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More Pittsburgh Amtrak service starts Nov. 18

The new service gives Pittsburgh two daily trains to Harrisburg, Philadelphia and NYC.

News

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="second daily train" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/08/04/amtrak-second-pittsburgh-nyc-train" data-vars-content-id="ad28d0ba-977c-4bef-8055-328865e5ecd7" data-vars-headline="More Pittsburgh Amtrak service starts Nov. 18" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/08/04/amtrak-second-pittsburgh-nyc-train" target="_self">second daily train</a> between Pittsburgh and New York City via Harrisburg and Philadelphia will start Nov. 18, PennDOT announced Tuesday. Why it matters: This is the first time in decades that Pittsburgh is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="adding passenger train service" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/08/24/second-daily-amtrak-pennsylvanian-november-pittsburgh" data-vars-content-id="ad28d0ba-977c-4bef-8055-328865e5ecd7" data-vars-headline="More Pittsburgh Amtrak service starts Nov. 18" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/08/24/second-daily-amtrak-pennsylvanian-november-pittsburgh" target="_self">adding passenger train service</a>.

New exhibit brings Fred Rogers' lessons to life

A new Children's Museum exhibit turns kindness, bravery and patience into play.

Culture

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Children&#x27;s Museum of Pittsburgh" data-vars-click-url="https://pittsburghkids.org/" data-vars-content-id="74c573cc-5780-4d81-bc75-9c76a725fc2e" data-vars-headline="New exhibit brings Fred Rogers&#x27; lessons to life" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://pittsburghkids.org/" target="_blank">Children&#x27;s Museum of Pittsburgh</a> is debuting a new Fred Rogers-inspired exhibit that will tour the country.Why it matters: Rogers&#x27; ideas about childhood still influence the museum&#x27;s exhibits, including his belief that play should honor children as whole people and speak to the child in all of us.

Fall colors creep closer to Pittsburgh

Here's when to expect peak fall colors and where to see the brightest leaves.

Leaf-peepers, get ready: Fall colors are creeping into Pittsburgh. The intrigue: Some recent cold nights have spurred foliage to peak in the coldest parts of the state, and vibrant fall colors are getting closer to the Pittsburgh area, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources" data-vars-click-url="https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/newsroom/2026-fall-foliage-oct-8#table" data-vars-content-id="2cb6b88f-f8a5-4f39-93c6-6c6c7356f399" data-vars-headline="Fall colors creep closer to Pittsburgh" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/newsroom/2026-fall-foliage-oct-8#table" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources</a>.

Shapiro and Garrity clash in only Pa. governor debate

The hourlong showdown comes less than a month before Election Day.

Democratic Gov. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Josh Shapiro" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/19/josh-shapiro-ai-data-centers-pivot" data-vars-content-id="9b41fd5d-12a3-4dee-aca2-ef307b5557bb" data-vars-headline="Shapiro and Garrity clash in only Pa. governor debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/19/josh-shapiro-ai-data-centers-pivot" target="_self">Josh Shapiro</a> and Republican state Treasurer <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Stacy Garrity" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2024/12/02/pennsylvania-treasurer-stacy-garrity-future" data-vars-content-id="9b41fd5d-12a3-4dee-aca2-ef307b5557bb" data-vars-headline="Shapiro and Garrity clash in only Pa. governor debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2024/12/02/pennsylvania-treasurer-stacy-garrity-future" target="_self">Stacy Garrity</a> traded barbs over data centers, taxes, skill games, and gas prices in an hourlong debate, setting the stage for November&#x27;s gubernatorial election.The big picture: Wednesday night&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="debate filmed at ABC27 studio in Harrisburg" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/@WHTM-abc27News/videos" data-vars-content-id="9b41fd5d-12a3-4dee-aca2-ef307b5557bb" data-vars-headline="Shapiro and Garrity clash in only Pa. governor debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/@WHTM-abc27News/videos" target="_blank">debate filmed at ABC27 studio in Harrisburg</a> is likely to be the only debate in this year&#x27;s Pennsylvania governor contest.

Why Pittsburgh is America's Halloween capital

Pittsburgh has a killer claim to fame: We helped put the horror in Halloween.

Pittsburgh has a killer claim to fame: We helped put the horror in Halloween.Why it matters: From pioneering the modern zombie to producing generations of horror talent, Pittsburgh has a legitimate case as America&#x27;s Halloween capital.

Pittsburgh Halloween events to haunt your calendar

Find haunted houses, eerie cruises, festivals and more spooky fun.

