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Merry ... Krampusnacht? Pittsburgh celebrates darker, edgier Christmas | TribLIVE.com
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Merry ... Krampusnacht? Pittsburgh celebrates darker, edgier Christmas

Shane Dunlap
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Krampi parade through Market Square during Krampusnacht in Market Square on Thursday night, Dec. 5, 2019 in Pittsburgh. Krampusnacht is in it’s third year in Market Square.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Krampus characters parade through Market Square during Krampusnacht in Market Square on Thursday night, Dec. 5, 2019 in Pittsburgh.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Crowds take pictures during Krampusnacht in Market Square on Thursday night, Dec. 5, 2019 in Pittsburgh.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Wyatt Westwood, 6, of Sewickley, wears his Krampus horns while attending during Krampusnacht in Market Square on Thursday night, Dec. 5, 2019 in Pittsburgh.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Christopher Hykes, dressed as one of the Krampi, parades through Market Square, during Krampusnacht in Market Square on Thursday night, Dec. 5, 2019 in Pittsburgh.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Krampi parade through Market Square during Krampusnacht in Market Square on Thursday night, Dec. 5, 2019 in Pittsburgh. Krampusnacht, organized by Pittsburgh resident Mark Menold, is in its third year in Market Square.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Drummers parade with others dressed as Krampi and German-based mythological figures during Krampusnacht in Market Square on Thursday night, Dec. 5, 2019 in Pittsburgh.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Crowds take pictures with Krampus during Krampusnacht in Market Square on Thursday night, Dec. 5, 2019 in Pittsburgh.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Bryan Wilt, of Pittsburgh, takes pictures of the parade of Krampi during Krampusnacht in Market Square on Thursday night, Dec. 5, 2019 in Pittsburgh.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Krampi parade through Market Square during Krampusnacht in Market Square on Thursday night, Dec. 5, 2019 in Pittsburgh. Krampusnacht, is in it’s third year in Market Square.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Krampi parade through Market Square during Krampusnacht in Market Square on Thursday night, Dec. 5, 2019 in Pittsburgh.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Crowds watch the Krampus parade during Krampusnacht in Market Square on Thursday night, Dec. 5, 2019 in Pittsburgh.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Mark Menold, of Pittsburgh, dressed as Father Christmas, leads the parade of Krampi during Krampusnacht in Market Square on Thursday night, Dec. 5, 2019 in Pittsburgh.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
A parade of Krampi parade through Market Square during Krampusnacht in Market Square on Thursday night, Dec. 5, 2019 in Pittsburgh.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
A Krampus figure waits for the parade during Krampusnacht in Market Square on Thursday night, Dec. 5, 2019 in Pittsburgh.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Krampus characters parade through Market Square during Krampusnacht in Market Square on Thursday night, Dec. 5, 2019 in Pittsburgh.

For the third year in a row, crowds gathered in Pittsburgh’s Market Square on Thursday night for a darker and edgier version of the Christmas spirit.

A parade of figures clad in fur, horns and other frightening attire strolled through Market Square for Krampusnacht. It’s a traditionally European take on the Christmas holiday featuring Krampus, the titular creature from folklore.

“It bridges the gap between Halloween and Christmas,” said event organizer Mark Menold of Pittsburgh. “And nobody is selling anything. Get your picture taken with Krampus for free.”

Most of the detailed costumes were handcrafted by their wearers.

Many in the crowd sported their own horns.

The event ended with a free performance by Sleigher, a heavy metal band covering well-known rock songs with a Christmas theme.

Shane Dunlap is a TribLive photographer covering Westmoreland and Allegheny counties. He grew up in the Ohio Valley near Pittsburgh and has worked for newspapers as far away as Fayetteville, N.C., where he covered the U.S. Army at Fort Liberty. He can be reached at sdunlap@triblive.com.

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