Pittsburgh offers a host of activities for residents and college students alike to enjoy during the winter season. Christmas in Pittsburgh is a revered tradition. Take a look at some of these college student-friendly activities and try out the ones that most appeal to you!
1. Ice Skating at PPG Rink
Whether youâre alone, with friends, or with your significant other, ice skating is an evergreen activity. PPG Place is the perfect location to skate, surrounded by restaurants and festively decorated with lights and a monstrously large Christmas tree. Fun fact: our PPG rink is larger than the rink at Rockefeller Center in NYC! So if love for the sport isnât incentive enough, come and experience the largest ice rink in America just to tell people you did.
2. The Winter Light Garden at Phipps Conservatory
This yearâs theme at Phipps is âWinter Wonderland,â adopted from the famous song by Pennsylvania native Dick Smith. The garden uses lights, decorations, and an assortment of seasonal plants to bring the lyrics of this song to life. Available from 5-11 pm each evening from November 28th to January 11th, the Winter Light Garden offers free entry to any Pitt student with a valid ID. So take advantage of this chance and stroll through the winter wonderland with your roommates or SO.
3. The Nutcracker Ballet at the Benedum Theatre
The Nutcracker is a Pittsburgh classic, performed annually at the Benedum Theatre in the Cultural District by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. This year, the show runs from December 5th through December 28th and cheap tickets are available for Pitt students through PittArts. The Nutcracker is a lovely tradition and a story that takes everyone back to our childhoods. I strongly encourage everyone to attend.
4. Visit a German Village at Market Square
Known as the Peoples Gas Holiday Market, this curiosity exists in Market Square, right next to the large Christmas tree at PPG Place. There are 23 full-time vendors, selling a wide array of goods from wreaths, candles and sweaters, to scarves and accessories, to wooden toys, artwork and even ornaments. Food stalls are there as well, for those who love food (like me). The market is inspired by German holiday markets known as âChristkindlmarktsâ that are held during Advent. The market runs daily through December 23, snow or shine, so be there and fill up on goodies and cheap stocking stuffers!
5. Pittsburgh Christmas Lights in Downtown
You havenât experienced the Christmas season in Pittsburgh properly unless you take a stroll through Downtown and admire the lights and decorations. Definite places to visit are the Christmas tree at Point State Park (where the fountain used to be), the Macyâs on Smithfield Avenue (look at the windows), and Market Square. Lit with twinkling lights with the soft strains of carols sweetening the air, Downtown is also the perfect place to take a romantic stroll with your SO this time of year. Pittsburgh has plenty of magic in the winter season.
6. The Crèche at Grant Street
The Pittsburgh Crèche is a larger-than-life nativity scene built in 1999. Fun fact: it is also the only authorized replica of the Nativity Crèche at the Saint Peterâs Basilica in the Vatican. The Crèche is located at Steel Plaza on Grant Street and opened for public viewing on Light-Up Night, so take advantage of seeing this world-famous nativity scene and combine it with #5 as well!
So here are some great holiday-season funzies for yinz to partake in. Embrace the Pittsburgh culture; weâre welcoming and we love Pitt. So H2P and Happy Holidays to everyone! Go and explore my city.
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