Pittsburgh gets its annual jump-start on the holiday shopping season Friday with Light Up Night -- the Downtown night out marked by tree-lighting ceremonies, roving crowds, open-late stores and awkwardly worded marketing pitches.

Friday starts "Downtown Pittsburgh -- A Holiday Tradition," which used to be called "Downtown Pittsburgh -- A Holiday Tradition With a New Twist," and before that, "Downtown Pittsburgh Sparkles," and before that, "Sparkle Season."

But first, Pittsburgh city government launches its own lunchtime tree-lighting ceremony Friday at the City-County Building. Dutifully avoiding any mention of Hanukkah and/or Christmas, its title choice is "Reflections of the Seasons."

A breakdown of times, places and street closings follows:

Events

6 a.m.-9 p.m. -- Spirits of Giving Around the World exhibit, PPG Place Wintergarden

9 a.m.-6 p.m. -- Fourth annual gingerbread house display and competition, PPG Place Wintergarden and Two PPG Place

11 a.m. -- Ice skating begins at the rink at PPG Place

Noon -- Pittsburgh creche dedication, U.S. Steel Plaza

Noon to 1 p.m. -- City-County Building events include holiday songs from the Point Park University Singers and appearances by Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre "Nutcracker" cast members. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl lights up a 50-foot spruce at 12:30 p.m.

4-7 p.m. -- Santa Spectacular Winter Wonderland, Gateway Plaza

4-9 p.m. -- Vendors and musical performances in Market Square

4:30 to 9 p.m. -- Sounds of the Season, Fifth Avenue Place

5 p.m. -- CLO Mini-Stars, PPG Plaza

5-9 p.m. -- Family entertainment, Fifth Avenue Place

5-10 p.m. -- Holiday Marketplace: A Unique Wreath Show and Raffle, Art Institute of Pittsburgh

5:30 p.m. -- Tribute of Light Ceremony/PPG Plaza tree lighting

5:30-9:30 p.m. -- Gateway Clipper Light Up Night cruise

5:45 p.m. -- One Oxford Centre tree lighting

6 to 8 p.m. -- Silent films about Pittsburgh, Koppers Building lobby

6:15-7 p.m. -- CBS Radio Santa Spectacular presented by Land O'Lakes, with Unity Tree lighting, Penn Avenue at Stanwix Street

7 p.m. -- CAPA students choir, outside Byham Theater

7 p.m. -- Macy's window unveiling

7 p.m. -- Super Hero Holiday stage show, Station Square main stage. Also starts Station Square's Night Lights outdoor lights display.

7:45-10 p.m. -- Meet and greet Santa Claus, Station Square's Freight House Shops

8 p.m. -- Singer Mark Milovats and the Santa Belles, Station Square main stage

9 p.m. -- Macy's Fireworks Finale and Duquesne Light tree lighting ceremony, Commonwealth Place at Penn and Liberty (near the Hilton Hotel)

Other Downtown holiday season events include:

9-11 a.m. Nov. 25 -- The 26th annual "Celebrate the Season" parade

11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 2 -- A free Kids Holiday Crawl in the Cultural District

Saturdays, Nov. 18-Dec. 23, the free Dollar Bank Holly Trolley, circulating through stops in Downtown and Station Square.

Street closings

As is usual every Light Up Night, Downtown streets start getting clogged during the afternoon rush hour and many Port Authority buses are rerouted. Commuters be advised.

Street closings begin at 8 p.m. Thursday on Penn Avenue at Commonwealth Place. Street closings Friday night include Liberty Avenue, Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street near Gateway Center; Forbes Avenue between Wood and Stanwix streets; Market Square side streets; and Smithfield Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenues.

More information: www.downtownpittsburgh.com.