Holiday Happenings
Winter Light Garden 5 to 11 p.m., thru January 7 (Phipps Conservatory): Luminous orbs, trees, fountains and a tunnel of lights imitate the winter sky. Admission also includes Winter Flower Show and Garden Railroad exhibits. www.Phipps.Conservatory.org [1]
Overly’s Country Christmas Now thru January 1 (Greensburg, PA): Drive through a holiday light display and visit a Christmas village including vendors, carriage rides, entertainment and kids’ activities. www.Overlys.com [2]
Kennywood Holiday Lights Now thru December 30 (Kennywood Park): Two million lights, holiday choirs, lagoon light show, Santa, the Gingerbread Express and more. www.Kennywood.com [3]
Holiday Magic Laser Show Now thru December 30 (Carnegie Science Center): Holiday magic meets science in this laser show set to your favorite holiday tunes. www.CarnegieScienceCenter.org [4]
Holiday for the Birds 10 a.m., Saturday, December 2 (Mt. Lebanon Public Library): Preschoolers make birdfeeders, learn about local breeds and meet animals. ChrisGPhillips@verizon.net [5]
Annual Holiday Bazaar 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, December 5 (Concordia of the South Hills) A variety of vendors, basket auction and bake sale in the Retirement Living Commons area. Event is free and open to the public. www.concordia-southhills.org [6].
Beverly Brite Night 7 to 8 p.m., Thursday, December 7 (Beverly Road): Beverly Road closes for kids’ activities, Santa, Christmas carols and holiday treats! www.mtlebopartnership.org [7]
Deacons’ Cookie Sale 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, December 9 (Sunset Hills United Presbyterian Church): Homemade cookies, breads and pastries for sale while supplies last. www.SHUPChurch.org [8]
Pancake Breakfast with Santa 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, December 9 (Mt. Lebanon High School Center Court): Support the Mt. Lebanon Winter Guard team while enjoying delicious pancakes with Santa. lebopancakebreakfast@gmail.com [9]
Holiday Gift Bazaar, Cookie Sale & Tea Room 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, December 9 (Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church): Homemade cookies, gifts and a British Christmas Tea Room. www.MLUMC.org [10].
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 4 p.m., Sunday, December 10 (St. Bernard Church): St. Bernard and Mt. Lebanon United Methodist choirs combine for a festive service of readings and music. www.StBernardMusic.org [11]
South Hills Lights, Chabad of the South Hills 6 p.m., Wednesday, December 13 (The Galleria): Grand menorah lighting, dreidels, food, entertainment, crafts and more. www.Chabadsh.com [12]
Holiday Bells, Mallets and Drums 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, December 15 and 16 and 1 p.m. Saturday, (Mt. Lebanon High School Fine Arts Theater): Fantastic music. Plus Santa, cookies and silent auction. www.MTLPercussion.org [13]
Mt. Lebanon Public Library [14] is hosting many holiday-themed events through December.
Holiday Party for Seniors 11 a.m., Tuesday, December 19 (Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department): Rec department senior luncheon will feature a cookie swap, holiday activities and a performance by Tracy the Ukulele Lady. Register ahead. www.MtLebanon.org/200/senior-luncheons [15]
Three Rivers Ringers 8 p.m., Friday, December 1 (Bower Hill Community Church) Hear festive handbell tunes including Chinese Dance from The Nutcracker, Sleigh Ride, Linus and Lucy and more. www.ThreeRiversRingers.org [16]
Santa Sightings
Santa at the Zoo Saturdays and Sundays thru December 17 (Pittsburgh Zoo): Have breakfast or lunch with Santa, make crafts and cookies and meet zoo animals. Preregistration required. www.PittsburghZoo.org [17]
Santa Trolley Saturdays and Sundays thru December 17 (Pennsylvania Trolley Museum): Climb aboard a restored streetcar with the merry man himself. www.pa-trolley.org [18]
Santa and His Penguin Helper December 2, 9 and 16 (National Aviary): Take photos with Santa AND a penguin. Included with Aviary admission. www.Aviary.org [19]
Around the City
Ice Skating Downtown Now thru February (PPG Place): Skate in Pittsburgh’s outdoor rink, which is 67 percent larger than the one in Rockefeller Center. www.PPGPlace.com [20]
Clayton Holiday Tour Now thru January 7 (The Frick): This year, the Clayton holiday tour is combined with a new tour about the household staff who kept the mansion running through the winter. www.TheFrickPittsburgh.org [21]
