Sara November 14, 2014

‘Tis the season! There are SO many highly-anticipated events throughout Pittsburgh this season that are drawing families and people of all ages to celebrate with loved ones. Here you’ll find a listing of holiday tree lighting ceremonies, parades and events around the city. Have fun and safe travels! 

holidays in pittsburgh

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15th

      • Salute to Santa Parade: Children’s Christmas Party immediately following Parade; 11am in Downtown McKeesport
      • Pine Holiday Dazzle: A holiday celebration concluding with fireworks and holiday music; 4-9pm, Pine Community Center 

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20th

      • Christmas Light Up Celebration in Clinton, PA: Walk through miles of lights on their opening ceremony November 20th and 21st; other fun includes hayrides and carolers; open nightly through January 4th; Clinton PA
      • Mt. Lebanon Light Up Night: Horse-drawn carriage rides, model train exhibit, live entertainment, Southminster Bell Ringers, tree lighting and a special visit from Santa; 6-9pm, Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building
      • Irwin Light Up Night: Come celebrate the season as Irwin lights up for the holidays. The area’s only light-up parade is highlighted by a visit from Santa himself.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21st

      • Light Up Night Downtown Pittsburgh:  The Biggest Party on the Biggest Night of the Year! Entertainment on Plaza and Food Court; Wintergarden Exhibits & Ice rink open for season; 5-10pm Downtown Pittsburgh
      • Opening Night for Overly’s Country Christmas: A bonfire, carolers, and visit from Santa! Huge light display open throughout the season; 6-9pm at Overly’s Country Christmas in Greensburg
      • Santa Claus is Shopping in town in Monongahela: A tri-community holiday light up celebration with live performances, holiday displays, raffles and an appearance from Santa; 5:30-8pm in Monongahela
      • Light up Night Kitanning: Santa arrives with Frosty the Snowman at 6 p.m.
        Entertainment, free cookies and hot chocolate, hot dogs, popcorn, popcorn balls, pony rides, horse and buggy rides, dogsled rides and more; 6-9pm downtown Kitanning
      • Light Up night at the Overlook: Santa arrives with police or fire truck escort, get your photos and visit with Santa, raffles and candy cane limbo; 7-10pm at the Overlook Lot
      • Santa’s First Stop in Cranberry: Help Santa light the tree, make crafts, feed the reindeer and enjoy refreshments; 6-7pm at the Cranberry Community Center

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22nd

      • Brackenridge Christmas Parade: The route begins under Tarentum Bridge and proceeds down Fifth Avenue to Corbet Street, turns right to First Avenue, then to Morgan and Third Avenue in Brackenridge
      • Oakmont Christmas Parade & Hometown Christmas: Parade begins at 5pm and fireworks at 8:30pm; live music, horse and buggy rides, pictures with Santa, children’s activities, face painting and free cookies; 5-9pm in Downtown Oakmont
      • White Oak Borough Season of Lights: Community event
      • Butler Light up Night at and Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt: Christmas carols, hot chocolate, flashlight tag, pre-registration is required; 5-8pm at Alameda Park in Butler
      • Shaler Light Up Night: Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus along with the cast of characters including Frosty, Rudolph, the Grinch and Max the dog; 7-9pm in front of Shaler North Hills Library
      • Hermitage Light Up Night Parade: This widely anticipated community event draws over 15,000 people together to celebrate! The parade begins at the intersection of East State Street and North Kerrwood Drive, travel east to the intersection of East State Street and Route 18, turn left and proceeds to the entrance of the Shenango Valley Mall; begins at 6pm
      • Greensburg Holiday Parade: About 70 floats will participate; The parade will travel down Main Street from the Westmoreland Museum of American Art to city hall; begins at 10am
      • Bridgwater Borough Night of Lights: Parade and holiday fun; begins at 5pm in Bridgewater on Bridge Street
      • Brentwood Light Up Night: Welcome the 2014 Holiday Season to Brentwood Borough This annual event attracts nearly, 1,000 guest from in and around the community.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25th

      • Monroeville Tree Lighting: Entertainment by the Monroeville Chorus; listen to holiday music, place ornaments on the tree outside the church, sing carols while the tree is lit by Municipal Officials, and a visit from Santa Claus; 7-8pm at The Old Stone Church in Monroeville

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28th

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29th

MONDAY, DECEMBER 1st

      • Jefferson Hills Light Up Night: The event will kick off the Holiday season as the Borough displays beautifully decorated Christmas trees and decorations. In addition, children will visit individually with Santa who will pose for a free photo with them. Surprises, Holiday desserts, children’s activities and entertainment will round out the special evening.

