Holiday cheer shines bright at Pittsburgh's annual Light Up Night
Pittsburgh ushered in the holiday season Saturday as crowds packed Downtown for Light Up Night, taking in tree lightings, street performances and celebratory fireworks.
The event drew steady crowds eager to welcome the season, helped along by the mild, comfortable weather.
Thousands of people, young and old, turned out wearing Christmas sweaters, sparkling lights and festive holiday hats.
“It’s so beautiful to see you this evening,” Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey said during the 5 p.m. lighting of the tree at the City-County Building. “I can’t believe this is November with the temperature feeling this good.
“As we go through this holiday season, remember to do one thing: Be intentional on telling your wife, your children, your partner, whomever you love … remind them every day, ‘I love you.’ And city of Pittsburgh, I love you.”
Traveling from Michigan
Michelle Frescura made the drive from Belleville, Mich., to Pittsburgh for Light Up Night — a trip she and her husband have made many times before. Frescura grew up in Greensburg and met her husband in Pittsburgh, making the event a sentimental tradition.
“It’s a beautiful night. The weather’s perfect,” she said while standing in the crowd at PPG Place for the 6 p.m. tree lighting there. “Everyone’s excited. It’s a great way to kick things off. It gets everyone in the holiday spirit for sure — you see all ages out here.”
Frescura first attended Light Up Night in 1983, back when she and her husband were dating.
“It’s our way of kicking off the holiday,” she said.
Frescura and her husband, Chris, both 60, marveled at the large turnout.
“This year’s an awfully big crowd,” she said. “The weather has a lot to do with it. Pittsburgh’s just special, period. So a night like this just lets it shine.”
Watch the countdown as the first Pittsburgh Christmas tree is lit. This is the only live tree in the city @TribLIVE ???? pic.twitter.com/FoWTBJD7Sh
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) November 22, 2025
‘The Christmas spirit’
Jenna and Gus Jalkh, a father-daughter pair from Upper St. Clair, made their annual trip into Downtown Pittsburgh with other family members, a tradition they’ve kept for more than 20 years.
Gus Jalkh, 59, originally from Lebanon, said the event has become one of his favorite things about living in the Pittsburgh region.
Jenna Jalkh, 16, explained that their Light Up Night routine rarely changes: Visit the holiday market, wander through Market Square, grab dinner and cap the night with fireworks.
“We just like the city,” she said. “It’s a fun family bonding experience.”
This year, the family noticed one change — the holiday market wasn’t in its usual home in Market Square, something Jenna said caught them a little off guard. The market was relocated to the Cultural District while Market Square undergoes construction for revitalization efforts.
Still, she said, the festive atmosphere boosted their spirits.
“It kind of gives the Christmas spirit to Pittsburgh, and it sets the mood for when Christmas starts,” she said.
Fireworks! Some were concerned in the audience for a second with how bright these looked ???? @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/wbKtI2nsM7
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) November 22, 2025
Watch the 10-second countdown @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/0ouabFN8z0
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) November 22, 2025
Megan Swift is a TribLive reporter covering trending news in Western Pennsylvania. A Murrysville native, she joined the Trib full time in 2023 after serving as editor-in-chief of The Daily Collegian at Penn State. She previously worked as a Jim Borden Scholarship intern at the Trib for three summers. She can be reached at mswift@triblive.com.
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