Joy of Cookies Cookie Tour 2017 Friday to Sunday, December 1 to 3 (Lawrenceville): Walk down Butler Street and enjoy a treat at participating businesses along the way. www.LVPGH.com [22]
Ben Avon Holiday House Tour 6 to 9 p.m., Saturday, December 2 (Ben Avon Borough): Visit six beautiful historic homes decorated for the holidays. AvonClub.BenAvon.org/site/house-tour [23]
WYEP Holiday Hootenanny 7 p.m., Thursday, December 7 (August Wilson Center): Silent Auction, DJ dance party and concert by the Holiday Hootenanny Band. Tickets can sell out. www.WYEP.org/HolidayHootenanny17 [24]
Old Allegheny Victorian Christmas House Tour Friday and Saturday, December 8 and 9 (Calvary United Methodist Church): Visit six restored Victorian homes and the historic Calvary United Methodist Church, all decked out for the holidays. www.AlleghenyWest.org [25]
Festival of Chanukah 5 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, December 12 (Waterfront Shopping Center): Live music, heated tent with food vendors, games, activities and grand menorah lighting. www.ChabadPGH.com [26]
Holidays Around the World Saturday, December 16 (Carnegie Museum of Natural History): Holiday-themed stations throughout the museum will include crafts, traditions, food, artifacts and more from other cultures. www.CarnegieMNH.org [27]
Christmas Bird Count Walk 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, December 30 (Emerald View Park): Join local naturalists on an easy 3-mile walk to collect data for the Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count Database. www.VentureOutdoors.org [28]
Cookie Walk 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, December 9 (St. Peter and St. Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Carnegie): Eastern European cookies, homemade lady locks, pizzelles, nut rolls and other holiday favorites, sold by the pound. www.OrthodoxCarnegie.org [29]
Entertainment
The Nutcracker December 1 to 27 (Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre): One hundred dancers, 200 costumes, a colossal Christmas tree and Tchaikovsky’s classic score set in turn-of-the-century Pittsburgh. www.PBT.org [30]
Handel’s Messiah 8 p.m., Saturday, December 2 (Heinz Hall): See Handel’s prolific oratorio performed by one of our nation’s finest orchestras. www.PittsburghSymphony.org [31]
Midnight Radio: A Christmas Story December 7 to 23 (Bricolage Production Company): Enjoy Ralphie’s iconic quest for the perfect Christmas gift in the form of a live 1940s radio broadcast. Free pre-show happy half-hour included in admission. www.BricolagePGH.org [32]
A Musical Christmas Carol December 8 to 23 (Byham Theater): Dickens’ holiday favorite set to recognizable yuletide melodies. This year, starring Broadway’s Patrick Page as Scrooge. www.PittsburghCLO.org [33]
Holiday Pops December 8 to 17 (Heinz Hall): The PSO, The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and Broadway’s Ryan Silverman present an unforgettable holiday concert. www.PittsburghSymphony.org [31]
Brown Bag Concert 12 p.m., Saturday, December 9 (Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters): Bring lunch and a friend to this free holiday concert presented by Pittsburgh Opera’s resident artists. www.PittsburghOpera.org [34]
Hi Ho the Holly 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, December 15 and 16 (Westminster Presbyterian Church, Upper St. Clair): Holiday music close to home, performed by local singers. www.SouthHillsChorale.org [35]
A Jubilant Season 8 p.m., Saturday, December 16 (Calvary Episcopal Church, Shadyside): Soprano Pascale Beaudin joins Chatham Baroque for a joyful program of holiday favorites from the baroque period. www.ChathamBaroque.org [36]
White Christmas Breakfast & Movie 10:30 a.m., Sunday, December 17 (Hollywood Theater): Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, plus brunch catered by Prohibition Pastries. Tickets sell out, so buy in advance. www.TheHollywoodDormont.org [37]
Trans-Siberian Orchestra 3 and 8 p.m., Friday, December 22 (PPG Paints Arena): Rock-opera-style holiday favorites complete with dazzling lights and pyrotechnics. www.Trans-Siberian.com [38]
Handmade Arcade 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, December 2 (David L. Lawrence Convention Center): Find aunique gifts at Pittsburgh’s award-winning independent craft fair. www.HandmadeArcade.com [39]
