6 free things to do in Pittsburgh this November

Though November heralds blustery, almost-wintry weather, there's still plenty of free fun to be had indoors or outside around Pittsburgh. Pittwire's top six activities to make your November memorable include a hike in the city's newest and second-largest park, a cozy evening of crafting and a rollicking street festival.

View Japanese woodblock prints

Friday, Nov. 6, noon

Spend the afternoon learning about the 19th- and 20th-century Japanese woodblock prints featured in the University Archives and Special Collections exhibit From Noh to Kabuki: Reimagined Stories in Ukiyo-e. Curator and Japanese studies librarian Hiroyuki Good will give visitors an insider's view of the prints, which depict the Japanese theater tradition of Noh, associated with the samurai elite, and Kabuki theater, a popular form of theater aimed at a broader audience.

Where: Hyland Gallery, Hillman Library (third floor), 3960 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15260

Deepen nature knowledge

Saturday, Nov. 7, 1 p.m.

Take a hike in Hays Woods, Pittsburgh's newest city park, and explore one of nature's coolest biomonitors: lichen. Hosted by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and the Group Against Smog and Pollution, the event features naturalist educators who will guide attendees on a lichen search as they explore its connection to air quality.

Where: Hays Woods, Agnew Road Trailhead, 1015 Agnew Road, Baldwin, PA, 15236

Celebrate communities

Saturday, Nov. 7, 4 p.m.

Pitt's 43rd annual Latin American and Caribbean Festival is one of Western Pennsylvania's largest and most significant gatherings of Latin American and Latinx communities. The family-friendly event showcases traditional and contemporary Latin American and Caribbean dance, live music, authentic artisan crafts and regional cuisines.

Where: Wesley W. Posvar Hall, 230 S. Bouquet St., Pittsburgh, PA, 15213

Explore street art

Tuesday, Nov. 10, 6 p.m.

Pittsburgh-based muralist, graffiti writer and printmaker Max "GEMs" Gonzales presents Style Writing: Contemporary Hip-Hop Typography, a talk at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's East Liberty branch. Gonzales will examine the roots of contemporary hip-hop graffiti, from comic book typography to the adoption of stylized monikers.

Where: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - East Liberty, 130 S. Whitfield St., Pittsburgh, PA, 15206

Craft a new world

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 4 p.m.

Join the Center for Creativity for a lesson in creating book nooks, miniature 3D dioramas designed to sit between books on a shelf. Workshop attendees will use their imaginations and upcycled materials to design and build a small scene to nestle between their favorite tomes. Settle in for an hour of cozy vibes and free tea and cocoa.

Where: Center for Creativity: The Understory, Cathedral of Learning B-50, 4200 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15260

Hear a delightful tune

Sunday, Nov. 29, 3 p.m.

The Sunday Songwriter series, held at the Schenley Park Visitor Center, is a who's who of local musical talent. The November show features Bryce Rabideau of Pitt's Department of Music's Bluegrass Ensemble on mandolin, as well as multi-instrumentalist Tucker Muetzel and singer-guitarist Abbey Martin.

Where: Schenley Park Cafe and Visitor Center, 101 Panther Hollow Road, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213

Photography by Tom Altany