It’s no secret that Pittsburgh is proudly nebby. What better time to embrace it than summer?
Now that the sun is shining and temperatures have risen (for now — we all know it won’t last forever), neighborhoods across the city are opening their doors and garden gates. At Houses of Pittsburgh, this is truly our favorite time of year, and we’ve got the inside scoop on the must-see houses and garden tours happening all summer long.
The season kicked off this past weekend with the Highland Park House Tour. If you missed it, don’t worry — we featured one of the homes in our Feeling Nebby series, so you can tour it without leaving your home. Allegheny West’s always popular Tour and Tasting in Old Allegheny has already sold out, so be sure to join their email list to find out when tickets go on sale for their Christmas tour and next year’s summer tour.
Here are four more summer house and garden tours you don’t want to miss.
31st Annual South Side Home & Garden Tour
Sunday, June 8, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Tickets: $35 online, $45 at the door
Beyond the nightlife of East Carson Street, there’s a part of the South Side that’s deeply rooted in community. It’s a tight-knit neighborhood where families have built their lives and neighbors know each other by name. The South Side Community Council runs the annual house tour, and this year marks its 31st anniversary. Its long history means the organizers know how to put on a stellar event and select the best residences to represent the community.
The tour offers a rare chance to see inside classic rowhouses and secret gardens that are often hidden behind fences or tucked in alleyways. It’s always a surprise to see how historic industrial structures have been creatively transformed into modern loft apartments. Proceeds from the tour help further the council’s mission to preserve South Side’s history while building a thriving neighborhood.
35th Annual Mt. Lebanon Public Library Garden Tour
Sunday, June 22, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Tickets: $20 online, $25 at the door
Now in its 35th year, the Mt. Lebanon Public Library’s neighborhood garden tour is ready to welcome guests, rain or shine. This beloved annual event showcases eight gardens throughout Mt. Lebanon and offers something for every kind of green thumb, from native perennial gardens to a lush backyard retreat featuring a pool. The tour also features a past winner of the Phipps Conservatory Sustainable Gardening Award. If you can’t make it in person, the library will offer a virtual garden tour available online two weeks after the event.
Observatory Hill House Tour 2025
Sunday, June 29, 12-5 p.m.
Tickets: $20 single ticket, $35 two-ticket bundle online
Tucked into the hills of Pittsburgh’s North Side, Observatory Hill returns for its third installment of its house tour, with the theme “Stories of a Neighborhood: Vol. 3.” This event offers visitors an afternoon of architecture, storytelling and hospitality. An exciting highlight this year is access to the iconic Allegheny Observatory with every ticket. The tour has a curated selection of homes, including one on Judges Row that was featured in our Feeling Nebby series. Many of the beautiful homes on the tour date back to the 1800s and have been restored to their original splendor. At each stop, visitors can enjoy craft beer samples from local Pittsburgh breweries.
A note for returning guests, there will not be a trolley available this year, so comfortable walking shoes are encouraged.
Showcase Manchester
Sunday, Aug. 3, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Tickets on sale June 1: $25 online, $30 at the door
Showcase Manchester is back this summer after taking 2024 off. The Manchester Historic Society will welcome visitors once again to explore one of Pittsburgh’s most architecturally rich and historically significant neighborhoods. Celebrated for more than 25 years, this longstanding North Side tour offers a peek inside beautifully restored homes, many built between 1860 and1890.
Manchester was once the industrial heart of Allegheny City before it was annexed to Pittsburgh. Though the construction of Route 65 in the 1960s segmented the neighborhood, residents rallied to preserve its charm and character. Their efforts led to the formation of the Manchester Citizens Corp., Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation and eventually the area’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The 2025 tour promises a fresh look at Manchester’s diverse architectural styles and its strong sense of community.
