Category Archives: Things to do

7 holiday things to do around Pittsburgh through New Year’s Day

It’s that week between Christmas and New Year’s Day and you’re not quite sure what to do.

Short of getting in the car to browse Target’s sad-looking ravaged Christmas section, here are some things to do to keep the holiday spirit in high gear!

Check out the Heinz History Center’s ‘A Very Merry Pittsburgh’ exhibit

Take a step back in time when Downtown Pittsburgh was full of retailers, festive window displays and so much holiday cheer at the Heinz History Center’s “A Very Merry Pittsburgh” exhibit.

Learn about regional, religious and secular holiday season traditions like the polar bear plunge, Diwali, Pittsburgh’s Light Up Night and so much more.

A rotating presentation of images shows how Pittsburghers once celebrated the season. Check out window display artifacts from Horne’s, Kaufmann’s, Macy’s and Chicago’s Marshall Field’s.

‘A Very Merry Pittsburgh’ returns to Heinz History Center for 2023

Heinz History Center’s “A Very Merry Pittsburgh” exhibit is back this holiday season.

See the Steubenville Nutcracker Village

Seriously, if you haven’t been to Steubenville, what are you waiting for? Even the “Today” show featured these life-size nutcrackers!

There are now more than 200 placed in a few-block section around Fort Steuben. You can walk around them or drive through — or a mixture of both.

Take some selfies with your favorite nutcrackers!

Check out 2 million lights at Kennywood

This has become Western Pennsylvania’s best holiday tradition — Holiday Lights at Kennywood!

There are more than 2 million lights throughout the park — from synchronized light displays to animated displays and more!

Plus, you have to see the massive train show inside the Penny Arcade.

Get to Phipps

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens’ Winter Flower Show is a magical place for the holidays. The Pittsburgh conservatory and botanical gardens features an array of holiday trees, topiaries, designs and lights.

Floral displays include amaryllis, orchids and more than 20 varieties of poinsettias. Back this year is the magnificent and peaceful Winter Light Garden, complete with lighted orbs, trees, fountains and a tunnel of lights.

Tickets are by reservation, so purchase online before going. Can’t make it before Jan. 1? Phipps continues the holiday magic through Jan. 7.

See the Christmas rooms at Kraynak’s

Take a ride to Hermitage, Pennsylvania, to check out the beautifully decorated Christmas rooms at Kraynak’s.

The holiday display celebrates 60 years in 2023.

The Christmas display is open through Dec. 31.

Drive around to look at lights

There are so many light displays to see in people’s yards! Grab a peppermint cold brew coffee at Sheetz, turn on your Christmas playlist and go drive around looking at lights.

Or, check out a professional display.

Or do both!

Go Downtown! See the Pittsburgh gingerbread and Horne’s tree, go ice skating at PPG Place

While the Holiday Market at Market Square is closed, there’s still so much to do in Downtown Pittsburgh!

See the gingerbread displays at the City-County Building (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Jan. 1), check out the Horne’s tree, the Point State Park tree and go ice skating at PPG Place.

Plus, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker” has performances through Dec. 28, and “Who’s Holiday” is at the Greer Cabaret Theater through Dec. 31.

Real Christmas tree prices up

If you’re shopping for a real tree this Christmas season, be prepared to pay more this year.

The median retail price paid for a Christmas tree across the country last year was $80. That’s according to the National Christmas Tree Association, MarketWatch reports.

That dollar amount is expected to be more this year.

With the jump in price, shopping around for a lower price is recommended.

But, buyer beware!

“If you save $10 and all the needles fall off by December 15, did you really save?” said Mac Harman, with the American Christmas Tree Association, according to MarketWatch.

Some blame the price spike on labor costs and inflation.

In terms of a shortage, there doesn’t appear to be a national shortage. However, some regions might have different experiences.

“I haven’t heard of any community in America where people haven’t been able to get a Christmas tree, and I don’t expect that will be the case this year,” Tim O’Connor, executive director of the National Christmas Tree Association, told CNN.

Farms are working with a “tight, but sufficient, supply of trees,” CNN said.

“This has been the situation since 2016. There is an increase [in trees] coming but it’s not ready to harvest yet,” O’Connor told CNN.

Despite O’Connor telling CNN he hasn’t heard of any shortages, there are reports of tree shortages this year.

“It’s happening across the country,” Joe Shipman, a tree farm operator in Suffolk County, New York, told Dan’s Papers. Shipman said a Pennsylvania wholesaler canceled an 800-tree order. “Certain farms aren’t able to get what they need.”

A shortage was reported in western Massachusetts.

A Pennsylvania farmer says trees are in short supply.

In Canada, a tree shortage also has been reported.

Even in Indiana County, Pennsylvania — long considered the “Christmas tree capital of the world — trees are in short supply.

But in Oregon, prices and supply are holding steady.

The Real Christmas Tree Board says 20% of survey respondents are planning to buy a real Christmas tree for the first time this year.

The association has a retail locator link to help people find local places to buy live Christmas trees.

The tree board says its survey shows 40% of respondents who say they are switching to a live tree this year are doing so because of the scent.