PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The calendar currently says June and it is hot outside, but at PPG Place, the holiday season was on everyone’s mind Thursday.

That’s where local leaders announced the first-ever European Holiday Market in Market Square.

It certainly looked a lot like Christmas inside PPG Place as a German folk band and dancers helped to get people in the holiday spirit in June.

“Our vision is to create a one of a kind shopping experience surrounded by the Market Square season of lights,” Jeremy Waldrup with the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership said.

That shopping experience is the new People’s Gas European Holiday Market.

It’ll take over Market Square, seven days a week, from Nov. 24 through Dec. 23.

Vendors will sell crafts and collectables and everything from hand-blown glass ornaments to beer steins, nutcrackers and more.

The market is designed after similar ones in other cities.

“We’ve seen the success in Chicago, Vancouver and certainly in Europe and we think the sky’s the limit for the event here in Pittsburgh as well,” Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said.

There will be a cultural showcase stage for bands and other performance group and of course, Santa’s house.

Pictures taken with the big man benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

“This is going to become an event that people from all around the region are going to want to come into the city,” Morgan O’Brien from People’s Natural Gas said.

Local leaders say the market will have a big impact on tourism and businesses downtown.

For more information on the market, visit their website here!

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