We’ve made it to the weekend. It is three days off for some with Christmas Day on Monday. In between those final shopping stops at the mall, local retailer or Peoples Gas Holiday Market, here are some other ways to spend it.
Christmas Day at Pitt
The annual Christmas Day at Pitt on Monday has members of the University of Pittsburgh community serving a holiday meal to people of the city and region who may not have other opportunities to celebrate this season.
Volunteers from Pitt also help distribute winter gear and presents for neighbors during the festivities.
The event, open to the public, is from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at The Eatery at Towers located at 3990 Fifth Ave. in Oakland. Meals will be to-go only from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Guests must arrive before 1:30 p.m. to be seated.
Meals are provided through Pitt Eats by Compass Chartwells and Pitt Business, Hospitality and Auxiliary Services. The Salvation Army and other community partners will distribute meals in Greater Hazelwood, Homewood and the Hill District.
Every child at the event will receive a gift.
Details:community.pitt.edu
Highmark Holiday Pops
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh collaborate for one of Pittsburgh’s holiday traditions: the Highmark Holiday Pops at Heinz Hall, Downtown.
Guests sing along to Christmas and Hanukkah songs. Santa Claus visits, too. Dancers from the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre will perform.
Tickets start at $25. Shows are at 8 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Details:pittsburghsymphony.org
‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’
The Pittsburgh Winery in the Strip District presents “A Charlie Brown Christmas” featuring The Pleaktunes Trio at 8 p.m. Friday.
It is a 21-plus event based on Vince Guaraldi’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Pianist Jacob Pleakis, bassist Anton DeFade and drummer Brian Wolfe comprise the trio.
Tickets are $20, $15 in advance.
Details: pittsburghwinery.com
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Upcoming Local Events
Pittsburgh Festival Opera
Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s “A Christmas to Remember: Legends in the Limelight” is at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Carnegie Music Hall in Carnegie. The evening will feature American tenor Gregory Kunde, who will be accompanied by Mark Trawka, a pianist and chorus master at Pittsburgh Festival Opera. Kunde will also be on stage with Pittsburgh’s own mezzo soprano Marianne Cornetti.
Kunde has performed at the most prestigious opera houses around the world and is renowned for his interpretation of the title role in Giuseppe Verdi’s “Otello.”
Tickets are $65, $15 for students. There is $150 per person VIP ticket.
Details: pittsburghfestivalopera.org
Sneakeasy
On Saturday, Peacock is popping up at the South Hills Village Mall in Bethel Park with the Peacock Sneakeasy. It’s a free ski chalet-inspired lounge on the ground level near Macy’s where people can sneak away to watch NFL games, including the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals, which airs on NBC and simulcasts on Peacock at 4:30 p.m.
The Sneakeasy will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
There will also be complimentary gift-wrapping and holiday refreshments.
According to a Peacock-commissioned survey, 65% of American sports fans indulge in the “sports sneak,” which means dipping away from gatherings to stream sports.
Details:peacocktv.com
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact JoAnne by email at jharrop@triblive.com or via Twitter .