Joan Jett to headline Light Up Night 2022 in Pittsburgh

For the second time in three months, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts will be performing in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership announced at a press conference Wednesday that the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will be the headline performers at Light Up Night on Nov. 19.

Jett and her band will take the Xfinity Riverside Stage at the corner of 6th Street and Fort Duquesne Boulevard that Saturday night. She last performed in Pittsburgh on Aug. 12 at PNC Park.

“Joan Jett is really an icon for women in rock ’n’ roll music, and we’re absolutely thrilled to bring her,” said Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.

Jett’s appearance was arranged in conjunction with Steel City Media and radio station WLTJ Q92.9.

“I met this lady in 1986 and it was wonderful to see her on the scene at that time … we’re super excited because she’s going to be playing new music as well as her hits,” Steel City Media program director Zak Szabo said.

A Mr. Smalls All-Star Rolling Stones Tribute band featuring a lineup of Pittsburgh musicians will open for Jett.

In addition to Jett, a wide range of music will be offered on five stages that night, including local favorites Sierra Sellers and Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers. There will also be a Disney tribute band called The Little Mermen: The Ultimate Disney Tribute Band.

The Light Up Night festivities will begin at noon Downtown with what Waldrup describes as family-friendly activities. The evening will conclude with fireworks on Fort Duquesne Boulevard at 9:30 p.m.

“We are back to full force (since the start of the pandemic),” Waldrup said. “This is going to be a larger and longer event than we’ve ever done. We’re going to be having a Pirates Fun Fest on Stanwix Street, the stage at the Highmark Tree will be featuring kids music all day long as we go into the evening for the lighting of that tree at 6 p.m.”

The Highmark Christmas Tree lighting will be followed by Zambelli Rooftop Fireworks at Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street.

The easing of pandemic restrictions also means Light Up Night can renew the tradition of having an in-person Santa Claus on hand after being limited to only a Zoom Santa last year. Santa’s new home will be in the Heinz Hall courtyard.

“We’re going to have a whole host of kids activities. So, it’s a great opportunity to bring the family down and enjoy the city,” Waldrup said.

There will also be an unveiling of a Prantl’s Bakery burnt almond torte, a 2,000 pound cake being baked for Light Up Night. The next morning, prior to the start of the Steelers game against Cincinnati at Acrisure Stadium, pieces of the cake will be sold with all proceeds going to benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

In keeping with tradition, there will be events and activities on the previous Friday night, which is when Light Up Night was formerly held. Those activities include the opening of the rink at PPG Place as well as the Peoples Gas Holiday Market. The Holiday Market will be open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 24. There will also be special holiday Karaoke called “Merry Karaoke.”

For more information, visit downtownpittsburgh.com.