LIGHT UP NIGHT WILL ROCK ‘N’ ROLL DOWNTOWN ON SATURDAY
Joan Jett likes to say she has a bit of Yinzer in her. The beloved Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is a Philly native, born in 1958, but her father was an insurance salesman who moved around for work.
Between 1958 and 1967, the family spent a few years living in Pittsburgh and Erie, before moving to Rockville, Md.
During her early teen years, they made a fortuitous move to Los Angeles County, where Joan Marie Larkin became the young glam rocker Joan Jett, founder of the Runaways, one of the first all-female rock bands.
Jett, who was just here in August to play PNC Park with Motley Crue, Def Leppard and Poison, returns Saturday to headline the 61st annual Highmark Light Up Night.
Presented by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, the opening celebration of the holiday season will begin with lunchtime concerts followed by the 5 p.m. tree lighting on Grant Street and Rooftop Fireworks at the City-County Building.
Light Up Night will also feature craft vendors, food trucks, pop-up beer and cocktail gardens, skating at the UPMC Rink at PPG Plaza and lots more music.
Jett, with her longtime band The Blackhearts, follows such former LUN headliners as Adam Lambert and Andy Grammer, taking the Xfinity Stage at Fort Duquesne Boulevard and 6th Street at 8:30 p.m.
The bulk of her set will consist of her rousing late ’70s/early ’80s hits like “Cherry Bomb,” “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll,” “Bad Reputation,” “Crimson and Clover” and “Do You Wanna Touch Me.” As she demonstrated at PNC Park, she hasn’t lost much of her fire. If you want to hear janglier versions of some of those songs, you can find them on the acoustic album, “Changeup,” that Jett released in March.
The lead-in to the Blackhearts is the Mr. Smalls All-Star Rolling Stones Tribute, a follow-up to last year’s tribute to The Beatles.
This one will feature Mr. Smalls coowner and Rusted Root singer Liz Berlin, Jon Bindley, Pete Bush, Troy Cramer, Lindsay Dragan, Kurt Giammattei, Lee Hintenlang, Steve (Distelfink) Hobaugh, Gary Musisko, Gibson Musisko, Cassandra, Vanessa, Jesse and Mike Prentiss, Jon Reider, Kenny Stockard, Addi Twigg, Chet Vincent and former Rusted Root cosinger Jenn Wertz. Wertz plans to do “Mother’s Little Helper,” with her son, Gibson, who fronts the young indie-rock Posterchild.
A band organizer told the PG: “Following up last year’s Light Up Night tribute to The Beatles’ classic ‘Abbey Road’ album, the large extended family (including several generations!) of Mr. Smalls musicians will reunite to play a collection of Rolling Stones hits, favorites and deep cuts — mostly focused on The Stones of the ’60s and ’70s.
“The PDP graciously refers to the act as an All-Star Band, but they prefer Mr. Smalls Oblate Spheroid Dwarf Planets or Mr. Smalls — Some Stars, Some Space Junk. Regardless, they are eager to share their love of the music of the Rolling Stones, and FLIPPING OUT to be opening for Joan Jett!!”
The music slate will also feature the annual appearance of Pittsburgh legends Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers (playing two sets); Pittsburgh artist Royce, who mixes rock, hip-hop, R&B and blues into what he calls “Black Rock”; and multiple sets by The Little Mermen: The Ultimate Disney Tribute Band, which performs songs from “The Lion King,” “The Jungle Book,” “Frozen” and other Disney classics.
Elsewhere, the Pirates’ Mini-Fest at Stanwix Street and Fort Duquesne Boulevard will offer photo ops with the Pirates Parrot and Pierogies, holiday themed face painting, balloon artists stations, inflatables and merch.
The icing on the cake … is a cake. At Two Gateway Center, Prantl’s will unveil a 1-ton, 8-foot-tall burnt almond torte cake shaped like the Highmark Tree. Slices will be available for purchase on Sunday, with proceeds benefiting the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank.
Music/entertainment Highmark Main Stage
Stanwix Street & Penn Avenue 12:30 - 5 p.m.: Ultimate Disney Tribute Band (performances at 12:30, 1:30, 3 and 4 p.m.)
