The Fall Flower Show: Alice’s Adventures in Autumn runs October 10 through November 1, 2026 at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, One Schenley Park in Oakland. It is the autumn chrysanthemum show, staged around Alice in Wonderland, and the Garden Railroad: Fairies and Gnomes is open alongside it. Reserving tickets ahead saves time at the door — see phipps.conservatory.org.
Phipps is the right call for the part of a fall trip nobody plans for: the cold afternoon, the rainy Saturday, the hour when the kids are done being outside. It is a glasshouse, it is warm, and it takes about an hour unless you want it to take three.
Why a home beats a hotel for an Oakland weekend
Phipps sits in Schenley Park between the Pitt and CMU campuses, which means that on a home football Saturday the whole neighborhood is in use. A house gives you parking you are not circling for, a kitchen so you are not fighting for a table in Oakland at noon, and somewhere to put a stroller and three coats. If you are in town for a campus visit or a game and the garden is the Sunday-morning stop, one home covers the whole weekend.
Make a weekend of it
The show’s last weekend is Halloween: Pitt hosts Georgia Tech on Oct. 31 and the Steelers host the Browns on Nov. 1. Earlier in the run, pair it with Phantom Fall Fest at Kennywood or the Jack O’Lantern Extravaganza at the zoo. Our Things to Do in Pittsburgh guide and Pittsburgh food guide have the rest. When this show closes, the Winter Flower Show and Light Garden takes its place.
Where to stay. Rivers & Steel City Homes offers full homes across the Pittsburgh metropolitan area — parking, a kitchen, and room for everyone who came in. 2,700+ guests since 2018; book direct and save 5–15% over Airbnb and VRBO. Find your dates at riversandsteel.com/search.
More to plan your trip: Things to Do in Pittsburgh · Festivals on the Pittsburgh events calendar. Ready to visit? Find your stay »
