Downtown Pittsburgh category
So long 2025: Here are some events to ring in the New Year
Ready to put 2025 in the rearview mirror? New Year’s Eve is fast approaching, and it’s a great time to put on a fancy outfit, raise a glass and look forward to all of the good things 2026 will bring. If First Night isn’t for you, here are a few...
Looking back on pop culture that had Western Pennsylvania buzzing in 2025
The past year has been a lively time in Western Pennsylvania for music, movies, TV, art and social media. From new art spaces to blockbuster series to sold-out TikTok-driven events, 2025 was a great time for water cooler conversations and fun stories around town. Here are just a few. ‘The...
What you need to know about Highmark First Night in Pittsburgh
Downtown Pittsburgh will put on its holiday best to host the annual Highmark First Night, presented by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. The Cultural District will be ringing in the new year with a jam-packed lineup of performances, activities, fireworks and a midnight ball-raising. Tens of thousands of people are expected...
Pittsburgh City Council approves 2026 budget with 20% property tax increase
Pittsburgh City Council voted Sunday to raise property taxes by 20%, down from an earlier proposal for a 30% tax hike. Council supported the 20% tax hike — the first increase in more than a decade — in a 6-2 vote after hours of deliberation Sunday. “I do feel this...
Trisha Yearwood melds country and Christmas spirit with PSO at Heinz Hall
We’re on the one-week countdown to Christmas, and yet, it can still be a struggle to get into the holiday spirit for some. Clearly, country superstar Trisha Yearwood sensed the need for a boost in all things merry and bright — with her “Christmastime with Trisha Yearwood: 12 Days of...
Point State Park upgrades finish early as Pittsburgh preps for 2026 NFL Draft
A $3.4 million upgrade to Downtown Pittsburgh’s Point State Park is done ahead of schedule, months in advance of the 2026 NFL Draft. The 36-acre park, which sits at the confluence of Pittsburgh’s three rivers, will be the site of some of the draft activities in April, as well as...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Dec. 19-21
The holidays are officially underway — Christmas is just days away, Hanukkah is lighting up the nights and the winter solstice is Sunday. Incorporate these events into your holidays for a little extra fun this weekend. Trans-Siberian Orchestra For almost three decades, progressive rock band Trans-Siberian Orchestra has been turning...
Pittsburgh CLO’s ‘A Musical Christmas Carol’ keeps a holiday tradition singing
Charles Dickens penned a Christmas story for the ages in 1843, spawning dozens of adaptations on stage and in film across the world (the Muppet version is, in my opinion, unmatched). It’s so ubiquitous that “Scrooge” as a description for a cantankerous anti-holiday crank has become a part of our...
Manheim Steamroller impresses with rock-filled holiday cheer at the Benedum Center
So much of Christmas is about the blending of old and new traditions, which makes neoclassical ensemble Manheim Steamroller, founded in 1974 by composer Chip Davis, an ideal soundtrack to the holidays. It turns out that a lot of people have felt that way over the past four decades; Davis...
Black-owned businesses host market in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District
The Black Market: Holiday Edition will showcase Black-owned businesses in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District during the holiday shopping season. The indoor pop-up will be open Thursday, running through Sunday and again December 18-21 on the ground floor of the Encore Building at 100 7th St. in Downtown Pittsburgh. Shoppers will find...
Dates announced for 2026 Three Rivers Arts Festival at Arts Landing location
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has announced the dates for the 2026 Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, which will also represent the grand opening of the new Arts Landing location in the Cultural District of Downtown Pittsburgh. The festival will run from June 5-7 and June 11-14 — a total...
Pittsburgh CLO’s ‘Yippee Ki Yay’ a heartwarming, hilarious tribute to ‘Die Hard’
Let’s get this out of the way: I don’t buy into the whole “ ‘Die Hard’ is a Christmas movie” thing. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy this 1988 action flick classic that (deservedly so) launched Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman into super-stardom. But “taking place at Christmas” does not,...
