Ten Awesome April Events Around Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH, PA - After a long winter, spring has arrived in Pittsburgh and with it a much greater variety of ways to spend your precious free time. How to whittle down your many choices? You don't have to. Just put your trust in Patch to point you to the can't miss events of April:

• Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals, April 1, PNC Park.

Sure, you’ll have 80 other opportunities to see the Bucs in action in America’s finest ballpark over the next six months. But the home opener comes but once a year and even if the weather is dreadful the game is still a magical spring ritual. So play hooky from work or school and watch pitcher Chris Archer, obtained last summer in a blockbuster trade, start for the Bucs.

• Food Truck Rally, April 6, Voodoo Brewery, Homestead.

The fourth annual food truck rally will feature Blue Sparrow, Franktuary, PGH Sandwich Society, Oakmont BBQ, Doce Taqeria, Millie’s and more. Coffee will be served by Steel Valley Coffee Roasters and local craft vendors also will be on hand. The event is free, family friendly and canines are welcome.

• David Sedaris, April 7, Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland.

A Grammy Award-nominated humorist, writer, comedian, bestselling author, and radio contributor, Sedaris’ laconic wit and delivery have ensured his place as one of America's best observant comedians and keenest students of the human condition.

• “Come from Away,” April 9-14, Benedum Center

This is the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them after 9/11. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships.

• Tekko 2019, April 11-14, David L. Lawrence Convention Center

Tekko is a regional anime, gaming, fashion, music and Japanese pop culture convention presented by the Pittsburgh Japanese Culture Society annually. It’s the place to be for manga, video games, cosplay, J-rock and J-fashion.

• Steel City Con, April 12-14 Monroeville Convention Center

It’s not often you see celebrities such as William Shatner, Corey feldman, Rob Schenider, Barry Bostwick, Karen Allen and virtually the entire cast of “The Office” under one convention center roof. So you better take advantage of this rare opportunity and you might as well peruse the offerings at the more than 750 vendor tables as well.

• Taste of Lawrenceville, April 14, Bay 51, Lawrenceville

Here’s your chance to explore one of Pittsburgh’s trendiest restaurants, breweries, shops and more. There will even be a “Game of Thrones” pop-up bar, which they won’t even have at Steel City Con. Admission is free, just pay for what you want from individual vendors.

• Mother of All Pottery Sales 2019, April 14, Union Project, Highland Park.

Come celebrate all things clay at the largest one-day clay celebration in Pittsburgh. The event brings talented ceramic artists and pottery lovers together under one roof for hands-on activities in the studio, a live demonstration from professional ceramic artists, a clay activity in the studio and a sale featuring locally made pottery from the region’s top ceramic artists.

• “The Book of Mormon” April 16-21, Heinz Hall

The outrageous hit musical comedy follows the misadventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries sent halfway around the world to spread the Good Word. Entertainment Weekly called it “the funniest musical of all time.” As it comes from the creators of Comedy Central’s “South Park,” you shouldn’t be surprised by the explicit language.

• Cher, April 18, PPG Paints Arena

If the thought of Cher singing a bunch of ABBA songs appeals to you, you're in luck. The legendary 72-year-old singer will be touring in support of her ABBA tribute album, "Dancing Queen." Cher, who recently starred in "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again," last appeared in Pittsburgh at the arena in 2014.