Holiday lights, concerts, action
The holiday season kicks into gear this weekend with a huge assortment of festive events. Old favorites like Kennywood’s Holiday Lights, Phipps Winter Flower Show and “The Nutcracker” are back, along with newer additions like Glowland and the county’s Drive-In Laser Show.
HOLIDAY LIGHTS KENNYWOOD HOLIDAY LIGHTS,
West Mifflin. Annual holiday event with more than 2 million lights, 20-some family favorite rides, culinary delights, model train, walk-through petting zoo, choir performances and “the tallest Christmas tree in Pennsylvania.” 5 to 9 p.m. Fridays through Sundays through Dec. 23, plus nightly Dec. 26-Jan. 1. $19.99; kennywood.com.
OGLEBAY WINTER FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, Oglebay Park, Wheeling, W.Va. Six-mile drive-through with 90 light displays and more than 1 million LED lights, plus Christmas Shop and Dining. Nightly from dusk to midnight, through Jan. 8. $30 donation requested; oglebay-resort.com.
ELFBURGH CHRISTMAS, 30 Corrigan Drive, Bethel Park. Hundred Acres Manor is decorated with more than a half million lights, with Christmas carols by live Santa helpers and Santa in his castle. Fridays through Sundays through Dec. 23. $25; pittsburghchristmas.com.
NORTH PARK HOLIDAY DRIVE-IN LASER SHOW, North Park Swimming Pool Parking Lot, South Ridge Drive. The county presents this 45-minute light show, running Dec. 9-22. Session times Sunday through Thursday (6, 7:30 and 9 p.m.) or four weekend session times on Friday and Saturday, when a 10:30 p.m. session is added. $20 per vehicle Sunday through Thursday and $25 per vehicle for Friday and Saturday shows; alleghenycounty.us.
DAZZLING NIGHTS, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, 799 Pinkerton Run Rd., Oakdale. Immersive 65-acre light show with a 30-foot-tall holiday tree, interactive lights on the ground, a forest of light and fog, a 65foot tunnel and more. Nightly through Jan. 1 at. First entry is at 5:30 p.m., last entry is at 9 p.m. each night. $25, $22 for children (plus fees). Children 2 and under enter free; dazzlingpittsburgh.com.
ZOO LIGHTS DRIVE THRU, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, Highland Park. Thousands of LED lights, festive music, and holiday treats. Runs select nights 5:15 to 9:45 p.m. Nov. 25 through Dec. 30. $50
per vehicle, $40 members. Timed tickets available online; pittsburghzoo.org.
GLOWLAND, Schenley Plaza, Oakland. Winter festival featuring art installations, live music events and illuminations throughout Oakland. Visitors can discover the playable and interactive art installation, Impulse, and then head into the business district for music, entertainment, vendors, games and more. It runs through Dec. 17; oaklandpittsburgh.com
HOLIDAY PLACES CARNEGIE MUSEUMS OF ART & NATURAL HISTORY,
Oakland. Carnegie Trees: Holiday Splendor, in the Hall of Architecture, consists of five Fraser firs with festive baubles, gingerbread, and glistening snow. Through Jan 8. The Neapolitan Presepio, handcrafted between 1700 and 1830, shows figures in an 18th-century Italian village life. Performance by Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra String Quartet at 2 p.m. Dec. 3; cmoa.org.
CARNEGIE SCIENCE CENTER,
North Shore. The latest addition to the Miniature Railroad & Village is the City Cemetery Chapel, as seen in “Night of Living Dead.” “The Polar Express 3D” screens in The Rangos Giant Cinema (Nov. 25-Dec. 30). Laser-Cut Holiday Ornaments craft opportunity runs Dec. 3-17. The Science Center also just opened the permanent exhibit “Mars: The Next Giant Leap”; CarnegieScienceCenter.org.
GATEWAY CLIPPER CRUISES, Station Square. Santa Family Fun Cruises with Santa and DJ sail Saturday and Sundays
Nov. 26-Dec. 18; Holiday Captain’s Dinner Cruises sail Saturdays, Nov. 26, Dec. 3, 10, 17; Holiday Sparkle Dinners sail Fridays Dec. 3-23; WAMO Moonlight Dance on Dec. 9; gatewayclipper.com.
HEINZ HISTORY CENTER, Strip District. A special Installation in the Great Hall explores Pittsburgh holiday traditions with artifacts and images, including objects from Kaufmann’s Santaland. Also, Santa will appear from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 25-26, Dec. 10 and 17, and 10 a.m.
to noon Christmas Eve. Kids aged 17 and under are admitted free, through Jan. 8; heinzhistorycenter.org.
OLD ECONOMY VILLAGE, Ambridge. Christmas at the Village, 2-9 p.m. Dec. 3 and 2-7 p.m. Dec. 4; oldeconomyvillage.org.
PENNSYLVANIA TROLLEY MUSEUM, Washington, Pa. Ride with
Santa on vintage trolleys, Nov. 25-27, Dec. 34, 10-11, 17-18 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and see the Lionel train and LEGO layouts; Toy Trains and Trolleys will run 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 2, 9 and 16; pa-trolley.org.
PEOPLES GAS HOLIDAY MARKET.
Market Square is transformed into a European-style village featuring more than 35 vendors with international and locally handcrafted gifts housed in Alpine-style chalets, an entertainment stage and Santa’s House. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 24.
