Celebrate Beer and Food in Pittsburgh

The PA Brewery Running Series is inviting locals who love beer to lace up their running shoes and hit the trails at local breweries. Kicking off on Saturdays this late summer and fall, participants can look forward to fun “5k-ish” run/walk courses that start and finish at local breweries. Mark your calendars for run events at Fermata Brewing Company in Ambridge on Aug. 24, Strange Roots in Millvale on Sept. 7, and Inner Groove Brewing in Verona on Oct. 12. Each participant will enjoy a local craft beer at the end of their run, and they’ll have the choice of a collectible pint glass or other nifty swag.

The Terminal in the Strip District is getting a new addition: Playa Bowls, known for its refreshing superfruit bowls. Launching with a grand opening celebration on Aug. 24 at 11 a.m., the first 50 guests will snag free bowls and T-shirts. This is the first franchise location in Pittsburgh from Erie, Pa. natives Brandon Minnick and John Bongiorno, and they’re bringing a colorful fruit and vegetable-centric menu to the mix, which harkens back to The Terminal’s origins as a wholesale produce market.

Eleventh Hour Brewing is celebrating its seventh anniversary with a weekend party full of beer, food trucks, and music. Starting on Aug. 30, the festivities will offer new beer releases and the chance to sip on traditional ales served with personalized coasters. Patrons can indulge in food from local favorites like PGH Dumplingz and Driftwood Oven from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1. There’s something for everyone, even a back-alley DJ party on Sept. 1!

The Pittsburgh Soul Food Festival is back and taking over Downtown from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1 for Labor Day Weekend. This free community event focuses on local Black chefs and artists, featuring delicious food contests, live entertainment, and over 100 vendors serving everything from ribs to macaroni and cheese. It’ll be a vibrant celebration in Market Square and along Boulevard of the Allies this year, welcoming everyone to come together and enjoy the food and culture of the Burgh.

If you’re looking for something unique this September, don’t miss the taco fest being held on Sept. 1 in Allegheny Commons Park by Beers of the Burgh and Enjoy Wrestling. The event promises to be packed with local taco vendors, live music, and two wrestling matches, all served with a side of delicious tacos and margaritas. Plus, it’s free to enter, so bring your friends, blankets, and appetite!

For those who can’t get enough of summer cocktails, Union Forge Vodka is hosting its second annual A Taste of Summer contest. Local bars are mixing up exciting cocktails using Union Forge Vodka, and guests can sample creations from 13 different Pittsburgh spots through September, like Burgatory’s unique cocktails and Sly Fox Brewery’s fruity mixes.

In the beer scene, East End Brewing is asking for votes for its Big Hop Harvest Ale in USA Today’s Best Fall Seasonal Beers poll. Made with locally-grown wet hops, this bright and citrusy brew is a fall favorite, and voting is open until Sept. 9. And for pumpkin spice lovers, Dunkin’ is introducing a new Spiked Pumpkin Spice Iced Latte to kick off the fall season, available in stores and cans throughout Pittsburgh.