🎃 Your guide to October in Pittsburgh

📣 Pitt Staff Joins USW Union

More than 6,000 educators, counselors, advisors, scientists, researchers, and administrators voted to join the United Steelworkers union. Employees across five campuses are preparing for contract bargaining in the next few months. [Union Progress]

📜 Historical Marker Honors Teenie Harris

The late Pittsburgh photographer Charles “Teenie” Harris — known for capturing Pittsburgh’s Black history — now has a state historical marker outside of the Homewood house where he lived for decades (with a darkroom in the basement). [90.5 WESA]

• 📸 See nearly 70,000 of his photos in the Carnegie Museum of Art archives.

📱 Cell Phones in Schools? Districts Disagree

The Pennsylvania Senate passed a bill encouraging schools to restrict cell phone access to improve mental health and academic performance, but schools are split on policies: some lock up phones while others are concerned about access during emergencies. [TribLIVE]

• 🧠 Work at a school? Staff can get free mental health training through the Notice. Talk. Act. at School program. [KDKA]

Lean into Pittsburgh’s autumnal spirit with markets, haunted tours, festive drinks, and more — just as this Rust Belt city’s trees turn red and orange hues.

🎃 Visit a Festival or Market

We already told you where to get your pumpkins — but there’s even more festive shopping this month at the Allentown Night Market Oct. 5; WorkshopPGH Fall Fest in Wilkinsburg and Fall Fest on Bigham in Mt. Washington Oct. 6; Pitt Vintage Palooza in Oakland Oct. 11; and Pumpkinfest under the Homestead Bridge Oct. 12.

📍 Learn Whose Land You’re On

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is celebrated Oct. 14, the same day as Columbus Day. Use this interactive map showing the pathways of native tribes or listen to our City Cast Pittsburgh podcast with the Council of Three Rivers Indian American Center.

🍂 Get Outside & Admire Fall Foliage

Track when Western Pennsylvania trees will turn to peak color with the DNCR’s weekly map. Then enjoy the views at outdoor events like StepTrek on the South Side Oct. 5, Riverview Park Day Oct. 6, or Bike or Treat Oct. 26.

👻 Beware the Haunts and Horrors

Hear stories of Pittsburgh’s paranormal at Carrie After Dark Oct. 11 & 18; Spooky Spirits Walk at The Frick Oct. 17 & 25; or Walk the Burgh’s ongoing Black & Ghost Tours. Plan your own ghostly adventure with our list of the region’s best haunted houses, or choose your freaky flick at Row House of Horrors in Lawrenceville Oct. 18-31.