Pittsburghers can walk the red carpet at Oscar gala

You, too, can feel like a Hollywood star when the Pittsburgh Film Office holds its 18th annual Oscar gala, “Lights! Glamour! Action!,” at 6 p.m. March 4 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown.

Women don gowns worthy of Hollywood, and men often wear tuxedos, although blacktie attire is optional. Organizers roll out Pittsburgh’s longest red carpet — 500 feet — forattendees to walk.

Froufrou food is among the highlightof the evening, and it includes hors d’oeuvres such as lamb lollipops, chicken and Goudacroquettes, and fig, fontina and lavender tarts that will be prepared by Levy Restaurants, the Convention Center’s official caterer. During a predinner reception, food stations will serve prosciutto, salami, mortadella, coppa, local and imported cheeses and pickled vegetables.

For dinner, there’s no need to choose your entree. Dinner will be served at stations, so you can try them all. Stations include:

• Slider station: Short rib sliders, sweet potato & quinoa slidersand truffle fries.

• Chicken station: Stuffed chicken with apple, bacon and cheddar with creamy brie polenta with scallions.

• Arancini and salad station: Spinach, artichoke and asiago arancini with marinara and chopped salad.

Zak Kozberg, deputy director of the Pittsburgh Film Office, said for dessert there will be mini cupcakes from Frosted Envy and doughnuts from Duck Donuts. Levy also is creating cocktails for the event, with the possibility of a specialty themed cocktail, and a champagne reception precedes dinner.

Guests can participate in the “Luck of the Draw: game, where they pay $20 to buy a sealed envelope that can contain anything from Chick-fil-A gift certificates to Pittsburgh Penguins tickets. Live entertainment will be by an a cappella group, and interactive activities will take place in the ballroom throughout the evening.

But the star attraction, of course, is the screening of the Academy Awards broadcast on a big screen so the 600 to 700 attendees can cheer for their favorites.

Tickets are $250 per person, and proceeds benefit the Pittsburgh Film Office’s continued efforts to market Pittsburgh for the big screen. The event is open to ages 21 and up only. For tickets, go to pghfilm.org/lightsglamour-action/.