Spending the Holidays at Steel City Getaway

The Steel City Getaway is located in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood. Perfectly placed near local colleges, restaurants, and Downtown Pittsburgh, this property is convenient to many local attractions. With Christmas just around the corner, staying at Steel City Getaway means enjoying the beauty of the holiday festivities anywhere you go. 

November 23 officially kicks off the holiday season in Downtown Pittsburgh with the annual Highmark Light Up Night. This annual holiday tradition offers activities for patrons of all ages, including Christmas Tree Lighting ceremonies, live music, food trucks, fireworks, and so much more. Some activities from Light Up Night continue throughout the holiday season, which is perfect for those not into large crowds. People’s Gas Holiday Market officially opens on Friday, November 22, at Market Square near the Plaza at PPG Place and remains open until December 24. This festive market features small businesses and their craft for the holiday season. A Holiday KidsPlay area will also be open on Liberty Ave from November 23 until December 22, filled with activities for little ones. 

The ice skating rink at The Plaza at PPG Place will be ready for guests to skate around a beautiful Christmas tree, which is decked out with festive lights and holiday tunes. Downtown Pittsburgh is also decorated throughout the entire holiday season, which is best enjoyed on foot. The International Christmas Tree display can be found between Market Square and PPG Place. The Pittsburgh Creche at the US Steel Tower is further away from the rest of the decor, but is still worth checking out. Additional Christmas trees can also be found at Point State Park and the City-County Building on Grant St., which graces the only live tree in Downtown Pittsburgh.

If driving in the city isn’t your thing, there are plenty other opportunities to celebrate the holiday season throughout the Pittsburgh region. Kennywood Park will have Holiday Lights, with festive decor throughout the park, rides for all ages including some coasters and kiddie land, and holiday themed meals. Phipps Conservatory offers their Holiday Magic tour throughout the garden, with even more lights at night time. Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens is bringing back Dazzling Nights, an outdoor light show experience. The Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium is offering a new holiday show, called Wild Illuminations: A Holiday Lantern Experience. 

No matter how you celebrate this holiday season, we hope this list helps you find new holiday traditions for you and your loved ones, all while enjoying your stay at Steel City Getaway.

Some displays do require advanced tickets, so we encourage you to check out the links to properly plan your outings.