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Downtown construction will detour -- but not dim -- festivities Friday at the 49th annual Light Up Night, the traditional kickoff to Pittsburgh's holiday season.
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership believes the Market Square reconstruction "revealed new opportunities to enhance Light Up Night," said president and CEO Michael Edwards.
Noon: Annual Pittsburgh Creche dedication, U.S. Steel Tower Plaza
5 p.m.: Bridge party with performances by No Bad Ju Ju and Johnny Angel and the Halos, Roberto Clemente Bridge
Tribute of Light/Plaza Tree Lighting with performances by CLO Mini Stars, Al Dowe and Etta Cox Trio and The Stickers, PPG Plaza
Fred Rogers statue on the North Side will be lighted for first time
5:45 p.m.: Tree lighting with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, One Oxford Centre
6 p.m.: Winter Wonderland tents open.
6:15 p.m.: Macy's holiday window display unveiling. A parade from Macy's to PPG Plaza will follow, Smithfield Street.
6:45 p.m.: Unity Tree lighting with magic show by David Lawrence, Highmark Place
7:15 p.m.: Mt. Lebanon and Franklin Regional high school marching bands, PPG Plaza.
8 p.m.: Stage entertainment, followed by tree lighting and fireworks
9:15 p.m.: Firework finale, Allegheny River and Andy Warhol Bridge.
Santa Spectacular at Point State Park
DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH: MEMORIES MADE HERE WEEKENDS, NOV. 21-DEC. 26
Free horse-drawn carriage rides:
11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Pickups at One Oxford Centre, between Smithfield and Grant streets.
3-8 p.m.: Start at PPG Place Plaza
On Dec. 26, carriage rides will be available only at PPG Place from 3-8 p.m.
Free Holly Trolley rides:
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and noon-5 p.m. Sundays. Trolley arrives at each stop about every 15 minutes, depending upon traffic. Stops include: Fifth Avenue Place, PPG Place, Macy's, One Oxford Centre (Smithfield and Fourth Avenue), U.S. Steel Tower, August Wilson Center and Katz Plaza in the Cultural District.
For more information, visit www.downtownpittsburgh.com.
Those new opportunities? How about a Downtown parade featuring 432 high school students and a party on the Roberto Clemente Bridge that ends with a Zambelli fireworks display? The fireworks will be launched from the Andy Warhol Bridge (Seventh Street Bridge) and barges on the Allegheny River, making the Clemente Bridge a prime viewing spot.
Events are slated to begin Downtown around noon at the U.S. Steel Tower Plaza with the dedication of the Pittsburgh Creche.
After 5 p.m., No Bad Ju Ju and Johnny Angel and the Halos will hit the stage on the Clemente Bridge while the CLO Mini Stars serenade passers-by at PPG Plaza before the Tribute of Light/Plaza Tree Lighting. Music will continue at PPG Plaza with performances by Al Dowe and the Etta Cox Trio and country band The Stickers.
Over at One Oxford Centre, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl will light the indoor tree at 5:45 p.m. Festivities will carry on with free horse-drawn carriage rides, photos with Santa and live reindeer.
The traditional Macy's holiday window unveiling will take place at 6:15 p.m. Face painting, children's crafts and Sailor Mickey and Minnie Mouse will be on hand to get the party on Smithfield Street started. Pop-punk band The Dream Intended and Grammy-award winning group Manhattan Transfer will perform before the window unveiling.
The five animated window displays are all about "believing in the magic of Christmas" and tell the story of how children's letters for Santa make it to the North Pole, said Russell Schutte, Macy's senior vice president and regional director of stores.
Mt. Lebanon and Franklin Regional high school marching bands will lead the festivities from Macy's to PPG Plaza, stopping there to perform before heading to the Clemente Bridge.
In the meantime, Highmark will host at 6:45 p.m. the 56th annual lighting of the Unity Tree, which is decorated with about 2,000 LED lights this year. A magic show by illusionist David Lawrence also will commemorate the event.
All this merriness will lead up to the fireworks finale at 9:15 p.m.
In Point State Park, crowds can get another dose of fireworks and holiday fun at Santa Spectacular. Winter Wonderland tents open at 6 p.m., followed by entertainment, Santa lighting the 80-foot Duquesne Light Tree of Lights and a firework display by American Fireworks Co.
Schenley Plaza in Oakland also is decked out for the season with a display of 18 trees adorned with more than 35,000 LED lights. The exhibit, which was lit earlier this week, will remain on display through February.
Friday's events are meant to encourage people to come Downtown during the holiday season, Edwards said.
"If you want a big city shopping experience, it's still available in Pittsburgh," he said, noting that all the construction is a sign of growth in Pittsburgh.
To make navigating construction easier during the holidays, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership is offering free horse-drawn carriage and Holly Trolley rides on weekends beginning Saturday.
Consider getting around Downtown a "holiday adventure," Edwards said.
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