WPXI Holiday Parade brings marching bands, floats, balloons to downtown Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh celebrated the holiday season Saturday morning as the WPXI Holiday Parade Presented by Pittsburgh Public Schools made its way along a new route through downtown Pittsburgh.

Local celebrities, festive floats, high school marching bands, gigantic balloons and a visit from Santa Claus were featured in the parade, which marked its 36th anniversary.

VIDEOS:

• Santa Claus makes stop in Pittsburgh for 2016 WPXI Holiday Parade
• Harlem Globetrotters bring basketball tricks to 2016 WPXI Holiday Parade
• Modernettes perform during 2016 WPXI Holiday Parade
• Channel 11 News team in 2016 WPXI Holiday Parade

Hundreds of people lined Liberty Avenue between 11th Street and 6th Street to take in the sights and sounds the parade had to offer.

Recording artist and Pittsburgh Penguins national anthem singer Jeff Jimerson kicked off the festivities with “Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.” Other local and national celebrities who made appearances include “Dance Moms” stars Maddie and Mackenzie Ziegler, Pittsburgh native and Broadway star Natalie Gallo and the Harlem Globetrotters.

As the parade progressed, attendees saw samba dancers and giant puppets dance down Liberty Avenue. There were also towering stilt walkers, dogs, cars, balloons of Scooby Doo and the Nutcracker and Pittsburgh mascots such as Steely McBeam, Iceburgh, the Pirate Parrot and the Pierogies -- all leading up to Santa Claus’ arrival.

Encore presentations of the parade will air on the following channels:

• Dec. 24 (2-4 a.m.)
• Dec. 25 (7-9 a.m.)

• Nov. 26 (7:30-9:30 p.m.)
• Dec. 10 (7:30-9:30 p.m.)
• Dec. 25 (7-9 a.m.)

• Dec. 6 (7-9 p.m.)

Cox Media Group