WEDENSDAY, DECEMBER 3rd

      • Bethel Park Tree Lighting Ceremony:  Enjoy a visit from Santa, the Bethel Park High School Brass Enssemble and the Independence Middle School Choir will provide holiday music; 6:45-7:30pm at the Bethel Park Community Center

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4th

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5th

      • Robinson light show with Santa: Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at the Christmas Tree Light Up by fire truck and Santa will flip the switch to start the holiday season and light up Robinson Township! Join the festivities that will include caroling, hot chocolate and cookies; 6:30-7:30 at Clever Park in Robinson
      • Sewickley Light Up Night: Entertainment on a large stage and small stage along with fireworks, free horse drawn carriage rides, a live reindeer, ice carving and lots of food vendors; 5-9pm downtown Sewickley 
      • Munhall Light Up Night: 6-7pm at the Borough Building

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6th

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7th

model railroad

Ongoing Light Shows and Model Train Displays

      • Ogelbay Festival of Lights– November 14th – January 4th; The Winter Festival of Lights was listed as one of the 10 Best Christmas Light Displays in the US according to AOL Travel. It’s one of the nation’s largest, covering more than 300 acres over a six-mile drive throughout the resort.
      • Christmas in Clinton– November 20th – January 4th; A One-Mile Drive Through Holiday Experience. The Christmas Light Up Celebration in Clinton, PA is the best kept holiday secret in Pittsburgh. We have over a mile of lights and displays in a beautiful, enchanted woodland setting. Ppen every evening from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
      • Overlys Country Christmas– November 21st- January 1st; The sights, sounds, smells and tastes of an old-fashioned Christmas.  A quarter mile driveway, lined with lighted displays and the walk-around Christmas Village is accessed through the Canopy of Lights.
      • Yuletide in Sewickley: Saturdays and Sundays December 6th-21st; Holiday lights, free carriage rides, live music and more.
      • Phipps winter Flower Show and Light Display: November 28th – January 11th; Enjoy Winter Wonderland at Phipps! Lush evergreens, bright blooms, illuminated glass and stunning outdoor Winter Light Garden.
      • Kennywood Holiday Lights: November 28th – December 21st; See Kennywood magically transformed with over 1 million dazzling lights. Enjoy songs of the holidays performed by local choirs. See the spectacular light show on the lagoon choreographed to your favorite holiday melodies. Visit Santa, ride the Gingerbread Express and so much more.
      • Western PA Miniature Railroad: Annual train show showcasing the Museum’s main attraction, a 40′ X 100′ scale representation of the tracks between Pittsburgh, Pa. and Cumberland, Md. set in the summer of 1952. 
      • Beaver County Model Railroad Open House: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays November 28th- December 28th; Each year, during the Holiday Season, the Beaver County Model Railroad and Historical Society opens its doors and invites the public in to share the results of their work. During Open House you will have the opportunity to see a wide variety of locomotive power and rolling stock in action. In addition to Society owned equipment, members are encouraged to bring their personal equipment in and run it on the layout
      • PPG Wintergarden: See the splendor of the holidays come alive during PPG Place’s breathtaking “Spirits of Giving From Around the World” exhibit. The Wintergarden at PPG Place is a bright and open, plant-filled, all-glass room displaying season displays of Gingerbread Houses and Train Exhibits.
      • Carnegie Science Center: New train displays open November 28th for the Holiday Season.
      • Pennsylvania Trolley Museum: See the Lionel toy train display and decorated street cars. You can enjoy the newest addition, the Steel City LUG’s Lego train display.
      • Nationality Room in the Cathedral of Learning: The Rooms will be decorated for the winter holidays on Saturday, November 15th 2014 and remain in that appearance until the Saturday of MLK Day 2015.