Pitt cultural events you don’t want to miss

The University of Pittsburgh has a very active campus, and many events are hosted for the students and members of the community. It may seem hard to keep up with all the events and figure out which ones you want to attend. This is a guide to some of the cultural events happening on campus you may want to check out. All of these events take place in approximately the first month of the semester. Many of these events are great places to meet new people, hang out with friends or just explore new hobbies or interests. 

Meditation Mondays

School can get very stressful very quickly, so students need to find ways to take a step back and relax. If you struggle with this, Meditation Mondays at Heinz Chapel could prove perfect for you. Heinz Chapel is a beautiful building with its gothic architecture and stained glass windows — just being inside could be enough to calm you down from the stress of your schoolwork. Every Monday at noon, guided and sound meditation are offered to all students. It is a relaxing environment, welcoming any who just need some peace and quiet away from the business of college life.

Pages of Lavender Book Club

Head into the Cathedral every other Thursday, beginning with the introductory meeting on Sept. 5, to join a book club celebrating queer writers. This book club concentrates on literature with great queer representation. If you are looking for new books to read or for new friends, check out this club. More information can be found on their Instagram. Meetings are held in room G20 in the Cathedral.

Pitt Arts Fest

The Pitt Arts organization consistently sets up extremely interesting events for students, and I recommend taking advantage of everything they have to offer. To kick off your experience with Pitt Arts this year, head to the William Pitt Union on Sept. 6 from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the Pitt Arts Fest. The organization is about to celebrate the 10th anniversary of this event and you don’t want to miss it. Activities at the event include, but are not limited to, hand henna, create-your-own succulent pot, color toss and screen printing your own T-shirt with the PITT ARTS logo. The event features live music and is a great way to meet and spend time with your fellow Panthers.

Panther Wellness Fair

Start off the new semester by taking care of yourself. On Sept. 11, outside the William Pitt Union, the Panther Wellness Fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. The fair will offer a variety of wellness information available to all students, as well as health-related resources to take advantage of. For example, students can get free flu shots here. If shots scare you, don’t worry — the fair will also host therapy dogs so you can blow off some steam playing with the friendly pups.

One Minute Film Festival

Get ready for the fifth annual One Minute Film Festival. This event kicks off on Sept. 12 and will have several events between then and the screening party, which occurs on Nov. 7. The One Minute Film Festival is a competition open to the entire Pitt community to submit short films of any type, with the only restrictions being that it must be 60 seconds long. The first event, taking place in the Center for Creativity in the Cathedral goes from 8:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. and prospective filmmakers can talk with other students, past creators and learn more about the event.

Open Mic Night

This next event, also taking place in the Cathedral Center for Creativity allows for students to perform for their peers. Any and all performances are welcome, like original music, poetry or dance. Anyone is welcome, whether you are new to performing, or have showcased your skills your whole life. The event provides a safe space to show your creativity and talent. Starting at 8:15 p.m., participants can sign up for a time slot, but if you just want to watch, there’s no pressure to do anything more than enjoying your time in the audience.

Indigenous Culture Festival

The Indigenous Culture Festival begins on Sept. 24 with leather pouch and Native American Music making. The Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center hosts this event, which allows students to gain insight into indigenous cultures and learn about the history of these communities. All are welcome, and the festival continues with a powwow starting in Schenley Plaza the following day. Here, dancing and singing will occur, and Pitt will provide transportation to the larger powwow in Dorseyville for any students who would like to continue the celebration.