From cultural celebrations to gardens strung with light displays, Pittsburgh features many local festive events for students staying in the area this holiday season. 

Christmas Day at Pitt 

This Dec. 25 is Pitt’s 20th annual Christmas Day. Hosted by the Office of Engagement and Community Affairs and Pitt Eats, volunteers gather to distribute presents, meals and winter gear.

Justin Dandoy, director of community affairs, said the event is about the community coming together to share in each other’s company. 

“The main purpose [of Christmas Day at Pitt] is providing this opportunity for folks to connect and celebrate the holiday,” Dandoy said.

According to Dandoy, extensive planning goes into the event, and many volunteer activities are conducted beforehand. Volunteers and event partners distribute gifts and meals to many in the region and to community partners. 

Christmas Day at Pitt receives support from the Salvation Army, the Urban League of Young Professionals of Greater Pittsburgh, Color Me Urban and True T Pittsburgh. Pitt students, staff and faculty can contribute by dropping off unwrapped gifts to room 1723 in the Cathedral of Learning by Wednesday, Dec. 17. Gifts can also be purchased from the Christmas Day at Pitt Amazon Registry. 

Pitt Nationality Rooms Holiday Decorations and Tours

Each holiday season at Pitt, the Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs and the Nationality Room Committees decorate the nationality rooms in the Cathedral of Learning. Room decorations reflect the holiday traditions of each country.

Both guided and self-guided tours are open for booking. 

34th Annual Holiday Open House

This year is the 34th annual Pitt Nationality and Intercultural Exchange Programs Holiday Open House in the Cathedral of Learning Commons and the nationality and heritage rooms. The event is on Sunday, Dec. 7, from 12 to 4 p.m. and is free for all. 

Kati Csoman, director of nationality rooms and intercultural exchange programs at Pitt, said all the nationality rooms are open for the event and multiple committees will offer tours and opportunities to make traditional crafts.

The Japanese Room Committee will lead an origami activity and Polish Club students will help attendees make tree ornaments. Visitors can purchase a variety of treats, including Swiss chocolates and Hungarian baked goods, according to Csoman.

Holiday Tours of the Clayton Frick House

The Clayton, the Gilded Age mansion once home to the Henry Clay Frick family, features festive decorations for the holidays. In this year’s annual holiday tour, visitors can experience the historic house decked out in festive installations and decor. 

Bella Hanley, the designer of this year’s holiday tour, said while the tour is simply a fun experience, it also prompts deeper thinking about historical context and family traditions.

“A lot of research, planning and imagination goes into creating the installations and the blending of historic and holiday elements,” Hanley said. “We tried to really consider what the Frick family would be doing during the holidays, and to reflect what their house would have looked like in the late 1880s.”

The holiday tours began Nov. 22 and run through Jan. 4 on Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission is $22 for post-secondary students and $25 for non-members.

Downtown Pittsburgh Holiday Market and Ice Skating

In downtown Pittsburgh, the annual Peoples Gas Holiday Market opened Friday, Nov. 22 and remains open through Wednesday, Dec. 24. Guests can wander through vendors selling everything from snacks to trinkets made by both local and international artisans. Admission is free for all visitors.

Also located in Downtown Pittsburgh is the UPMC rink at PPG Place, an outdoor ice-skating rink that features a giant Christmas tree. The rink opened in early October and remains open through March 1. Admission is under $15 for all ages, and starting Jan. 7, tickets are half-priced for students on Wednesday nights. 

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Holiday Shows and Events

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, a non-profit arts organization dedicated to the development of the Pittsburgh Cultural District, presents multiple holiday shows across theaters in the winter. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust offers University student discounts to a variety of performances, as well as discounts to other arts organizations’ events at Cultural Trust venues. The Trust also presents the Highmark First Night on Dec. 31, a Pittsburgh New Year’s Eve party in the Cultural District.

Phipps Conservatory Holiday Magic and Winter Light Garden 

Phipps Holiday Magic, the annual holiday event at Phipps Conservatory featuring festive lights and gardens, presents the theme “Wild Winter” this year. The Winter Light Garden, an outdoor exhibit full of vibrant light displays, is open nightly at 5 p.m. The event began Nov. 14 and runs through Jan. 4, with daily hours from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Holiday Lights at Kennywood Amusement Park

Holiday Lights at Kennywood is back. The annual holiday event features over three million lights throughout the park and the tallest Christmas tree in the state, according to the park’s website. Park goers can enjoy holiday-related food, drinks and entertainment. The event began Friday, Nov. 19, and runs through Sunday, Jan. 4.