Guide To Visiting Pittsburgh For The Holidays

Pittsburgh is best known for its rich cultural diversity, and it is no stranger to putting on a glorious celebration during the holidays. Events, fine dining and entertainment await you and your family, so whether you're visiting relatives or just making a trip to see the sights, the five items below are sure to dazzle, excite and warm the soul of everyone in your party.

Date: Nov. 21 through Dec. 23, 2014

Free for attendees, the 3rd annual People's Gas Holiday Market is brimming with all sorts of holiday shopping. Inspired by the traditional Christkindlmarkts in Germany, this delightful marketplace offers a beautiful amalgamation of local charm and international flair to people of every culture. Delicious food, handmade gifts, live music and even a visit from Jolly Old St. Nick will dazzle shoppers. Even if you're not in the market to shop, go simply to visit the BNY Mellon Season of Lights which illuminates the heart of downtown with more than 150,000 lights and a 30-foot-high electronic sphere tree.

Date: Nov. 22, 2014

Do something important with your holiday vacation - give back. Participate in the St. Jude Give Thanks Walk on Saturday, November 22 at 8 a.m at PNC Park. Pittsburgh will be just one of 75 cities across the nation that will participate in the annual, noncompetitive 5K fundraiser that serves as the official kick-off event for the St. Jude Thanks and Giving crusade. Registration for this family-friendly event is free, and is sure to be a wonderful way to jump start your own holiday of thanks.

Date: Now through March 1, 2015

Larger than the rink in New York's famous Rockefeller Center, PPG Place's own ice rink will leave you breathless as you glide around the stunning 65-foot Christmas tree. Monthly passes are available for this special holiday tradition, and skating lessons are always offered. Adults are $8, children and seniors are $7 and skate rentals are $3. Lunchtime monthly passes are also available to save you time and money, and are an affordable $25. Continue to check the rink's website for special holiday events and plan your visit accordingly.

Related:  Celebrate The Holidays In Pittsburgh For Less

Date: Nov. 22 through Dec. 20, 2014

Make sure your stay in the Steel City includes a Saturday, as this event is not to be missed. One Oxford Center, a downtown hallmark, will be offering free entertainment for the whole family. Live holiday music from the Rick Gallagher Trio will be on hand to liven your day, as free carriage rides, live reindeer and free children's activities delight and launch you right into the holiday spirit. Specialty retailers will open their doors to your party, and also offer free gift wrapping, while One Oxford Centre offers discounted parking for everyone to start their experience off right.

Date: Dec. 5-28, 2014

Heralded as the "the best holiday performance in Pittsburgh" by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, this holiday spectacular, and Pittsburgh-inspired production, combines the traditional holiday tale with new surprises each year. Showcasing the sheer magnitude of over 170 wildly talented dancers, "The Nutcracker" will transport your family into the magical, moonlit Snow Scene to the effervescent Land of Enchantment, and beyond. Imagine the wonder in your children's eyes as they take in this 200-year-old story for the first time - and delight in the knowledge that it won't be their last. Tickets can be purchased here.

Related: Best Places For Unique Christmas Ornaments In Pittsburgh