One of Pittsburgh’s most popular events is upon us again.
Light Up Night is Saturday in Downtown Pittsburgh, running from early afternoon and culminating with a fireworks show at night’s end.
The festival has been a Pittsburgh tradition for decades and an unofficial start to the holiday season. While many people may know their way around Downtown during the festivities, this year’s event has some new additions.
Here are five tips on how to best enjoy Light Up Night 2023:
Take Public Transit
Downtown Pittsburgh will be besieged by road closures and detours Saturday. A lot of people will want to drive to the festival, but officials are reminding visitors that public transit is the best option.
Jack Dougherty of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership said public transit is best because closures and congestion will cause severe backups.
“We see such large crowds Downtown, so planning to drive through it just backs everything up,” he said. “Anything you can do to find another way in, that is going to make it a smoother experience.”
Dozens of bus lines and two light-rail lines lead directly Downtown.
For those who choose to drive, they should steer clear of the central business district, said Darryl Jones, the city’s fire chief and emergency management coordinator.
“If it was me, I would be parking outside of the Downtown area and taking public transportation into the city,” said Jones.
Dougherty suggests driving to the North Shore or North Side, parking there, and then taking light-rail to Downtown. Rides between the North Shore and Downtown are always free. Light-rail users should exit at Steel Plaza, Wood Street, or Gateway stations to enjoy the festivities.
Family Fun Starts Early
Light Up Night is not just about watching the trees light up and the firework show.
Dougherty said there are a lot of fun activities for children before the sun sets. If entertaining the kids is the main goal of the visit, he said, families should arrive early.
Kids’ activities start at 3 p.m. and include a selfie garden in the Heinz Hall courtyard, a chance to meet Santa Claus, the Pirate Parrot and pierogi mascots near the corner of Ft. Duquesne Boulevard and Stanwix Street, a concert of kids songs at the Highmark Main Stage, and more.
A full list of family-friendly events can be found on the Light Up Night website.
Dougherty said families wary of the large crowds might want to come early, enjoy the festivities, and then head out before the crowds really start to arrive around 5 p.m.
Come Hungry
There is no reason to gorge yourself before arriving at Light Up Night, said Dougherty.
This year’s festival has a lot of food trucks and other food vendors to feed the large crowds.
That should come in handy, since many of the Downtown restaurants already are booked up.
In addition to food trucks, the festival has a couple pop-up gardens serving beer and cocktails.
Hungry and thirsty visitors can head to the Riverside Stage Area, the intersection of Stanwix Street and Penn Avenue, the intersection of Grant Street and Fourth Avenue, and the Cultural District Stage at Penn Avenue and 8th Street.
Plan Ahead
Different visitors might have different priorities for this year’s Light Up Night, and so planning ahead and arriving early can go a long way, said Dougherty.
There are lighting events throughout the evening. The City-County Building tree will light up at 5 p.m., then the tree at the PPG ice rink at 6 p.m., and the Highmark Tree at 7 p.m.
This year has a new light up event, said Dougherty.
The sister bridges will become aglow at 8 p.m., which is the debut event for their new lights that were installed recently.
Finally, fireworks start at 9:30 p.m.
American Idol winner Phillip Phillips will perform at 8:30 p.m.
Dougherty said for marquee events including the Highmark tree lighting, the Phillips show, and the fireworks, people might want to camp out separately if they want a good view of each.
He said there is live music starting at 5 p.m. before the tree lighting at 7 p.m., so plenty to keep fans occupied.
In the same vein, visitors who prioritize the fireworks can set up at Fort Duquesne Street overlook early, enjoy the Phillips show and sister bridges lighting before watching the fireworks.
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Finally, he said to make sure to check the website and the Light Up Night map to make navigation easier.
Wear Layers
The weather forecast is calling for a dry but cold Saturday with temperatures dropping into the 30s. Dougherty suggests dressing in layers.
He said that is key to staying comfortable during a long outdoor event.
And, he added, it’s also smart to bring a poncho or rain jacket just in case the weather forecast shifts.
Ryan Deto is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Ryan by email at rdeto@triblive.com or via Twitter .