Light Up Night
There are some of you who avoid downtown Pgh like the plague when it comes to light up night. For the estimated 100,000+ in attendance this year, however, it’s a much different story. The event has expanded to two nights and we’re here to show you how to make the most of your Light Up Night experience and prove that it’s not just for kids. There’s a piece of fun for everyone on this famed night of lights.
This year’s highlights:
While you might be used to partying under a bridge, there’s a perfectly legal party happening atop the Roberto Clemente Bridge.
The ice skating rink opens in the newly-renovated Market Square, which was recently named one of the top 10 public spaces in the U.S. and Canada.
There will also be a stage in Market Square, featuring some “top notch” local talent.
Other highlights include: the Macy’s holiday window unveiling, lighting of the Highmark unity tree, a candlelight horse-drawn parade, a celebrate Santa show and of course, FIREWORKS!
Don’t forget about Station Square, which is equally if not more as hap’nin as downtown. These events are a bit more family-focused, though. We can’t neglect our friends with kiddos! Highlights include:
Bessemer tree lighting, Santa Claus meet & greet, live stage shows, yuletide carolers, Kristy Kringle show, Buzz Puppet Holiday Revue, and express train rides throughout Station Square. More details can be found on Station Square’s website.
But what about the logistics of all of it? If you’re smart, you’ll bus it. There’s also this little blip c/o About.com:
“Downtown Pittsburgh will be a bit difficult to navigate due to construction on the North Shore Connector, plus multiple streets will be closed to accommodate Pittsburgh Light Up Night activities. Avoid traffic by parking in a fringe lot and taking a shuttle into Downtown. Alco Parking will provide a free shuttle from its North Shore lots. There will be downtown street closures throughout the day on Light Up Night, including all side streets around Market Square, plus portions of Forbes Avenue (between Wood St. and Stanwix St.), Penn Avenue (Fifth Avenue Extension to New Penn Extension), Stanwix Street (Penn Avenue to Stanwix Street Garage) and Smithfield Street (between Fourth Avenue and Fifth Avenue). Port Authority buses will also be detouring around these streets on Thursday, Nov. 17 through Saturday, Nov. 19.”
Here’s our advice. If you work downtown or on the North Shore, don’t go home. If you work elsewhere or don’t work at all, duck out a few hours early, post up at your favorite downtown establishment, and get a good buzz on so braving the crowd will be less abrasive. Some of our favorite spots include Seviche, Nine on Nine, Sonoma Grille, Bossa Nova, Tonic and Olive or Twist. For those of you on a budget, Salonika’s on 6th is a great place to grab a few brews inexpensively.
With no chance of rain in sight for Friday and a high of 49, we’re seeing some of the best weather we’ve seen in November for quite some time. So get out, enjoy it and put yourself in the holiday spirit alongside 100,000 of your Pgh neighbors.
