Krampusnacht hits Market Square

Horned demon to visit Tuesday

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Halloween meets Christmas in Market Square starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday for a campy celebration of

It’s Pittsburgh’s fourth annual one, but the holiday goes back centuries in parts of Europe, where Krampus night is marked before the Feast of St. Nicholas on Dec. 6. On that preceding evening, Krampus, a horned, hairy half goat/half demon dressed like a bishop and bearing a golden ceremonial staff, appears on the streets. The antithesis of St. Nick, who, of course, gifts children who have been good, Krampus punishes children who have been bad.

Krampus himself arrives at the Downtown celebration at 7 p.m. Tuesday on the main stage, where, if you dare, you can pose for a photo on his lap. At 7:30, the band Sleigher — all section, ha — will perform, and afterward, there’s a Krampus Krawl of local pubs, too. Some revelers will be dressed in full Krampus regalia. Some other customers will be afraid.

But everyone also can enjoy the more standard holiday fun at Market Square, including the pop-up shops of the holiday market and an ongoing karaoke contest for a $1,000 prize. The devilish

celebration bridges two holidays Pittsburghers love, organizer Mark Menold told the Post-Gazette’s Stephanie Strasburg last year. And it’s really not all that bad, he pointed out. “There’s no presents and there’s no family and stress.”

Learn more on the event’s Facebook page.