Pittsburgh Celebrates Light Up Night 2024

New for 2023 is the lighting of all the Three Sisters bridges, The Roberto Clemente, Rachel Carson and Andy Warhol, spanning Downtown to the North Shore.

Tree lightings for 2023 are as follows:

• 5 p.m. - City of Pittsburgh’s Tree lighting and Rooftop Fireworks at the City-County Building
• 6 p.m. - UPMC Ultimate Holiday Tree Lights and ACS Tribute of Light Ceremony at PPG Plaza
• 7 p.m. - Iconic Highmark Christmas Tree lighting and Zambelli Rooftop Fireworks at Penn Ave and Stanwix Street
• 8 p.m. - Sister Bridges will debut their brand new light installation, which will then be a permanent addition to this passage to the North Shore.
• 9:30 p.m. - Xfinity Fireworks Spectacular finale at the Allegheny Overlook on Ft. Duquesne Boulevard

In Market Square, you'll find the picturesque Peoples Gas Holiday Market. Inspired by the original German Christkindlmarkts, the Holiday Market features national and local vendors housed in vintage, wooden chalets selling one-of-a-kind holiday gifts.

Highmark Main Stage
Stanwix Street & Penn Avenue

• 3 - 5:20 p.m. SING SING SING!
• 6 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers
• 7 p.m. Highmark Christmas Tree Lighting with Zambelli Rooftop Fireworks
• 8:15 - 9:30 p.m. Miss Freddye’s Blues Band

Xfinity Riverside Stage
Ft. Duquesne Boulevard & 6th Street

• 4:30 - 6 p.m. Orange Music feat. Isaiah Small
• 6:30 - 7:45 p.m. Soulful Femme
• 8 - 8:10 p.m. Bridge Lighting
• 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. Phillip Phillips
• 9:30 p.m. Xfinity Fireworks Spectacular with Supersized Zambelli Grand Finale

Sounds of the Season Stage
Market Square

• 5 - 9:30 p.m. Live Music

Cultural District Stage
Penn Avenue and Seventh Street

• 3 - 4:30 p.m. Pennsoulvanians
• 5 - 6:30 p.m. Clara Kent with special guest Mani Bahia
• 7 - 9:30 p.m. Pickup Line

City of Pittsburgh Grant Street Stage
414 Grant Street

• 4 - 5 p.m. Ben & Friends
• 5 p.m. City-County Building Tree Lighting with Zambelli Fireworks
• 5:30 – 6 p.m. River City Brass
• 7:15 – 8 p.m. TBD
• 8 p.m. Light Show

Venture over to PPG Place to ice skate around the beautifully decorated 66-foot illuminated Holiday tree on The Rink at PPG Place. The outdoor ice rink is open from the public starting November 15, 2024 through March 2, 2025, with special holiday hours for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's (we highly recommend reserving your tickets in advance).

While you're there, you can also enjoy 16 life-sized Santas and paintings displayed in PPG Place windows that show holiday traditions the world over.

Fifth Avenue Place is place to be on Light Up Night. The Highmark Christmas Tree Lighting will take place on the corner of Penn Ave. and Stanwix St. at 6 p.m., followed by two rooftop fireworks shows from Zambelli.

Kids can have a blast at Light Up Night, to! From noon-8 p.m. on Nov. 18, your little ones can do hands-on crafts, make a Mister Rogers sweater ornament, go on a learning adventure with Peg+Cat and more at Sixth St. and Liberty Ave. Then, head to the Heinz Hall Courtyard to venture through the colorful backdrops and standees featuring Daniel Tier and more Fred Rogers Productions' favorite characters from 2-6 p.m. on Light Up Night.

(Opens Nov. 24, 2023) What’s a holiday celebration without meeting the man of the hour, Santa Claus? Bring the kids and their wish lists because this year, they can visit with Santa in-person at his festive house in Heinz Hall Courtyard, thanks to BNY Mellon! Once again, families have the wonderful option for their young ones to visit with either a Black or White Santa. Just let Santa’s helpers know which you prefer!

The beloved 21st annual Gingerbread house competition winners will be displayed in the lobby of the historic Pittsburgh City-County Building. Their 108th Official Tree, a 60-foot spruce from Lincoln Place with hundreds of ornaments as a tribute to the city's 90 neighborhoods, will be lit with festive colors at 5 p.m. followed by a rooftop fireworks display!

Enjoy the sounds of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in the Cultural District for three free Highmark Light Up Night Concerts. No tickets are required, simply show up to Heinz Hall at 6:30, 7:15 or 8 p.m. to enjoy the music.

See a larger-than-life nativity scene and the ONLY authorized replica of the nativity featured in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The Pittsburgh Crèche, which measures roughly 64 feet wide by 36 feet long and features 20 life-sized figures, has been an attraction since 1999.

There's so much to include during Light Up Night we can barely fit it into one blog. Some other highlights to check out Nov. 18 include:

• Art Abound - See the works of three Pittsburgh artists prominently displayed along Liberty Avenue as you pass by the storefronts.
• Pirates Mini-Fest - Take photos with the Pirate Parrot and your favorite racing pierogis along with kids activities and all things Bucco baseball from 3-9:30 p.m. on Stanwix St. and Ft. Duquesne Blvd.
• Highmark Holiday Block Party - Warm up and win prizes as you celebrate the holidays all night long on Penn Ave. and Stanwix St.
• Photos with Santa - Stanwix St. and Ft. Duquesne Blvd. at the Coca Cola Caravan.
• Food & Drinks - local vendors, food trucks and local beer can be found at the Riverside Stage and the corners of Stanwix and Penn, Grant and Fourth as well as Penn and 8th.
• Holiday Pop-Ups - Miracle on 6th, decked floor to ceiling with Christmas kitsch and serving up festive mocktails and cocktails in amazing themed glassware, opens on Light Up Night. Also check out Barcadia for their Home Alone-themed experience.
• Kid-Friendly Fun - Hands-on crafts and activities 2-6 p.m. at 6th and Liberty. Plus, visit the Heinz Hall courtyard for photo ops with your kids' favorite characters and scenes from Fred Rogers Productions.
• Fifth Avenue Freeze - Master carver Rich Bubin will display his holiday carvings of The Grinch, Olaf, Elf and more at Fifth Avenue Place with additional activities inside.
• All Ages Film Festival - Stop by the Harris Theater for a free screening of family-friendly and festive films.
• Follow our guide to downtown for even more places to shop, eat and explore. Make reservations now!