Pittsburgh will mark the 65th year of Light Up Night on Saturday, Nov. 21, with tree lightings, live music, fireworks and activities across downtown.

Highmark Light Up Night begins at 4 p.m. and is free to attend. This year’s headliner is Pittsburgh-area native Daya, performing at Arts Landing. The Rachel Carson Bridge Party will also celebrate the bridge’s 100th anniversary.

Tree lightings and fireworks

• 5 p.m. — City-County Building: City of Pittsburgh tree lighting, rooftop fireworks and light show.
• 6:30 p.m. — PPG Plaza: UPMC Ultimate Holiday Tree lighting and American Cancer Society Tribute of Light.
• 7 p.m. — Stanwix Street and Penn Avenue: Highmark Christmas Tree lighting with rooftop fireworks.
• 8 p.m. — Fort Duquesne Boulevard and Sixth Street: Sister Bridges lighting and “Cosmologyscape: A Dream for Pittsburgh.”
• 9:30 p.m. — Fort Duquesne Boulevard, Rachel Carson Bridge and Arts Landing: Xfinity Fireworks Spectacular with a supersized Zambelli finale. Organizers recommend watching from the bridge, Arts Landing or along the Allegheny River on Fort Duquesne Boulevard.

Concert stages

Highmark Stage

Stanwix Street and Penn Avenue

• 4–5:30 p.m.: Confluence Theater of Pittsburgh
• 6–7 p.m.: Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers
• 7 p.m.: Horne’s Tree (“Highmark” tree) lighting and rooftop fireworks
• 7:20–7:45 p.m.: Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers
• 8:15–9:20 p.m.: Justin Fabus

Xfinity Holiday Jam

Arts Landing

• 4–6 p.m.: DJ Slim
• 6:30–7:45 p.m.: Neon Bridges
• 8–8:10 p.m.: Sister Bridges lighting
• 8:30–9:30 p.m.: Daya
• 9:30 p.m.: Xfinity Fireworks Spectacular and Zambelli finale

City-County Building stage

414 Grant St.

• 4–4:45 p.m.: Performer to be announced
• 5–5:20 p.m.: Tree lighting, fireworks and light show
• 5:20 p.m.: Performer to be announced
• 6 p.m.: Light show

Activities at PPG Place

• UPMC Rink at PPG Place: The outdoor rink will be open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Light Up Night. Skating sessions last 1 hour and 45 minutes.
• UPMC Ultimate Holiday Tree lighting: The tree lighting and American Cancer Society Tribute of Light are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at PPG Plaza.
• Admission: Adult skating tickets are listed at $9 to $12; children’s tickets are $8 to $11. Skate rentals cost $4 to $6, and online ticket fees may apply. Advance tickets are available online, with walk-up admission also offered.

Other activities and events

• Pirates photo opportunities: The Pirates Parrot and Pierogies will be at Stanwix Street beginning at 4 p.m.
• Fifth Avenue Freeze: See holiday-themed ice carvings by artist Rich Bubin at Fifth Avenue Place.
• Live ice carving: Bubin will create a Pittsburgh-inspired cityscape at Fifth Avenue Place at 4 p.m.
• Highmark Holiday Block Party: Stop by Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street for a pop-up shop and outdoor heaters.
• Rachel Carson Bridge Party: Celebrate the bridge’s 100th anniversary with live music, food and commemorative merchandise.
• Blast! VIP Party: This ticketed gathering includes cocktails, appetizers and desserts.

Holiday Market opens Nov. 20

The Peoples Gas Holiday Market returns to Market Square from Nov. 20 through Dec. 24, with gifts from local makers and artisans from around the world. On opening day, the market will be open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Other opening-day events include skating at the UPMC Ice Rink at PPG Place from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., the opening of the Pittsburgh Crèche at noon at U.S. Steel Tower Plaza, and “Yuletide! A Holiday Spectacular” at 5:30 p.m. at the Pittsburgh Playhouse.

