![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/first-night-kids_courtesy-of-cultural-trust.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.<\/p>\nAt 7 p.m., catch a live performance by the GBU Life Sing-Off Competition winner<\/a> on the Highmark Stage, located at the intersection of Penn and Stanwix. Afterward, the family dance party<\/a> will be happening at the Highmark Stage until 9:30. p.m. And if you\u2019re kids are ready to stay up late, you\u2019ll want to catch the Dollar Bank Battle of the Bands<\/a>, featuring\u00a0four local band finalists as they go head-to-head live on the Highmark Main Stage beginning at 10 p.m.<\/p>\n Finally, be a part of the city\u2019s Countdown to Midnight<\/a> and raising of the Future of Pittsburgh Ball at midnight at the Highmark Stage. (You can also find info about additional fun for grown-ups, including ticketed events, here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n
\nFrom 7 to 9:30 p.m., Beanie Paints will be doing free face-painting<\/a> in the first-floor lobby at Highmark Fifth Avenue Place, along with lots of other activities for kids<\/a> in the Citizens Bank Activity Zone, including crafting fun<\/a> (and even more crafting fun<\/a>!)with Pittsburgh Center for Arts & Media, robotics fun<\/a> with TeraBridges and check out the Bright Blue Futures (un)Hungry Can-struction<\/a> display. You might even bump into Mike the Balloon Guy<\/a>.
\nFree hands-on LEGO fun<\/a> will be happening in the Giant Eagle Foundation Backyard at 8th and Penn Avenues, courtesy of Steel City LUG.
\nIf you\u2019re feeling musical, don\u2019t miss the Community Lip Sync Spectacular<\/a> at the Trust Arts Education Center (805 Liberty Ave.) from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Part tutorial, part show, part celebration, the event (hosted by the Queen of Emcees, Black Benatar) invites folks of all ages and experience levels to step into the spotlight. Enjoy a fun warm-up and lip sync how-to, then sign up to perform a song of your choosing. It\u2019s not a competition \u2014 just a joyful moment to express yourself, have fun and let your light shine.
\nFrom 8 p.m. to 8:15, little ones will want to participate in the Dollar Bank Children\u2019s Fireworks & Kids NYE Countdown<\/a>, happening at the Highmark Stage.
\nYou can also visit the Trust Family Book Giveaway<\/a> (7-10 p.m. at the Benedum Lot), see live ice sculpting<\/a> (8-11 p.m. at the 7th and Penn parklet) and get caricatures done<\/a> at SPACE Gallery. And keep an eye of out for roving dancers and O\u2019Ryan the O\u2019Mazing<\/a>, wandering through the Cultural District.
\nAll evening, you can catch 65-minute showings of Fleischer Fairy Tales<\/a> (featuring Betty Boop, Popeye, Koko the Clown and more) at the Harris Theater, running from 7-11 p.m.), no tickets needed.<\/p>\n