According to store shelves and school calendars, summer is winding down — but don’t tell that to the folks at Bakery Square. The East Liberty landmark has a full calendar of outdoor events focused on fitness, movies, crafts and much more.
Summer Continues on With Bakery Square’s Outdoor Events for All Ages
Watch parties and film screenings center around the outdoor screen that sits in the center of Bakery Square, while the area’s courtyard hosts live bands, DJs and more. Nearby businesses, including Fleet Feet, host regular Thursday-night runs; free yoga classes greet the morning each Saturday and Sunday. Club meetings, craft gatherings and (of course) mah jongg round out the schedule.
“We’ve seen more and more people traveling here as a destination,” says Grace Papa, who serves as commercial marketing manager for Walnut Capital — and thus handles the programming for public-facing events at Bakery Square and The Strip District Terminal. “We’re a place for anybody of any age … [and] our big screen is a huge draw.”
Movie Nights
Upcoming movie nights include a screening of Twilight — which will also feature a vintage market and vendors offering spooky art — on Sunday, Aug. 30, with a 7:30 p.m. showtime. More movie nights are expected into September, likely with some (non-extreme) scares for the Halloween season.
“We ask people for recommendations” on what movies to show, Papa says. “It’s fan favorites. Feel-good movies for the most part. … Positive, fun, nostalgic movies [are] what we’re going for.” She notes that past hits have included Shrek and — one of her personal favorites — High School Musical 2.
Craft Workshops
Crafting has also been a draw for Bakery Square; on Aug, 30, the courtyard will host a workshop on “junk journaling,” with supplies, prompts and scrap packs provided. A “sip and script” morning, with lessons in modern calligraphy and pumpkin lettering, is set for Sunday, Sept, 27.
“A lot of people are trying to find new ways to get out of the house without going to a restaurant or a bar,” Papa says. “We did calligraphy classes, we had a sourdough making class, we have mah jongg now … those have been really, really successful.”
And Much More
Weekends bring live, al fresco music to Bakery Square, with DJs scheduled on Fridays and bands on Saturdays. Keep an eye on the schedule for a forthcoming event Papa is determined to add to the schedule: a Dog Pageant, with proceeds benefiting Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh.
The calendar is crowded, with events scheduled nearly every night of the week — and all-day schedules most Saturdays and Sundays. It’s no wonder, then, that visitors are now coming from far beyond the East End.
Still, there’s always room for more, Papa says. “When anyone approaches me [with an idea, my answer is usually,] ‘Of course! That would be great!’”
Story by Sean Collier
Photos Courtesy Walnut Capital / Bakery Square