If you go to Highmark Light Up Night

• Date: Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026
• Time: Events begin at 4 p.m.
• Location: Downtown Pittsburgh
• Admission: Free for the main event; the Blast! VIP Party and skating are separate costs and ticketed

See the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s event page for the event map and updates.

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How to get to Pittsburgh Light Up Night 2026: Parking, transit tips

Pittsburgh’s 65th annual Light Up Night is set for Saturday, Nov. 21, with fireworks scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Getting downtown is only half the plan: some suburban and regional buses stop running before the fireworks, and event detours can move boarding stops. Check your trip in both directions before you leave home.

Public transit is a good choice for many Pittsburgh-area visitors

Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s Red, Blue and Silver light rail lines serve communities across the South Hills, including Bethel Park and the South Hills Village area. Trains travel through downtown, and rides between First Avenue and Allegheny stations are in the free-fare zone. That makes the T a convenient way to get between downtown and the North Shore events. Check the Saturday schedule for the station you plan to use; service can be less frequent or run fewer hours than on weekdays.

For South Hills riders, the T is often a great option, while buses can work better for places farther from a station. Route 31 Bridgeville serves the Bridgeville corridor, and Route 41 Bower Hill serves parts of the South Hills, including Upper St. Clair. Check the PRT trip planner for the closest stop and a return trip; a route serving your area doesn’t necessarily run late enough for the fireworks.

Suburban bus routes

• Airport area: The 28X Airport Flyer connects Pittsburgh International Airport with downtown. It runs about every 30 to 40 minutes from roughly 5 a.m. to midnight.
• Robinson: The 28X stops at Robinson Town Centre. Route 24 West Park also serves Robinson Town Centre and nearby West Hills communities.
• North Fayette and the West Hills: Routes 24 West Park and 26 Chartiers serve parts of the wider West Hills area.
• Moon Township: Service depends on where you’re starting. The 28X is an option from the airport or Robinson Town Centre. Coraopolis and Sewickley routes are also options.
• Coraopolis: Route 21 Coraopolis serves the area.
• Sewickley: Route 21 Ohio Valley serves the communities along Route 65.
• Ross Township and the North Hills: Route 12 McKnight serves stops including Ross Park Mall, Passavant Hospital and McCandless Park and Ride. Its posted Saturday schedule lists a 10:10 p.m. departure from downtown toward the North Hills, after the fireworks begin, so leave time to reach the stop.
• South Hills: The Red, Blue and Silver light rail lines serve South Hills communities, including Bethel Park and the South Hills Village area. Route 31 Bridgeville and Route 41 Bower Hill also serve parts of the southern suburbs.
• Monroeville: Route 67 connects downtown with Wilkinsburg and Monroeville. Its posted Saturday schedule shows a final downtown departure at 9:10 p.m., before the 9:30 p.m. fireworks.

Downtown parking garages operated by the Pittsburgh Parking Authority

• First Avenue Garage and Station: 600 First Ave. The garage is next to a T station, where rides downtown and to the North Shore are free. The posted Saturday rate is $6; the event rate is listed as $6 to $15.
• Ft. Duquesne & Sixth Garage: 126 Sixth St. The posted Saturday rate is $8, with event rates of $10 to $20 as posted.
• Grant Street Transportation Center: 55 11th St. The posted Saturday rate is $6. The garage is near the Convention Center and the Strip District end of downtown.
• Mellon Square Garage: 529–540 Smithfield St. The posted Saturday rate is $8.
• Oliver Garage at Piatt Place: Enter from Oliver Avenue beneath Piatt Place. The posted Saturday rate is $5. The garage is close to Macy’s, Market Square and the Cultural District.
• Smithfield-Liberty Garage: 111 Ninth St., with entrances from Smithfield Street and Liberty Avenue. The posted Saturday rate is $8.
• Third Avenue Garage: 238 Fourth Ave. The posted Saturday rate is $6.
• Wood-Allies Garage: 232 Boulevard of the Allies. The posted Saturday rate is $6.

The Authority also lists the Second Avenue Parking Plaza at 1250 Second Ave. It is a parking plaza rather than a garage, so check its current rate and availability separately.