Light Up Night facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Light Up Night |
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The ice rink and Christmas tree at One PPG Place is unveiled on Light Up Night.
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| Genre | Winter holiday season |
| Dates | late November |
| Location(s) | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Founded | November 21, 1960 [1] |
| Attendance | over 200,000 |
Light Up Night is a fun family festival in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It marks the start of the winter holiday shopping season. Many stores in Downtown Pittsburgh stay open late. Street vendors sell food, hot drinks, and special items.
The city gets decorated with bright Christmas lights, trees, and other holiday decorations. Skyscrapers and buildings downtown keep their lights on all night. This is why it's called "Light Up Night"! More than 200,000 people come to enjoy the party.
Light Up Night also offers free music. You can hear choirs, street performers, and even rock concerts. These happen downtown and in Station Square. The city also gives free carriage rides downtown.
This event used to be held on the Friday before Thanksgiving. Since 2021, it takes place on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
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Fun Traditions at Light Up Night
Bright Light Displays
A big tradition is lighting the Christmas tree in the ice skating rink at PPG Place. When the lights turn on, the ice rink officially opens for the season. This rink is huge, about 9,600 square feet! That's over 2,000 square feet bigger than the famous rink in New York City's Rockefeller Center.
Inside PPG Place, the Wintergarden has cool displays. You can see a model train, gingerbread houses, and life-sized Santa Claus figures. These Santas wear traditional clothes from different countries around the world.
Another old tradition is lighting the electric tree. This tree is on the corner of the old Horne's department store. A pyrotechnics show (like a small fireworks display) happens when it lights up. Other trees around the city, like the Unity Tree at Penn Avenue Plaza, also get lit with special ceremonies.
Pittsburgh Crèche Nativity Scene
The Pittsburgh Crèche is a very large nativity scene. It is located outside the U.S. Steel Tower. Every year since 1999, it appears from Light Up Night until Epiphany in January. This crèche is special because it's the only authorized copy of the nativity scene from St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
Many performers and mascots walk around downtown. They pose for pictures with kids and give out treats. In recent years, the Frownie Brownie mascot from Kings Family Restaurants has given out samples.
Other Exciting Events
- Macy's Window Display: The Macy's department store used to be in the old Kaufmann's building. It continued the tradition of showing its Christmas display in the windows along Smithfield Street. Before the store closed in 2015, the window themes often came from the story of Virginia O'Hanlon's letter to the New York Sun, asking if Santa Claus is real.
- Market Square Fun: Market Square is filled with booths. They offer toys, free giveaways, and food. Duquesne Light has a popular booth there that gives out free glow sticks to everyone. In the plaza behind Gateway Center, more vendors offer free items. KDKA also provides free hot chocolate and cookies.
- Live Music: Many live performances and concerts happen on Light Up Night. For example, in 2014, the band Cobra Starship performed on a stage near the Roberto Clemente Bridge.
- Fireworks Show: The night usually ends with a big fireworks show. They used to be launched over Point State Park. In recent years, the fireworks have been set off from the Andy Warhol Bridge (7th Street Bridge) and from barges on the Allegheny River.
