PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh will transport and install its 113th official Christmas tree at the City-County Building this Saturday.
The arrival of the 38-foot blue spruce will bring temporary traffic delays and road closures along Grant Street and surrounding travel routes throughout the weekend.
Donated by Anthony Vallecorsa of Brighton Heights, the blue spruce will be adorned with lights and ornaments to serve as the official tree for the city through the New Year. As the only live outdoor tree in Downtown Pittsburgh, the annual display stands as one of the Golden Triangle’s oldest holiday traditions.
The city’s official tree tradition began in 1913 following a fundraising campaign led by Councilman Robert Garland. Henry Clay Frick authorized the use of his empty property between Fifth and Sixth Avenues for the inaugural celebration and workers relocated the tradition to the City-County Building construction site in 1914.
To accommodate the tree’s arrival, Grant Street will close between Third Avenue and Fifth Avenue from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Police and forestry personnel will escort the tree Downtown from the North Side starting between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Rolling closures and traffic delays will affect Richbarn Road, Brighton Road, Termon Avenue, Brighton Heights Boulevard, Route 65, Interstate 279, the Fort Duquesne Bridge, Fort Pitt Boulevard, Smithfield Street, Boulevard of the Allies and Grant Street.
Work on the installation will continue on Sunday, Nov. 15, as crews complete decorating the tree. The northbound travel lane of Grant Street closest to the City-County Building will close from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The official Christmas tree lighting ceremony and holiday festivities will take place on Saturday, Nov. 21, along Grant Street in front of the City-County Building. Scheduled from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., the event will feature live musical performances by Chantal Joseph and the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts Jazz Quintet, as well as food trucks and a craft vendor market.
Crews will light the tree at 5 p.m., accompanied by rooftop fireworks. A musically timed holiday lightshow on the Grant Street facade of the City-County Building will take place immediately following the tree lighting, with additional lightshows planned for 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to close the evening’s events.
The holiday celebrations on Nov. 21 will close Grant Street between Fourth Avenue and Forbes Avenue, along with Fourth Avenue between Cherry Way and Ross Street. Drivers traveling Downtown are advised to follow posted detour routes.
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