Your Daily Guide

🌳 Deer Hunting Begins in Pittsburgh Parks

The controlled deer cull program, a partnership between the city and USDA, started on Saturday in Frick, Riverview, Schenley, Emerald View, and Highland parks. Fifty pre-selected archers underwent background checks and archery tests to qualify. [TribLive]

• 🦌 Oh deer! Pittsburgh has a problem. [📝 Hey Pittsburgh]

🐘 Pittsburgh Zoo Regains ‘Gold Standard’

After nearly a decade, the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium finally earned accreditation from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums — considered the "gold standard" in the field. The zoo dropped its accreditation back in 2015; at the time, it disagreed with the association's stricter rules around zookeeper contact with elephants. [90.5 WESA]

🌿 Bill to Ban Cannabis Testing Excludes Unions

City Council will vote on new legislation this week to strengthen protections for workers with medical marijuana cards — but with a new caveat for some unionized employees. [TribLive]

• 🚫 Other exemptions include jobs that are considered high risk, like if an employee handles chemicals or carries a gun. Get more details. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

🏐 Pitt Girls Volleyball Ranks No. 1

The team has historically racked up winning seasons but hasn't been number one until now. Their sweeping win against in-state rival Penn State and a record-breaking crowd at Petersen Events Center made the new title even sweeter. [Pitt]

• 💥 ICYMI: Check the highlights!

🍂 It’s fall time at the farm! Here’s where to pick the perfect pumpkin around Pittsburgh.

⬆️ North

Spend a day at Soergel Orchards in Wexford drinking cider, picking pumpkins and apples, and shopping at the market; fall fest runs every weekend through October.

Also in Wexford, the Shenot Farm pumpkin patch opens Sept. 28 and runs seven days a week. Check out their scenic walking trail!

Yeck Farms in Beaver County hosts its fall festivities on weekends in October. Don’t skip the Amish donuts — and make sure to bring cash!

Harvest Valley Farm in Gibsonia hosts a pick-your-own pumpkin festival on the weekends in October with hayrides, a corn maze, farm animals, craft beer, baked goods, and more.

Freedom Farms in Butler also hosts its fall festival every weekend in October with tractor and hay rides, farm-fresh food, a pumpkin patch, and more. Get in on the autumn fun early with the 21+ Maized and Confused event on Sept. 28 where you can hunt for local beer, wine, and spirits in the corn maze.

➡️ East

Gearhard Farms in Murrysville is known for its annual corn maze designs and unique challenges throughout the field. Check their page for pumpkin patch info.

Celebrate seventeen years of Braddock Farms on Oct. 5 with a family-friendly fall festival featuring food, crafts, games, pumpkins, and demos.

⬇️ South

Triple B Farms in Monongahela is in its full fall season fun with pumpkin, apple, and flower picking, which last through October.

Bedner’s Farm Market in Upper Saint Clair doesn’t have a patch, but always has a selection of pumpkins from their farm in Mercer.

Fall activities are underway at Simmons Farm in McMurray: hayrides, corn mazes, and apple and flower picking. Go for a scenic hayride and pick any size pumpkin for $21.

Trax Farms in Finleyville starts its fall festival on Sept. 28, and it runs every weekend through October. Find goods from the market, hayrides, farm animals, food trucks, a corn maze, live music, and pumpkins galore. And don’t miss Hops and Hayrides every Friday.

⬅️ West

Growing up, Janoski’s Farm & Greenhouse was always my pumpkin picking destination. Celebrate fall at Pumpkinland every weekend in October with hay rides, corn mazes, food and craft vendors, and more. Don’t forget to stop in the market to find lots of locally made goodies.