Holiday Events in the Pittsburgh Area |
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Pittsburgh KidsOutAndAbout Holiday Newsletter |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
The holiday season is filled with fun throughout the Pittsburgh area for the next several weeks! Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's bring the community together in a vibrant celebration of joy and tradition. Here is your master guide to the holidays, including events, concerts, activities, Christmas tree farms, and more! From dazzling light displays to festive markets, there’s
something for everyone to enjoy. Gather with family and friends to create lasting memories and experience the spirit of the season. You'll see right below my signature a link to our HUGE list of ideas for local fun: 101 of them! Scan the list below, then bookmark the 101 list as your go-to resource for this holiday season!
Happy holidays! —Debra Ross, publisher |
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KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Do more. Connect more. |
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Pittsburgh's big list of holiday events in 2025 : Christmas concerts, lights, trees, nativities, and more. . . plus activities for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve.
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Give the gift of music this season with our limited-time holiday offer at Pittsburgh Performance Society! Now through December 31, when you sign up a new student for 3 months of lessons, you’ll receive 3 FREE lessons, one free lesson for each month of their enrollment. Whether you’re encouraging someone to start their musical journey or gifting lessons to a friend or family member, this is the perfect way to share the joy of music while saving a little extra this holiday season.
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Step into the magic of the holiday season with A Musical Christmas Carol, returning to the Byham Theater from December 13–23, 2025! This beloved Pittsburgh CLO tradition brings Charles Dickens’ timeless tale to life with festive flair, starring the acclaimed Denis O’Hare as the miserly Scrooge. Families will delight in dazzling special effects, heartwarming performances, and favorite carols wrapped in holiday cheer. Don’t miss this joyful celebration of redemption and goodwill—perfect for kids and grownups alike! Plus, enjoy a Sensory Friendly performance on December 20 at 11am, specially designed for guests who prefer a more relaxed theater experience.
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The Pittsburgh area offers a delightful selection of Christmas tree farms that bring the magic of the holiday season to life. Families can enjoy the cherished tradition of selecting the perfect tree while exploring picturesque landscapes and engaging in festive activities.
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Celebrate the season at Oglebay’s Festival of Lights—one of the best seasonal shows in West Virginia. Experience the wonder across millions of lights, festive displays, and unforgettable holiday magic for guests of all ages to enjoy. Festival of Lights is presented by WesBanco.
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The holiday season simply isn’t complete without a trip to Phipps Holiday Magic, where glowing gardens and festive displays make spirits soar. This year’s playful theme, “Wild Winter,” invites you into a wonderland of whimsical topiary wildlife and enchanting scenes at every turn. Step inside and prepare to be dazzled — we’ve gone all out with breathtaking new displays, brilliant décor and our signature floral masterpieces. From vibrant amaryllis and delicate orchids to a spectacular showcase of poinsettias, every bloom is a burst of seasonal joy. And the magic doesn’t stop at the door. Outside, our beloved Winter Light Garden transforms the night with radiant displays in vivid,…
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The ultimate holiday tradition awaits. And Santa is making a list and checking it twice – so reserve your photos with Santa today! Santa arrives on November 7th and will be here through December 24th. Book early to ensure your spot to see Santa.
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What is Holiday Lights Mini Golf at Fun Fore All? Fun Fore All's Holiday Lights Mini Golf has been named one of Kidsburgh’s and KDKA’s BEST holiday light displays in since 2017! Turning our two award-winning miniature golf courses into fully playable walk-through holiday light extravaganzas. Families can experience a beautiful, interactive, holiday experience unlike any other in the area.
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Join us for Santa's Holiday Photo Experience, where we'll create new and enchanting memories together. Explore our exclusive events and mini-photo sessions designed for the whole family. We recommend reservations, but if you're feeling spontaneous, walk-ins are welcome and will be accommodated if possible. Please note that the lines may close earlier than expected due to photo experience demands and wait times can exceed more than one hour as the season progresses.
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This holiday season shines brighter at Kennywood! You could even say it glows with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Come to Holiday Lights and meet Rudolph and his friends Clarice, Bumble and Sam the Snowman. Make family memories you’ll treasure forever with more than 3 million lights, rides, seasonal food, and more!
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The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium makes spirits bright again this winter holiday season with Wild Illuminations: A Holiday Lantern Experience, presented by UPMC Health Plan, select nights November 22 through January 11, 2026. All new silk-and-steel lanterns will spark your imagination, including amazing animals, beloved holiday characters, traditional Asian icons, and ever so many enchantments. The lanterns will be paired with more than a million twinkling lights for an unforgettably shiny holiday experience.
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Nov 28 - Dec 24: All aboard! “The Polar Express” is making its annual rounds at the Rangos Giant Cinema! Follow Hero Boy as he discovers the true meaning of the holidays, belief, and friendship through his unforgettable trip to the North Pole. Journey beyond your imagination on select dates in November and December – and don’t forget to purchase your hot chocolate before you board!
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Come visit Santa and enjoy breakfast with the whole family. Santa can't wait to see all the familys and kiddos! Last year was so much fun and we are excited for this year. You can purchase individual adult or child tickets or reserve a private table for the whole gang. This year will look a bit different, becuase we will be selling time slots for 50 guests each instead of having everyone arrive at the same time. We hope this will help with logistics and elminiate the long lines. The Shady Elms Farm annual Christmas Festival is held each year right around Thanksgiving! Beginning in 2020 it has quickly become a favorite for all involved.
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In this hilarious Christmas classic, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids – probably the most inventively awful kids in history. You won’t believe the mayhem – and the fun – when the Herdmans collide head-on with the story of Christmas! This delightful show, adapted from the bestselling Young Adult book, is a heartwarming and hilarious holiday experience perfect for the entire family!
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Who-ville it be?! Meet the miserly Grinch himself, alongside his stink, stank, skunk friend OR the original WHO-OO-OO…an owl buddy! When the Grinch takes over Santa’s chair, you can snap photos and enjoy festive activities, designed to put the whole family in a holly jolly mood!
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Enjoy Dave & Buster’s Annual Breakfast with Santa featuring a festive breakfast, private arcade play, photos with Santa, crafts, and holiday fun for all ages. Choose from two ticket packages, with optional Power Card and unlimited video games. Space is limited; all guests need tickets except children under 2. Tickets are nonrefundable. Contact Michael Cecchini for details and reserve your spot for a magical holiday morning.
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Our annual performances of The Nutcracker have quickly become a holiday tradition at the Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh! Ours is the largest youth production in the greater-Pittsburgh area.
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November 28-30 at Pittsburgh Cultural Trust: The show portrays CS Lewis at his home near Oxford on Christmas Eve hosting a group of Americans who are Christmassing in England. They are about to experience an unforgettable assortment of Yuletide recollections which stimulates a whole range of emotions – curiosity, laughter, gladness and even some tears. Above all, they will discover how that encounter with Tolkien forever changed his Christmas celebrations.
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Enjoy an evening in Downtown Pittsburgh, learning about the history of the city, discovering beautiful squares and pieces of architecture, while getting to see all the festive holiday lights and decorations. Experience the world's largest pickle ornament, a unique gingerbread house display, a replica of the crèche from Vatican City, and much more! The grand finale of the tour will be a big Christmas tree surrounded by an ice rink, and last but not least: The central holiday market in town!
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KidsOutAndAbout's list of family-friendly New Year's activities in the Pittsburgh area
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