PITTSBURGH,None — One of Pittsburgh's most anticipated event of the year, the 51st Duquesne Light Light Up Night®, presented by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, will take place on Nov. 18.
"Downtown will be lit up and decorated in its holiday best, creating memories for generations to come," said Jeremy Waldrup, President and CEO of the PDP. "There is something very special about this time of the year and we encourage families to discover the incredible dining and shopping experiences as well as the world class entertainment that is offered only in Downtown during this holiday season."
People of all ages will have the opportunity to experience downtown like never before during two big days filled with free, high-quality family entertainment by some of Pittsburgh's most memorable performers.
Performances begin at 5 p.m. in Market Square and on the Clemente Bridge. Students representing regional high school and college marching bands will make their way through Downtown in the Highmark® March which begins near the U.S. Steel Plaza Crèche and ends at the Unity Tree at the corner of Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street. The magical evening concludes with the Pittsburgh Brewing Company 150th Anniversary Fireworks Celebration launched from the Warhol Bridge at 9:38 p.m.
Musical entertainers, playing everything from smooth jazz to contemporary rock beats, country rhythms and classic oldies, will ring in the holiday season on the Northwest Savings Bank Market Square Stage and at the Bridge Party (Clemente).
Performance Schedule: Friday, Nov. 18
6:15 p.m. -- Highmark® March leaves U.S. Steel Plaza Crèche 7 p.m. -- Lighting of the Unity Tree (corner of Penn Avenue and Stanwix St.)
Northwest Savings Bank Stage: Market Square
5 p.m. -- Al Dowe and Etta Cox Trio 6:45 p.m. -- Jeff Jimerson and Airborne 8:30 p.m. -- Borelli's Dance Gallery, Celebrate Santa™ Stage Show and Eat'n Park Market Square Season of Lights, featuring Smiley and Sarah Marince
Bridge Party (Clemente Bridge)
5 p.m. -- NOMaD 6:15 p.m. -- Johnny Angel and The Halos 8 p.m. -- No Bad Juju 9:38 p.m. -- Pittsburgh Brewing Company 150th Anniversary Fireworks Celebration
Event Details
Highmark March 'Lights Up' Downtown
Regional high school and college students will play and march to holiday music stepping off near the U.S. Steel Plaza Crèche on Grant Street at approximately 6:15 p.m. They will make their way through Downtown to the corner of Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street to pay tribute to the Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Unity Tree-a Pittsburgh tradition since 1953 when it was introduced by Horne's Department Store.
Participating bands include: New Castle High School, under the direction of Nick Yoho, Pittsburgh Allderdice High School, under the direction of Brian Lee and St. Vincent College Band, under the direction of Father Jean-Luc Zadrogen
Celebrate Santa™! Stage Show and Eat'n Park Market Square Season of Lights
Direct from North Pole Productions, Celebrate Santa! is an all-new musical stage show heralding the Downtown arrival of the Jolly Big Guy. Santa, Smiley and Sarah will need everyone's holiday spirit when they flip the giant switch to the dazzling Eat'n Park Market Square Season of Lights. The synchronized show features more than 150,000 LEDs, including a 33-foot, one-ton sphere tree. Country music artist and Eat'n Park spokeswoman, Sarah Marince, will also perform on the Northwest Savings Bank Stage.
Sponsored by Eat 'n Park and made possible by the Colcom Foundation and the PDP, the Eat'n Park Market Square Season of Lights is a gift to the City for the enjoyment of thousands of holiday season visitors. Nightly choreographed shows are scheduled every thirty minutes from 5-10 p.m. through January 7, 2012.
Pittsburgh Brewing Company 150th Anniversary Fireworks Celebration
No Duquesne Light Light Up Night® is complete without a memorable fireworks grand finale. This year, Pittsburgh Brewing Company, in celebration of 150 years as one of the nation's oldest and most innovative breweries, promises a spectacular pyrotechnics display synchronized to the sounds of the season.
Choreographed by the renowned Zambelli Internationale Fireworks Company, and set to launch promptly at 9:38 p.m. from the Warhol Bridge, the 22-minute show will be broadcast LIVE on 3WS Radio 94.5 FM. The theatrical production will include dynamic special effects such as strobes, Roman candles, comets, rainbows and Zambelli's signature effect-only seen in Pittsburgh during Duquesne Light Light Up Night®-a Niagara Falls of white fireworks suspended from the bridge.
RIVER CLOSURE The Allegheny River will be closed from 7:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. and will re-open under the direction of public safety officials following all required clearances. The closure shall be in effect from the Roberto Clemente Bridge to the Rachel Carson Bridge from milemarkers .6 to .8 on the Allegheny River.
Duquesne Light Light Up Night® Venue Highlights and Media Partners
Fifth Avenue Place: Explore Pittsburgh's own North Pole at the Fifth Avenue FREEZE! See and touch our icy life-sized Nutcracker and snap photos with frozen elves, reindeer and more. Catch live ice carving shows, and kids can test their skills at Arctic games. Get in the holiday spirit with live musical performances ongoing throughout the night. Kids can create their own Souvenir Snow Globe with the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh. Visit with holiday characters and celebrate with a signature Airbrush Tattoo.
One Oxford Centre: Free horse-drawn carriage rides, photos with Santa, live reindeer, face painting and musical entertainment.
PPG Place: CLO Mini Stars, American Cancer Society Tribute of Light/ Plaza Tree Lighting, holiday exhibits and live entertainment in the food court.
Performance Schedule: Saturday, Nov. 19
Noon to 2 p.m. -- 2nd Annual Mascot Skate (The Rink at PPG Place)
Northwest Savings Bank Stage: Market Square
Noon -- Joe Negri Quartet 1:45 p.m. -- DoubleShot! 3 p.m. -- Vanessa Campagna 4:30 p.m. -- Granati Brothers 7:30 p.m. -- Billy Price Band (immediately following the Horse-Drawn Carriage Parade)
Event Details
2nd Annual Horse-Drawn Carriage Parade
The 2nd Annual Horse-drawn Carriage Parade returns this year, featuring nearly 100 horses pulling more than two dozen holiday-decorated carriages through Downtown streets illuminated in bright white lights. The all-equine parade showcases horses of all sizes from majestic Clydesdales to adorable miniatures to mounted riders. Leading the stunning line-up of carriages will be the famous Wells Fargo stagecoach, one of the most recognized and enduring corporate symbols in America. Special guest riders will include our favorite furry friends from Sesame Street Live, Cookie Monster and Elmo! Resembling a Currier and Ives postcard, the parade will step off from the David L. Lawrence Convention Center at 6 p.m. and will proceed down Grant Street, Fifth and Liberty Avenues.
Duquesne Light Light Up Night® Community Commitments - Operation Santa Claus
The PDP is supporting the efforts of media partner Trib Total Media and the Salvation Army for this special campaign to raise funds to provide complete holiday dinners to hundreds of thousands of needy families across Southwestern Pennsylvania. Children in those families also receive coloring books, crayons and a new or gently-used storybook as well.
The 51st Duquesne Light Light Up Night®, the Saturday, Nov. 19 events and the Horse-drawn Carriage Parade are alcohol-free.
The 2010 two-day 50th Anniversary attracted more than 850,000 visitors and generated $21 million economic impact for the Pittsburgh region.
For more information, visit DowntownPittsburgh.com.
WPXI
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