2 AI skill-building programs to be offered at Point Park University
Artificial intelligence will not replace teachers, according to Point Park University School of Education Dean Virginia Chambers. But, it is imperative for future educators to know how to use AI in the classroom, and Point Park is launching two new programs to advance that plan. Point Park will offer students...
Owner wrestles for control of box truck stolen in Downtown Pittsburgh; suspect in custody
Police took a suspect into custody Thursday, stemming from the theft of a box truck in Downtown Pittsburgh. City police responded shortly before 1 p.m. to a reported fight at Liberty Avenue and 11th Street. They discovered two men restraining a third for allegedly stealing the truck. The truck’s owner...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Dec. 5-7
Brrr! Winter weather has arrived in Pittsburgh and we’re all feeling the chill. But that’s no excuse to stay home — bundle up and head out to see what’s going on in the ‘Burgh this weekend. Handmade Arcade Holiday Market It’s the thought that counts when it comes to gift-giving,...
Pittsburgh council pauses $10M for affordable housing fund as it scrutinizes budget
Faced with a grim fiscal outlook and a dicey 2026 budget, City Council is taking a hard look at whether it can spare $10 million on affordable housing initiatives next year. Council members on Wednesday delayed by two weeks a vote on funding the Housing Opportunity Fund’s 2026 budget as...
No parade for this year’s Highmark First Night Pittsburgh event
The annual First Night parade will have a different look this New Year’s Eve. Instead of a single parade route on Dec. 31, there will be roaming performers throughout the Cultural District, according to an announcement by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust on Wednesday. The change is due to construction in...
Rick Schuler plays holiday favorites and John Denver classics at the Rocky Mountain High Experience
For those of us born in the latter decades of the 20th century, John Denver’s dulcet tones and sweet songs playing on the radio were a common occurrence, especially around Christmastime. The platinum-selling folk artist hit a peak in the 1970s, but many of his songs reverberated like a twanging...
Point Park unveils new performing arts program to enhance students’ versatility
A new program at Point Park University aims to better prepare its performing arts students with transferable skills while also making its conservatory more elite. The Downtown Pittsburgh university will launch an accelerated bachelor of fine arts degree in performance and creative industries next fall, said Keisha Lalama, interim dean...
‘Les Misérables’ is an epic tale of revolution at the Benedum Center
Other than “Wicked” (at the moment) and a handful of others, “Les Misérables” has to be one of the most well-known musicals in the modern canon. It’s the longest-running musical in the history of London’s West End, has won eight Tony Awards for its Broadway production — including Best Musical...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Nov. 21-23
If Light Up Night isn’t your jam, that doesn’t mean having to hide in the house all weekend! Here are some other events to attend, sans twinkly trees and super-cold temps. Record Convention Fall Show Music collectors of Pittsburgh, here’s your chance to shop and meet like-minded people. The Record...
Light Up Night in Pittsburgh: What to know
The official start to the Pittsburgh holiday season is Saturday with the 64th annual Light Up Night. The festive series of events throughout Downtown Pittsburgh will be full of brightness, sparkle, fun and holiday cheer — but the schedule and logistics can also seem daunting. Never fear; we’ve got all...
Point Park to acquire vacant YWCA building in Downtown Pittsburgh
In a few years, the former YWCA building along Wood Street in Downtown Pittsburgh will be a hub of activity for both the Point Park University and Downtown communities, university officials say. Point Park announced Tuesday it is moving forward with plans to acquire the vacant YWCA property, 305 Wood...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Nov. 14-16
Brrr! It’s been a chilly week and it’s only going to get colder from here. It’s tempting to just curl up with a blanket and the streaming show of the week, but wouldn’t it be more fun to attend some of these events? Check them out. Phipps Holiday Magic Gear...
Federal workers in Western Pa. cheer shutdown end but remain uneasy
Elizabeth McPeak on Thursday was glad to be driving to work for the first time since she was furloughed in early October, one of hundreds of thousands of federal workers shut out of their offices during a lengthy government shutdown. McPeak is vice president of Chapter 34 of the National...
