburgh, for an evening filled with music, refreshments, and of course... good vibes. Plus, a cookie table. Reserve your spot for the free event here.

It wouldn’t be summer without Picklesburgh… even if you don’t have to brave a bridge to celebrate. From July 18 to July 21, the festival for all things pickled sweeps downtown’s Boulevard of the Allies. Check out Olympickle Games, local music, free samples, and more from vendors and exhibitors. Get more info about the free event here.

Then, immerse yourself in a community of gardeners at the Swissvale Edible Garden Tour on July 20. See how Swissvale residents grow food and more – featuring kitchen garden, fruit trees, and pollinators – through this self-guided walking tour around the neighborhood, followed by a community picnic at the Swissvale Farmers Market. Check out the event guide and register to attend the free event here.

Love your mid-afternoon walk but want to spice it up a bit? Venture Outdoors organizers all kinds of community walks, hikes, and kayak rides, but we’re especially fond of their Full Moon Adventures series. On July 20, join them for a Golden Hour Meadow Hike at Hillman State Park, or for the Full Moon Paddle in North Park Lake on July 21.

In a greener future, days like this happen more often, but for now, we can be grateful for BikePGH’s OpenStreetsPGH on July 27 – when miles of city streets are closed to motor vehicles, and open for people to walk, run, bike, and explore spaces in the East End and Homewood in new ways. Get more information here.

If you’re ready to make the most of your garden, Grow Pittsburgh can help with that. On July 30, learn how to identify the tastiest weeds in your garden and the best ways to harvest, process, and cook with underrated culinary gems at Shiloh Farm. Purchase a ticket here.

Curious about how our streets, sidewalks, and roadways can be transformed? Green Building Alliance is organizing a virtual event, Health In the Built Environment: Transit, Mobility, & Public Health, where you can learn about the relationship between public health and the built environment. Learn more about the event on August 6 and get tickets here.

Continue to gather resources and discover ways to promote sustainability, foster equity, and advocate for a cleaner environment at the East End Environmental Justice Resource Fair on August 10. This free event features interactive workshops, resources, and networking opportunities for folks who share a passion for environmental justice – plus, food and childcare. RSVP for the event at the Homewood Brushton YMCA here.

One of our favorite events of the year is Pittsburgh VegFest. On August 10, join food lovers and environmentalists of all kinds at Allegheny Commons Park. It’s not just a food festival – it’s got music, speakers, yoga demos, shopping, and family-friendly entertainment to celebrate animal advocacy in the region. Learn more about the event hosted by Justice For Animals here.

Two exhibits at Carnegie Museum of Art are right up our alley. Everlasting Plastics, which is open through August 11, considers the ways materials shape and erode contemporary ecologies, economies, and the built environment. While you’re there, check out Widening the Lens: Photography, Ecology, and the Contemporary Landscape, which offers a chance to reconsider your relationship to the environment and understand how photography helps envision alternative paths forward. Get more information about both exhibits here.

One of the things we love about Pittsburgh is the access to green space throughout our many neighborhoods. If you’re curious what key stakeholders have in the works for the future of Pittsburgh’s green spaces, and how they are creatingmore equity in the ways these spaces are engaged, you won’t want to miss NEXTpittsburgh’s event, NEXT10: Green Spaces for All, at Frick Environmental Series. Get tickets here for the event in partnership with Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.

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Emma Honcharski is a regular contributor to The Green Voice.