Holiday Glass Sale Friday to Sunday, December 1 to 3 (Pittsburgh Glass Center): Funky, fancy and functional glass on sale for three days only. www.PittsburghGlassCenter.org [40]
Highland Park Pottery Tour 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, December 9 and 10 (Union Project): Visit the studios of five Highland Park potters, socialize and buy local pottery! www.UnionProject.org [41]
Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, December 9 (4701 Butler Street, Lawrenceville): Unique Ohio-based craft show. A portion of proceeds benefits Girls on the Run. www.AvantGardeShows.com [42]
Crafts and Drafts: Holiday Ornaments 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, December 15 (Contemporary Craft): Saw, hammer and finish your own metal ornament and enjoy adult beverages. Basic skills will be taught. www.ContemporaryCraft.org [43]
Botanical Garden Crafts 1:30 to 3 p.m., Sunday, December 17 (Pittsburgh Botanic Garden): Gather evergreen branches with your family to create a holiday decoration for your home. www.PittsburghBotanicGarden.org [44]
2018 Enjoy Coupon Book Give the gift of savings! Get your coupon book for $30 from the Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department, which includes deep discounts on local activities, restaurants and shopping. 412-343-3409
Out of Town
Ligonier Town-wide Open House 12 to 5 p.m., Sunday, December 3 (Ligonier): Enjoy carolers, festive decorations and specials in local stores and restaurants. www.Ligonier.com [45]
Christmas Tree Capital of the World Now thru December (Indiana, Pa.): Pop-up holiday market, weekend festivals, “It’s A Wonderful Life” inspired atmosphere and an enormous Christmas tree. www.WonderfulLifeFestival.com [46]
Civil War Christmas Now thru December (Gettysburg): Daily festive events and holiday-themed tours in the various historic Civil War locations around town. www.DestinationGettysburg.com [47]
Elf Tuck-Ins Now thru December 24 (Nemacolin Woodland Resort): One of Santa’s elves will come to your room to read a holiday bedtime story to your kids and bring reindeer dust and a stocking full of gifts. Elf visit booked separately. www.Nemacolin.com [48]
New Years Celebrations
Hogmanay Sunday, December 3 (Oliver Miller Homestead): Scottish New Year’s Eve celebration features haggis, highland games and Scottish dancers. www.OliverMillerHomestead.org [49].
Noon Year’s Eve 11 a.m., Sunday, December 31 (Mt. Lebanon Public Library): Celebrate 2018 12 hours early with family-friendly activities, songs, crafts and some bubbly when the clock strikes noon. www.MtLebanonLibrary.org [50].
First Night 6 p.m. to Midnight, Sunday, December 31 (Cultural District): Enjoy a 14-block celebration including live music, dance, theater, magic, fireworks and the raising of the Future of Pittsburgh Ball. www.FirstNightPgh.TrustArts.org [51].
Giving Back
Coat Collection Now thru December 16 (Public Safety Building, 555 Washington Road): The Mt. Lebanon Police Association is collecting winter coats, hats, scarves and other outerwear for the Salvation Army. Collection bin located in the basement lobby. 412-343-4068
Gift Wrapping Now thru December (The Galleria of Mt. Lebanon): Humane Animal Rescue is wrapping presents at the Galleria of Mt. Lebanon. Support them by visiting the wrapping station, or volunteer to help with the wrapping. www.HumaneAnimalRescue.org [52]
Holiday Breakfast 8:30 a.m., Friday, December 8 (Crowne Plaza Pittsburgh South): Coldwell Banker hosts a breakfast benefitting Make-A-Wish Greater PA and West Virginia and the Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. 412-901-6808
Help the Food Bank Saturday, December 16 (Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank): Adults and children ages six and up are invited to work on volunteer projects every third Thursday of the month. Preregistration required. www.PittsburghFoodBank.org [53]
Family Volunteer Day Saturday, December 16 (Global Links): Families can volunteer to help prepare and sort medical supplies to send to areas affected by natural disasters. Preregistration required. www.GlobalLinks.org [54]
Mitzvah Day Sunday and Monday, December 24 and 25 (Various Locations): The Jewish Federation Volunteer Center organizes two days of service, with projects taking place all over the city. www.JFedPgh.org [55]