Light Up Night
Encyclopedia
Light Up Night is a day-long (but more recently two-day-long) family festival in the city of Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania
coinciding with the unofficial start of the Winter holiday shopping season. Many retailers in Downtown Pittsburgh remain open late, and street vendors and other concessionaires sell food and give away hot beverages, treats and promotional items. The city is decorated with Christmas lights, trees
, and other holiday decorations. On Light Up Night, the skyscrapers and buildings in and around downtown keep their lights on throughout the night, lending to the name. Over 200,000 people attend the festivities.
Light Up Night is also a time for free music, including many choirs, street performers, and even rock concerts, downtown and in Station Square
. In addition, the city offers free carriage
rides downtown.
In 2009, Light Up Night was held on Friday, November 20. The event is usually held in late November, usually the Friday before Thanksgiving
.
With the increasing popularity of the event the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership has threatened to sue other communities and organizations that fail to pay a small licensing fee for trademark infringement
.
rink in PPG Place
is an annual tradition. When the lights are turned on, the ice skating rink officially opens to the public for the season. At 9600 square feet (891.9 m²), the surface is over 2000 square feet (185.8 m²) larger than the famous rink in New York's
Rockefeller Center
. Each year, the Wintergarden inside PPG Place features a model train, gingerbread houses, and a collection of life-sized Santa Claus figures in traditional dress representing countries around the world.
Macy's
department store, in the old Kaufmann's
building, continues the tradition of its former tenant by revealing its Christmas
display in the windows along Smithfield Street. The windows in recent years have taken their theme from the story of Virginia O'Hanlon's editorial
to the New York Sun, asking if there is a Santa Claus
.
The lighting of the electric tree on the corner of the old Horne's
department store is an old tradition which continues to this day. A pyrotechnics
show accompanies the lighting. Trees throughout the city are also lit with ceremony.
Market Square
is filled with booths offering toys, giveaways, and food. Duquesne Light has a popular booth in Market Square which hands out free glow sticks to children and adults. In the plaza behind Gateway Center
, vendors offer more freebies, and KDKA
provides free hot chocolate and cookies.
Many performers and mascots frequent the streets downtown, posing for pictures with children, or giving away treats. In recent years, the Kings Family Restaurants
Frownie Brownie mascot has made his rounds with samples.
The night usually ends with fireworks
over Point State Park
, though in 2009, the fireworks were launched from the Andy Warhol Bridge (7th Street Bridge) and barges on the Allegheny River.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
coinciding with the unofficial start of the Winter holiday shopping season. Many retailers in Downtown Pittsburgh remain open late, and street vendors and other concessionaires sell food and give away hot beverages, treats and promotional items. The city is decorated with Christmas lights, trees
Christmas tree
The Christmas tree is a decorated evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, and a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas started in Livonia and Germany in the 16th century...
, and other holiday decorations. On Light Up Night, the skyscrapers and buildings in and around downtown keep their lights on throughout the night, lending to the name. Over 200,000 people attend the festivities.
Light Up Night is also a time for free music, including many choirs, street performers, and even rock concerts, downtown and in Station Square
Station Square
Station Square is a indoor and outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment complex located in the South Shore neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
. In addition, the city offers free carriage
Carriage
A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters and sedan chairs are excluded, since they are wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be light,...
rides downtown.
In 2009, Light Up Night was held on Friday, November 20. The event is usually held in late November, usually the Friday before Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
.
With the increasing popularity of the event the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership has threatened to sue other communities and organizations that fail to pay a small licensing fee for trademark infringement
Trademark infringement
Trademark infringement is a violation of the exclusive rights attaching to a trademark without the authorization of the trademark owner or any licensees...
.
Traditions
The lighting of the Christmas tree in the ice skatingIce skating
Ice skating is moving on ice by using ice skates. It can be done for a variety of reasons, including leisure, traveling, and various sports. Ice skating occurs both on specially prepared indoor and outdoor tracks, as well as on naturally occurring bodies of frozen water, such as lakes and...
rink in PPG Place
PPG Place
PPG Place is a complex in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, consisting of six buildings within three city blocks and five and a half acres. Named for its anchor tenant, PPG Industries, who initiated the project for its headquarters, the buildings are all of matching glass design consisting of...
is an annual tradition. When the lights are turned on, the ice skating rink officially opens to the public for the season. At 9600 square feet (891.9 m²), the surface is over 2000 square feet (185.8 m²) larger than the famous rink in New York's
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering between 48th and 51st streets in New York City, United States. Built by the Rockefeller family, it is located in the center of Midtown Manhattan, spanning the area between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. It was declared a National...
. Each year, the Wintergarden inside PPG Place features a model train, gingerbread houses, and a collection of life-sized Santa Claus figures in traditional dress representing countries around the world.
Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
department store, in the old Kaufmann's
Kaufmann's
Kaufmann's was a department store that originated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was owned in the early 20th century by Edgar J. Kaufmann, patron of 'Fallingwater' and the Kaufmann's Desert House. In the post-war years the store became a regional chain in the eastern United States, and was last...
building, continues the tradition of its former tenant by revealing its Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
display in the windows along Smithfield Street. The windows in recent years have taken their theme from the story of Virginia O'Hanlon's editorial
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus
Is There a Santa Claus? was the title of an editorial appearing in the September 21, 1897, edition of The New York Sun. The editorial, which included the famous reply "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus", has become an indelible part of popular Christmas folklore in the United States and...
to the New York Sun, asking if there is a Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
.
The lighting of the electric tree on the corner of the old Horne's
Horne's
The Joseph Horne Company, often referred to simply as Joseph Horne's or Horne's, was an iconic, regional department store chain based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The store was one of the oldest in the country being founded on February 22, 1849 but due to its regional presence in the country, it...
department store is an old tradition which continues to this day. A pyrotechnics
Pyrotechnics
Pyrotechnics is the science of using materials capable of undergoing self-contained and self-sustained exothermic chemical reactions for the production of heat, light, gas, smoke and/or sound...
show accompanies the lighting. Trees throughout the city are also lit with ceremony.
Market Square
Market Square, Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh's Market Square is located in Downtown Pittsburgh at the intersection of Forbes Avenue and Market Street. It has traditionally been the heart of the city and is currently undergoing a revival with several new apartments and retail spaces planned....
is filled with booths offering toys, giveaways, and food. Duquesne Light has a popular booth in Market Square which hands out free glow sticks to children and adults. In the plaza behind Gateway Center
Gateway Center (Pittsburgh)
The Gateway Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a high-rise building complex with of office space in four buildings. Gateway Center was purchased in 2004 by Hertz Investment Group, a Los Angeles, California based real estate investment company, for US$55 million...
, vendors offer more freebies, and KDKA
KDKA
KDKA may refer to:* KDKA , a radio station licensed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States* KDKA-TV, a television station licensed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States...
provides free hot chocolate and cookies.
Many performers and mascots frequent the streets downtown, posing for pictures with children, or giving away treats. In recent years, the Kings Family Restaurants
Kings Family Restaurants
Kings Family Restaurants is a chain of family restaurants based in McKeesport, Pennsylvania It has locations in Pennsylvania and Ohio.Kings logo has scarlet colored lettering, with a saffron outline.-History:...
Frownie Brownie mascot has made his rounds with samples.
The night usually ends with fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
over Point State Park
Point State Park
Point State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Downtown Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA, at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, forming the Ohio River....
, though in 2009, the fireworks were launched from the Andy Warhol Bridge (7th Street Bridge) and barges on the Allegheny River.