5:30 - 6 p.m.: Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers
6 p.m.: Highmark Christmas Tree Lighting with Zambelli Rooftop Fireworks
6:20-6:50 p.m.: Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers
7:30-9 p.m.: Royce
Xfinity Riverside Stage
Fort Duquesne Boulevard & 6th Street 4-6 p.m.: Orange Music feat. Isaiah Small 6:30-7:45 p.m.: Mr. Smalls All-Star Rolling Stones Tribute
8:30-9:30 p.m.: Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
9:30 p.m.: Xfinity Fireworks Spectacular with Supersized Zambelli Grand Finale
Sounds of the Season Stage
Market Square
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Wild Blue Yonder 2:15-4:45 p.m.: Paging Dr. Moon 5:30-9:30 p.m.: Con Alma presents Live Jazz
Cultural District StagePenn Avenue & Seventh Street2-3:30 p.m.: Miss Freddye4-5 p.m.: Sierra Sellers5:30 p.m.: Pickup Line
City of Pittsburgh Grant Street Stage
414 Grant St.
4-5 p.m.: Ben & Friends
5 p.m.: City-County Building Tree Lighting with Zambelli Rooftop Fireworks
5:30-6:30 p.m.: River City Brass & Santa’s Arrival
7-7:45 p.m.: CAPA Jazz Band
7:45-8 p.m.: Salvation Army Band
8 p.m.: Light Show
Oxford Center Stage
301 Grant St.
5:45-9 p.m.: Holiday Music by Scott and Rosanna
5:45 p.m.: Tree Lighting Ceremony & Santa’s Arrival
6-9 p.m.: Visits with Santa
Tree lightings, ceremonies & fireworks
5 p.m.: City of Pittsburgh Tree Lighting with Zambelli Rooftop Fireworks, CityCounty Building
6 p.m.: Highmark Christmas Tree Lighting with Zambelli Rooftop Fireworks (Stanwix Street & Penn Avenue)
9:30 p.m.: Xfinity Fireworks Spectacular with Supersized Zambelli Finale (Allegheny Overlook on Fort Duquesne Boulevard)
The UPMC Ultimate Holiday Tree Experience lighting at PPG Place will be held on Friday as part of the Grand Opening Day Festivities.
Food & drinks
Stop by these locations to enjoy food and drinks from local vendors, food trucks, and pop-up beer & cocktail gardens.
Near Cultural District Stage (8th Street & Penn Avenue): Beer Garden 2-9:30 p.m. Adult beverages from Brew Gentlemen and specialty cocktails.
Near Riverside Stage along Allegheny River (Fort Duquesne Boulevard between Stanwix and Sixth streets).
One Oxford Centre, Grant Street Grant Street near City-County Building. To snap your photo with Santa, head to the Coca-Cola Caravan next to the Pirates Mini-Fest (Stanwix Street & Fort Duquesne Boulevard). You can also score a free Pirates ticket with a donation to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
MARKET SQUARE
Peoples Gas Holiday Market: 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Celebrating 11 years, shop this holiday tradition which features local charm and international flair along with an assortment of unique vendors from around the region and beyond.
Sounds of the Season Stage: 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Enjoy live performances throughout the day and night. See schedule above.
HEINZ HALL
600 Penn Ave.
Free concerts from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Three free 30-minute concerts featuring holiday-themed classics.
Performances at 6:30, 7:15 and 8 p.m.
Partner activities CITY-COUNTY BUILDING
414 Grant St.
20th Annual Gingerbread House Display and Competition
Winning entries will have their creations on display in the lobby of the CityCounty Building. The tasty-looking winning entries can be seen behind glass on the Grant Street portico.
ONE OXFORD CENTRE
Grant Street & Fourth Avenue Visit with Santa Claus live from 6-8 p.m., and then see the 30-foot lobby tree. Plus, enjoy some of the ‘burgh’s best food trucks parked along the outdoor patio.
THE UPMC RINK AT PPG PLACE
Ice Skating at the UPMC Rink at PPG Place: 11 a.m.-midnight
Ice skate in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh around the 66-foot-tall tree illuminated by more than 100,000 lights on a rink larger than the one in New York’s Rockefeller Center. Reserve your ice skating tickets in advance
Spirit of Giving Around the World Admire 16 life-sized Santas and paintings depicting holiday traditions from around the world. On display in the windows of Two PPG Place along Fourth Avenue.
U.S. STEEL TOWER PLAZA
600 Grant St.
Pittsburgh Crèche
Visit Pittsburgh’s larger-than-life nativity scene to see the only authorized replica of the nativity featured in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. This crèche, which measures roughly 64 by 36 feet and features 20 lifesized figures, has been an annual attraction since 1999, connecting Pittsburghers and visitors with the joy of the Christmas season.