Guide To Light Up Night 2019
It's time to kick off the holiday season in Pittsburgh! With that Christmastime feeling settling over the city, Downtown Pittsburgh is putting on its party clothes, dressing up to impress all of its visitors.
Photo Credit: KDKA
Comcast Light Up Night
Nov. 22, 2019
Website: Downtown Pgh. Holidays
More: LUN2019 Preview
Light Up Night always has something for everyone. Whether you're a kid or just a kid at heart, Downtown Pittsburgh's holiday kickoff celebration brings everyone together for some Christmas cheer. There are horse-drawn carriage rides, photos with Santa Claus, ice skating, music, activities, and, of course, food and fireworks. Here's what you need to know!
Photo Credit: KDKA
Market Square
Peoples Gas Holiday Market
Downtown Pittsburgh Holidays:
Holiday Market
Vendors List
Market Square is the place to shop till you drop. The Holiday Market is inspired by the original German Christkindlmarkts, and every stop offers unique gifts, perfect for even the most hard-to-shop-for person. It opens on Light Up Night, and the fun continues through Dec. 23.
While you're in Market Square, don't forget check out the BNY Mellon Season of Lights show. Described as a "glittering wonderland show synchronized to holiday music medleys," it plays nightly! Then, drop in for a visit to Santa's House!
Photo Credit: KDKA
PPG Place
MassMutual Pittsburgh Ice Rink
Downtown Pittsburgh Holidays:
Ice Rink
Additional Link: PPG Place
Nothing will put you in the Christmas spirit more than lacing up your ice skates and taking a spin around the PPG Place Christmas Tree! Then, when you want to get warm, go into One and Two PPG Place and take in the "Spirits of Giving Around the World" Exhibit!
Photo Credit: KDKA
Fifth Avenue Place
Highmark Christmas Tree
Downtown Pittsburgh Holidays:
Shopping
Additional Link: Fifth Avenue Place
What's Christmas in Pittsburgh without the Highmark Tree? Don't miss the lighting of this Pittsburgh tradition with a Rooftop Fireworks and Jumbotron Show at 7 p.m. at the corner of Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street!
You can also head inside Fifth Avenue Place for music, shopping and other events, like balloon art, airbrush tattoos and a meet-and-greet with Mr. McFeely!
Then, cool off over on Liberty Avenue at Stanwix Street with Fifth Avenue FREEZE! This year's theme - Nostalgic Toyland Frozen in Time.
Finally, don't forget to take a ride on the Holly Trolley, which makes stops all of Downtown Pittsburgh.
U.S. Steel Tower
Pittsburgh Crèche
Downtown Pittsburgh Holidays:
The Crèche
Take in the real meaning of the season at U.S. Steel Tower. The Pittsburgh Crèche is back again this year outside of U.S. Steel Tower until early January. It's the only authorized replica of the Crèche that's on display in St. Peter's Square in Rome.
Photo Credit: KDKA
Heinz Hall Courtyard
Holiday KidsPlay
Downtown Pittsburgh Holidays:
Holiday Kidsplay
Celebrate the Christmas season the way Mister Rogers would have wanted at Holiday KidsPlay in the Heinz Hall Courtyard. It will be open on weekends from Nov. 23-Dec. 22 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Kids can play outdoor games, decorate paper ornaments in the shape of Mister Rogers' iconic sweater and explore a kid-sized Gingerbread House.
And, in the spirit of the holidays, you can make a donation to the Children's Museum's annual Mister Rogers Sweater Drive.
Photo Credit: KDKA
One Oxford Center
Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides
Downtown Pittsburgh Holidays:
Santa's Reindeer
Meet Santa's reindeer, see the 30-foot Christmas Tree and then take an old-fashioned Horse-Drawn Carriage ride through the streets of downtown. Pick-up is on Fourth Avenue, and the rides run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Photo Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Music And Other Entertainment
Ft. Duquesne Blvd., Stanwix St., Liberty Ave., and Heinz Hall
Downtown Pittsburgh Holidays:
Concerts
Symphony Shows
It's all about Adam Lambert this year! The "American Idol" alum is headlining over on the Comcast Main Stage. He'll go on at 8:30 p.m. and be followed by the Fireworks Finale. You can also see local favorites, Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers, on the Main Stage. If you want to check out what's new to the Pittsburgh music scene, check out the BNY Mellon New Music Stage on Penn Ave. and Stanwix St. Or, if you love Jazz, the EQT Jazzmasters Stage is on Liberty Ave. This year, they will be paying tribute to the music of Mister Rogers.
Over at Heinz Hall, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will be playing short concerts from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
City-County Building
Downtown Pittsburgh Holidays:
Gingerbread Houses
The Gingerbread House Display and Competition is moving over to the City-County Building on Grant St. this year. It will be located in the Grand Lobby along with the model train display. It debuts on Light Up Night, but will be on exhibit through Jan. 4.
Photo Credit: KDKA
Road Closure & Detour Information
Downtown Closures
Pittsburgh Parking Authority
Port Authority
7 a.m. – Midnight Closures
• Roberto Clemente (6th Street) Bridge
• Fort Duquesne Boulevard between Stanwix Street & 7th Street (riverside lanes only)
• Penn Avenue between 6th Street & Stanwix Street
• Stanwix Street between Fort Duquesne Boulevard & Liberty Avenue (northbound lanes)
• (Partial Closure) Cecil Place between Fort Duquesne Boulevard & Penn Avenue
9 a.m. – Midnight Closures
• Penn Avenue Extension between Stanwix Street & Gateway Center Three
4 p.m. – 9 p.m. Closures
• Fourth Avenue between Stanwix Street & Wood Street
4 p.m. – Midnight Closures
• Market Square
• Forbes Avenue between Stanwix Street & Market Square
• Graeme Street between Fifth Avenue & Market Square
• Market Street between Fifth Avenue & Market Square
6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Closures
• Stanwix Street between Fort Duquesne Boulevard & Liberty Avenue (southbound lanes)
