PITTSBURGH – This weekend Downtown Pittsburgh hosted nearly 90,000 visitors for the City’s 61st Light Up Night Celebration. The festive activities included the lighting of the City Holiday tree, the 20th anniversary of the annual City of Pittsburgh Gingerbread Display and Competition, ice skating, light shows, fireworks, and music at venues all across Downtown.
“It was incredible to see tens of thousands of people from all across Pittsburgh come downtown to celebrate the Holidays,” said Mayor Ed Gainey. “Creating opportunities for us to come together to support our arts and culture helps keep our downtown economy strong and thriving. Thank you to all of our public safety and law enforcement officials for their work in making sure all of us were able to celebrate safely.”
“This year’s strong turnout, despite the cold temperatures, shows once again that we can welcome the holidays like no other city. This year’s Highmark Light Up Night on Saturday allowed even more families to get out and about this weekend.” said Jeremy Waldrup, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. “We saw people dancing in the streets, enjoying the expanded entertainment and activities earlier in the day which included a Disney Tribute Band, Pirates Mini-fest, and Santa’s House. This continued as we braved the chilly weather into the night to see Joan Jett’s exciting rockstar performance and the Xfinity Fireworks Spectacular, capping off another successful Light Up Night. All in all, I’m very pleased with the positive and welcoming energy radiating through the crowds gathered around Downtown this weekend and am grateful for the support of public safety and law enforcement—who were working extended shifts to help us celebrate as safely as possible—as well as that of the corporate community in continuing this amazing holiday tradition.”
“What a joy it was to see the tens of thousands of visitors Downtown this past weekend for Highmark Light Up Night,” said Jerad Bachar, President and CEO of VisitPITTSBURGH. “Visitors and Pittsburghers alike look forward to this special celebration each year, and the 61st rendition lived up to expectations, officially kicking off the holiday season with cheers, fireworks, singing, shopping and much more. VisitPITTSBURGH would like to thank all the local officials who ensured festival goers could enjoy the day and night safely, and we look forward to welcoming many more to Pittsburgh throughout the holiday season.”
“We were thrilled to have the opportunity to come together for Highmark Light Up Night with so many fellow Pittsburghers to celebrate the official start of the holiday season in our city,” said Travis Williams, Pirates President. “It was a lot of fun to see the families and friends sharing in what was a safe, fun and festive atmosphere. We appreciate our local officials and all of those involved for helping to create lifetime memories for so many.”
“It was great to see Downtown Pittsburgh so vibrant during the Light Up Night weekend,” said Burt Lauten Director of Communications for the Pittsburgh Steelers. “We are excited that so many families were able to enjoy another opportunity in a safe and festive environment in our beautiful city.”
“The activities surrounding Light Up Night were so successful due to the wonderful families, friends and neighbors from our great city who joined in celebrating alongside us," said Kenya Boswell, senior vice president of Community Affairs at Highmark Health. "Thanks to the PDP and all who helped plan such a special night that has now ushered us into the holiday season.”
The events this weekend capped a year where hundreds of thousands of visitors from across the country came to downtown Pittsburgh over the course of 2022. From Three Rivers Arts Fest, Pride, Juneteenth, Fourth of July, the Pittsburgh OPENS concert series, and many others - downtown Pittsburgh was the place to be for safe, fun, and festive celebrations.
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