PHIPPS CONSERVATORY & BOTANICAL GARDENS, Schenley Park, Oakland. Holiday Magic: Winter Flower Show and Light Garden is an arctic adventure with topiary creatures, holiday trees, outdoor lights and floral delights that include amaryllis, orchids and more than 1,600 poinsettias in 19 varieties. Through Jan. 9. 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily and 5 to 11 p.m. for Winter Light Garden; phipps.conservatory.org.
2 PPG PLACE, Fourth Avenue, Downtown. “Spirits of Giving From Around the World” display of life-size Santas and original paintings capturing a world of Christmas folklore and fantasy, through Jan. 1. Free; ppgplace.com.
UPMC RINK AT PPG PLACE, Downtown. Skating around the Christmas tree; ppgplace.com.
ON STAGE
THE HIP-HOP NUTCRACKER. Contemporary dance spectacle set to Tchaikovsky’s music with a cast of dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and MC Kurtis Blow. Benedum. 7 p.m. Nov. 30; trustarts.org.
MIRACLE ON 34th STREET: THE MUSICAL. Based on the classic 1934 film. Little Lake Theatre, 500 Lakeside Drive, North Strabane. Dec. 1-17; littlelake.org.
A MUSICAL CHRISTMAS CAROL. Michael Cerveris is Scrooge in this 31st annual production by Pittsburgh CLO. Byham Theater, Downtown. Dec. 9-23; pittsburghclo.org.
THE NUTCRACKER. Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre production with choreography by Terrence S. Orr. Benedum Center, Downtown. Dec. 9-Dec. 28; pbt.org.
THE NUTCRACKER. Presented by Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra and Texture Contemporary Ballet. Palace Theatre, Greensburg.Dec. 10; thepalacetheatre.org.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Directed by Clayton Phillips. Palace Theatre, Greensburg. Dec.11; thepalacetheatre.org.
A LYRICAL CHRISTMAS CAROL. The musical adaptation presented by Pittsburgh Musical Theatre at Gargaro Theater, 327 South Main St, West End. Dec. 13-18; pittsburghmusicals.com.
HOLIDAY DREAMS: SPECTACULAR HOLIDAY CIRQUE! Holiday show with acrobats, aerialists, comedians, daredevils. Benedum. 7 p.m. Dec. 29, 2 p.m. Dec. 30. trustarts.org.
HOLIDAY POP
MARK MILOVATS, Byham Theater, Nov. 27; trustarts.org.
DISNEY PRINCESS: THE CONCERT, Benedum, Nov. 28; trustarts.org.
HARRY CONNICK JR., Benedum, Nov. 29; trustarts.org.
BEACH BOYS AND THE HOLIDAY VIBRATIONS, Benedum, Dec. 2; trustarts.org.
BASTARD BEARDED IRISHMEN: A VERY BASTARD CHRISTMAS, Thunderbird Music Hall, Dec. 10; thunderbirdmusichall.com.
JACKIE EVANCHO, Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall, Dec. 10; eventbrite.com.
MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER
Benedum, Dec. 13; trustarts.org.
J RODDY WALSTON’S CHRISTMAS TO THE BONE, Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall, Dec. 13; thunderbirdmusichall.com.
CELTIC WOMAN CHRISTMAS, Heinz Hall, Dec. 14: pittsburghsymphony.org.
KENNY G Palace Theatre, Dec. 14; thepalacetheatre.org.
JIM BRICKMAN, Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall, Dec. 16; eventbrite.com.
TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, PPG Paints Arena, Dec. 17; ticketmaster.com.
SCOTT BRADLEE’S POSTMODERN JUKEBOX Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall, Dec. 18; eventbrite.com.
THE SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS The Latshaw Pops Orchestra and Victory Brinker. Palace Theatre, Dec. 18; thepalacetheatre.org.
MARIE OSMOND PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY Heinz Hall, Dec. 20; pittsburghsymphony.org.
CLASSICAL
RIVER CITY BRASS, “Christmas Brasstacular.” Linton Middle School, Penn Hills ( Dec. 1), Carson Middle School, McCandless (Dec. 2), Palace Theatre, Greensburg (Dec. 3), Bethel Park High School (Dec. 6); rivercitybrass.org.
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, Handel’s “Messiah” (Dec. 3); Holiday Pops with the Mendelssohn Choir and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (Dec. 9-11, 16-18); Holiday Brass Spectacular (Dec. 13); pittsburghsymphony.org.
PITTSBURGH CONCERT CHORALE Sounds of the Season at Trinity Cathedral, Downtown (Dec. 2); Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church (Dec. 3); Ingomar United Methodist Church (Dec. 4); PCCsing.org.
HEINZ CHAPEL CHOIR Holiday Concert. Heinz Memorial Chapel, University of Pittsburgh, Oakland. Dec. 3-4, 9, 11; music.pitt.edu.
HOLIDAY SHOPPING
A HANDMADE ARCADE. Craft fair showcases200-plus designers, crafters, artists and makers from Pittsburgh and be-yond. David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Strip. 11 a.m. Dec. 3; handmadearcade.com.
KRAMPUS HOLIDAY MARKET. Handmade holiday gifts associated with the dark and mysterious European tale of Krampus. Monroeville Mall (Dec. 4); Facebook page.