Fall for all: Events for the Autumn and Halloween season

This past Friday marked the Official start to the fall season. As the days get shorter and the air begins to chill the Pittsburgh area begins fun fall events and activities to get everyone in the autumnal mood.


Before getting spooky

Throughout October, Vessel Studio in the Southside will be hosting multiple “glass pumpkin patches.” The event is an interesting twist on the classic fall favorite in which attendees are invited to tour the glass blowing studio and even blow their own glass pumpkin to take home with them.

This will be the second year for the studio to host the event, but after such an encouraging first season the studio is upping the ante.

“We had it last year and got such a positive response we figure we might just go all out this year”, said Drew Hine, owner of the studio.

Hine and the other artists plan to deck out their studio, located at 117 South 16th St., with their own autumn décor. Hand blown glass pumpkins and gourds will be available for purchase and on display outside the studio. There will also be fall refreshments like apple cider, as well as soup and cookies available. The event will be held on October 6 and 7, 13 and 14 and 27 and 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For attendees interested in making their own glass pumpkin, reservations are recommended though walk-ins are welcome. There is also a $35 cost to make your own pumpkin. The studio can be contacted for reservations at (412) 779-2471.

A more traditional pumpkin patch experience can be found at Soergel Orchards in Wexford. The orchard hosts a fall festival every Saturday and Sunday from September 24 to October 31 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It features a corn maze, hayride, pumpkin patch, pumpkin painting and even a pumpkin catapult. More information can be found at www.Soergels.com

The Scariest Time of the Year

As the cold autumn air brings a chill up our spines, the minds of many turn to the season’s most frightening fun with the approach of Halloween. Halloween isn’t much fun without a costume, luckily Spotlight Costumes in the Southside offers Duquesne students a nearby solution. The store also caters to the financial needs of university students.

“We are sympathetic to the plight of the college student,” says Ron Thompson, the Floor Manager and Head of Display and Design, who has been with the store since it’s opening 25 years ago.

Throughout the season the store is offering 50 percent off all of their packaged costumes and also offers 25 percent off coupons to anyone who enters the store. While the store may appear small from the outside, the store keeps stock of 500,000 individual rental costumes as well as a wide selection of packaged costumes that Thompson says come off the shelf too quickly to take permanent stock of. The Costume store stays open all year round providing costumes and make up to local theatre companies, including Duquesne’s own Red Masquers. They’ve even provided their services to Cirque de Soleil. Spotlight Costumes can be found at 1503 East Carson St., five short blocks from the 10th Street bridge.

Houses of Haunting

Halloween just doesn’t really feel much like Halloween without a few good scares of course, and the Strip District’s Terror Town is happy to oblige. The horrifying attraction is the only haunted attraction within the city, according to Chris Firman, Terror Town’s Promotions Director. The Strip District offers a “very nice central location [for the attraction]” said Firman.  

The site has even been confirmed to have a “strong paranormal presence” by the Pennsylvania Department of Paranormal Investigation, according to Firman. The attraction is completely underground and covers a total of 30,000 square feet. Visitors to Terror Town will venture into an “underground town” that sank years ago. The attraction lasts from 30 to 45 minutes typically. It also features an indoor waiting area for when the season’s weather turns colder. The attraction will be open throughout the Halloween season and also features special black out nights. On black out nights, the entire attraction remains functional except without lighting as guests journey through with only a flashlight to find their way. The haunted attraction’s full schedule and additional information can be found on their website www.terrortownpgh.com. The attraction also neighbors Costume World if you’re looking for a Halloween one-stop-shop of scares and attire.

Other haunted attractions in the area include The Scare House. Named by Travel Channel as one of “America’s scariest Halloween attractions,” according to their website. Located in Etna, Pennsylvania; the attraction runs on select dates until November 3rd. The full schedule can be found at www.scarehouse.com.