Things to Do

Pittsburgh&#x27;s Halloween calendar is packed with haunted houses, creepy cocktail pop-ups, fright-night markets and other eerie events.Here are some of the best ways to celebrate Halloween around Pittsburgh this year. Check out our <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="October events guide" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/09/22/pittsburgh-october-events-2026" data-vars-content-id="f6b965b2-03f9-43a9-9532-8e1d3fa78bed" data-vars-headline="Pittsburgh Halloween events to haunt your calendar" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/09/22/pittsburgh-october-events-2026" target="_self">October events guide</a> for more!

Creator regrets (some of) "Star Wars" machine stunt

The creator says he should have been clearer that the viral heist was all in jest.

Content creator Braeden Days tells Axios he regrets how he communicated his <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="influencer stunt" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/09/01/star-wars-vending-machine-stunt-pittsburgh" data-vars-content-id="e3809788-b68a-4bc5-98fe-93ec2be9eec5" data-vars-headline="Creator regrets (some of) &quot;Star Wars&quot; machine stunt" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/09/01/star-wars-vending-machine-stunt-pittsburgh" target="_self">influencer stunt</a> with Pittsburgh&#x27;s beloved &quot;Star Wars&quot; vending machine.The big picture: In August, Days swapped out Mt. Washington&#x27;s 1999 &quot;Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace&quot; Pepsi machine with an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="artistic rendition" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/08/27/star-wars-vending-machine-replaced-pittsburgh" data-vars-content-id="e3809788-b68a-4bc5-98fe-93ec2be9eec5" data-vars-headline="Creator regrets (some of) &quot;Star Wars&quot; machine stunt" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/08/27/star-wars-vending-machine-replaced-pittsburgh" target="_self">artistic rendition</a>.

Best Day Ever in Pittsburgh: Illustrator Laura Garvin 

For the latest installment of our Best Day Ever series, we asked her to map out her ideal day.

Laura Garvin is a Pittsburgh-based illustrator, designer and self-proclaimed daydreamer whose whimsical and colorful artwork has been featured at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Heinz History Center" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPbr3SSDkc0/?img_index=1" data-vars-content-id="af8b0a30-c0e4-4335-b9ce-a783d4b23d66" data-vars-headline="Best Day Ever in Pittsburgh: Illustrator Laura Garvin " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPbr3SSDkc0/?img_index=1" target="_blank">Heinz History Center</a> and on the cover of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="City Paper" data-vars-click-url="https://www.snailberryart.com/pgh-city-paper" data-vars-content-id="af8b0a30-c0e4-4335-b9ce-a783d4b23d66" data-vars-headline="Best Day Ever in Pittsburgh: Illustrator Laura Garvin " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.snailberryart.com/pgh-city-paper" target="_blank">City Paper</a>.Zoom in: She most recently collaborated with Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens to bring <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Alice&#x27;s Adventures in Wonderland" data-vars-click-url="https://www.phipps.conservatory.org/calendar/detail/Summer-Flower-Show-Alices-Adventures-in-Wonderland" data-vars-content-id="af8b0a30-c0e4-4335-b9ce-a783d4b23d66" data-vars-headline="Best Day Ever in Pittsburgh: Illustrator Laura Garvin " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.phipps.conservatory.org/calendar/detail/Summer-Flower-Show-Alices-Adventures-in-Wonderland" target="_blank">Alice&#x27;s Adventures in Wonderland</a> to life for its summer and fall shows.

Our picks for must-see shows at The Wylie

From Modest Mouse to Boyz II Men, here are the shows on our calendars.

Music

There&#x27;s plenty to love about our newest music venue, but you still need a ticket to get in.The intrigue: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Citizens Live at The Wylie" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/07/28/citizens-at-the-wylie-tour-pittsburgh" data-vars-content-id="c46733a1-4bdc-4c2a-bec2-64fc2e0891fe" data-vars-headline="Our picks for must-see shows at The Wylie" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/07/28/citizens-at-the-wylie-tour-pittsburgh" target="_self">Citizens Live at The Wylie</a> has lined up dozens of acts with big names like Styx, Wiz Khalifa, Little Big Town and Chance the Rapper.

Does Pittsburgh say pop or soda?

Cast your vote in one of Pittsburgh's fizziest linguistic debates.

It&#x27;s time to settle the soda score, to finish the pop prizefight.Why it matters: Pittsburgh lies at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the intersection of many different regions" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/01/28/pittsburgh-midwest-appalachia" data-vars-content-id="8014b018-633e-4a36-912b-58300f89a2e4" data-vars-headline="Does Pittsburgh say pop or soda?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/01/28/pittsburgh-midwest-appalachia" target="_self">the intersection of many different regions</a>, and we want to know if the boundaries are shifting in the soft drink name war.

"Star Wars" vending machine visits Los Angeles

The Mt. Washington landmark traveled more than 2,400 miles for a museum opening.

