“Downtown Pittsburgh once again will be the center of holiday events, beginning with the 57th Annual Comcast Light Up Night® that will include national acts, a packed live music and activities schedule and the grand opening of the sixth season of the Peoples Gas Holiday Market™.” said Jeremy Waldrup, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership “For five full weeks, we invite everyone to the Golden Triangle. It will be even more alive with free family activities, entertainment, holiday lights, and high quality shopping and dining. Downtown Pittsburgh offers an experience
unlike any other in the region during this special time.”
Comcast Light Up Night®
For the 57th year, Downtown Pittsburgh will herald the start of the Holiday Season with Comcast Light Up Night® on Friday, November 17, 2017.
Among the biggest changes for this year’s event is a new footprint that will include transforming Ft. Duquesne Boulevard into a festive riverfront destination. New this year are two major stages, each with a national recording artist as headliner, which will bookend a pedestrian promenade nearly a quarter mile long with a myriad of food vendors and interactive attractions. The party builds all night to a remarkable conclusion as crowds flock to Ft. Duquesne Boulevard for the best viewing of the spectacular BNY Mellon fireworks finale. (please see Comcast Light Up Night® article for more details)
Peoples Gas Holiday Market™ (please see Peoples Gas Holiday Market™ Press Release for complete details)
The Peoples Gas Holiday Market™ will return to Market Square and be open daily (except Thanksgiving) beginning on Comcast Light Up Night®, Friday, November 17 through Saturday, December 23. The Peoples Gas Holiday Market™, a
charming, European-style holiday market will feature 35 vendors of international, handcrafted and Pittsburgh-themed gifts and a stage filled with entertainment by local bands and performing arts groups.
Once again, Santa will take up residence in his whimsical storybook home in Market Square where, for a donation to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, children of all ages will have the opportunity for a complimentary photo with Santa.
New for 2017 is the Holiday Karaoke Contest! Every Monday and Tuesday evening, contestants will compete to move on to the grand finale on Monday, December 18, where one lucky winner will go home with a $1000 grand prize!
Free Saturday Parking, Downtown Holiday Shopping and Activities
Once again, it’s Downtown Pittsburgh for the Holidays. The Peoples Gas Holiday Market™ serves as the anchor for a marketing campaign that promotes the unique combination of Holiday attractions, activities and distinctive retail available only in Downtown Pittsburgh. Retail partners in the Holiday Shopping campaign include Fifth Avenue Place and Larrimor’s. We also highlight the more than 120 independent and small retailers, including more than 15 new retailers that have opened in the last 2 years. The multi-media campaign will include special Black Friday messaging to encourage people to consider Downtown for a truly festive shopping alternative on the biggest shopping day of the year.
To support the marketing campaign, the free Fifth Avenue Place Holly Trolley that circulates among Downtown’s holiday hot spots will offer service every Saturday, Sunday and a bonus day on Black Friday, including stops at the Pittsburgh Crèche at U.S. Steel Tower, Holiday Kidsplay Zone, and Heinz History Center’s “Very Merry Pittsburgh Exhibit.” Downtown visitors can hop on and off at all the shopping, family-fun and holiday sites around town.
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership is also coordinating an effort among local merchants to support Small Business Saturday on Saturday, November 25. Many Downtown retailers will be offering specials and in-store events for this national initiative designed to support small retailers throughout the holiday season.
The Pittsburgh Parking Authority will once again provide free parking in their garages on Saturdays (beginning November 25) and a bonus day on Black Friday. Visitors are encouraged to use the ParkPGH app to help them find the closest garage to their destination.
New Holiday Pop Ups (See full Holiday Pop Ups Press Release for complete details)
Downtown Pittsburgh welcomes several great Pop Ups that will only be here through the Holiday Season. The Pop Ups will be opening in Downtown through the end of November to welcome seasonal visitors.
Thanks to the City of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Parking Authority, free parking will be available in Pittsburgh Parking Authority garages on Black Friday in addition to Saturdays (beginning November 25) during the holiday season. Every Saturday visitors can take the free horse drawn carriage rides at PPG Place. On Black Friday there will be a bonus day of free horse drawn carriage and Holly Trolley rides to attractions across Downtown Pittsburgh including Holiday Kidsplay, The Crèche at the US Steel Tower, PPG Place, and Fifth Avenue Place. Carriage rides are sponsored by Highwoods Properties and Holly Trolley rides are made possible by support from Fifth Avenue Place.
The PDP maintains a website full of updated information about the events and activities occurring throughout Downtown Pittsburgh this holiday season. Visit the site for schedules, maps and much more about Comcast Light Up Night®, the Peoples Gas Holiday Market™, Kidsplay, Downtown shopping and special weekend activities.
The PDP also produces a weekly Holiday Season e-newsletter that will keep everyone informed about the exciting events, activities, cultural offerings and retailers in Downtown Pittsburgh. Sign-up to receive this e-newsletter by visiting http://www.downtownpittsburgh.com/subscribe.
