As a child, I remember our yearly incline rides to the top of Mt Washington and the brilliance of the lit buildings. There was always excitement to see the scenes in the Kaufmanns windows and to look up at the giant tree on the Joseph Horne Building, now the Highmark building. This year you can celebrate the season with 5 stages of free music (Joan Jett headlining at 8:30pm), a Holiday market in Market Square, ice skating, food, Santa, fireworks at 6pm and 9:30pm and more. For the schedule of events go here.
(The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is also offering
special ticket discounts to select upcoming events in the Cultural District, on Light up Night starting at 10am. I love a bargain and there are great savings opportunities to live
music, theater, dance, and more using Promo Code: LIGHTUPNIGHT at www.TrustArts.org/Lightupnight.)
The Light up Night 2022 Experience
There was something for everyone. We hit a few stages with music, visited the Santa, and watched the Highmark tree lighting with the 6pm fireworks. The Highmark street party glowed with blue florescent lights, ice sculptures and a PLINKO game for prizes. The free blue lightsabers even made some adults play Star Wars (don't worry we gave our lightsabers to some kids.)
A one ton eight foot cake hit your olfactory senses with a punch of sweet almonds when you walked into the Gateway Building. PPG place's giant LED tree danced with a changing tapestry of light as the skaters circled it. My traditional favorite is the life sized "Santa's from around the World" inside the PPG buildings which always educate and enlighten. The Pittsburgh Symphony also added a little Christmas spirt to their three, 30 minute shows.
 |
| Don't worry we gave our lightsabers to some kids |
There was so much going on that we could not do it all. The finale rocked out with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts followed by, what Pittsburgh does best- fireworks.
You can continue the magic in downtown Pittsburgh throughout the Holidays: visit PPG place, the Holiday Market in Market Square, the ginger bread house displays in the court house, the Creche at USX building and celebrate with art, music, or theater from the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. It is the season to enjoy, make traditions, and be a kid again in Pittsburgh.