<figure><img alt="A stormtropper next to a Star Wars vending machine moving on a flat bed truck with red bleachers in the background. " height="664" id="5712fc88-e446-4ebf-8711-1be28fbef1e1" src="https://images.axios.com/Z1GVw_Oz3G2SBghwz8t1RAhglPU=/2026/09/22/1790111527825.gif" width="1180"/><figcaption>Our &quot;Star Wars&quot; vending machine guarded by a stormtrooper. Screenshot: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Braeden Days on Instagram" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DdmgEi5BxgW/" data-vars-content-id="ccdb4350-9ef6-49e3-9949-74e36eb1afb5" data-vars-headline="&quot;Star Wars&quot; vending machine visits Los Angeles" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DdmgEi5BxgW/" target="_blank">Braeden Days on Instagram</a></figcaption></figure>Pittsburgh&#x27;s beloved &quot;Star Wars&quot; vending machine was spotted over 2,400 miles away. The intrigue: Los Angeles-based content creator Braeden Days brought Mt. Washington&#x27;s 1999 &quot;Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace&quot; Pepsi machine to Los Angeles for the grand opening of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Lucas Museum of Narrative Art," data-vars-click-url="https://lucasmuseum.org/press/lucas-museum-of-narrative-art-opens-to-the-public-on-september-22-2026" data-vars-content-id="ccdb4350-9ef6-49e3-9949-74e36eb1afb5" data-vars-headline="&quot;Star Wars&quot; vending machine visits Los Angeles" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://lucasmuseum.org/press/lucas-museum-of-narrative-art-opens-to-the-public-on-september-22-2026" target="_blank">Lucas Museum of Narrative Art,</a> Days <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="posted Tuesday on Instagram" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DdmgEi5BxgW/" data-vars-content-id="ccdb4350-9ef6-49e3-9949-74e36eb1afb5" data-vars-headline="&quot;Star Wars&quot; vending machine visits Los Angeles" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DdmgEi5BxgW/" target="_blank">posted Tuesday on Instagram</a>.

Vote: How early is too early for Halloween decor?

Tell us when the pumpkins, skeletons and cobwebs should come out.

Fall is still weeks away, but skeletons are already crawling out of closets and onto Pittsburgh porches.Why it matters: Halloween is a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="massive" data-vars-click-url="https://news.bryant.edu/business-fright-dive-halloweens-multibillion-dollar-industry" data-vars-content-id="67e422e6-5e47-46ac-90eb-2cd8ad31bc48" data-vars-headline="Vote: How early is too early for Halloween decor?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://news.bryant.edu/business-fright-dive-halloweens-multibillion-dollar-industry" target="_blank">massive</a> retail engine, and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="elaborate" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/10/31/plum-halloween-yard-decorations-pittsburgh" data-vars-content-id="67e422e6-5e47-46ac-90eb-2cd8ad31bc48" data-vars-headline="Vote: How early is too early for Halloween decor?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/10/31/plum-halloween-yard-decorations-pittsburgh" target="_self">elaborate</a> decorations are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="creeping up earlier each year" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/29/halloween-decorations-michaels-costco-home-depot-summerween" data-vars-content-id="67e422e6-5e47-46ac-90eb-2cd8ad31bc48" data-vars-headline="Vote: How early is too early for Halloween decor?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/29/halloween-decorations-michaels-costco-home-depot-summerween" target="_self">creeping up earlier each year</a>.

Sheetz goes over-the-top on YouTube

First We Feast is giving Sheetz the full food-show treatment with three outrageous dishes.

Food and Drink

The channel that brought you the popular <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;Hot Ones&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2024/09/19/best-day-ever-hot-ones-host-sean-evans" data-vars-content-id="fbf2f0cc-3b27-4e25-b5f3-f5107bd63347" data-vars-headline="Sheetz goes over-the-top on YouTube" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2024/09/19/best-day-ever-hot-ones-host-sean-evans" target="_self">&quot;Hot Ones&quot;</a> is debuting a new miniseries Friday that features the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Sheetz" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/08/28/sheetz-first-pittsburgh-store-banksville" data-vars-content-id="fbf2f0cc-3b27-4e25-b5f3-f5107bd63347" data-vars-headline="Sheetz goes over-the-top on YouTube" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/08/28/sheetz-first-pittsburgh-store-banksville" target="_self">Sheetz</a> menu. The intrigue: The new &quot;Fuel Stop Feast&quot; YouTube show will feature two chefs battling it out to create over-the -top creations for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Sheetz Freakz" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/06/23/paul-skenes-sheetz-big-glizzy-hot-dog" data-vars-content-id="fbf2f0cc-3b27-4e25-b5f3-f5107bd63347" data-vars-headline="Sheetz goes over-the-top on YouTube" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/06/23/paul-skenes-sheetz-big-glizzy-hot-dog" target="_self">Sheetz Freakz</a>. Some of the new items will then be available for purchase at Sheetz.