Les Miserables, WPXI Holiday Parade Top Pittsburgh Weekend Events

PITTSBURGH, PA -- This is the week the highly anticipated new 25th anniversary production of Boublil & Schönberg’s legendary musical, “Les Miserables” finally comes to town - and for that, theater lovers definitely are thankful.

Expect to see new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. This new production has been acclaimed by critics, fans and new audiences and is breaking box office records nationwide. The New York Times calls this production “an unquestionably spectacular production from start to finish.” The London Times hails the new show “a five star hit, astonishingly powerful.”

While there are no performances scheduled on Thanksgiving, you can catch “Les Miserables” at the Benedum Center Nov 29 and 30 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Dec. 1 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Other weekend highlights:

• WPXI-TV Holiday Parade, Nov. 30, 9 a.m. Downtown

In addition to the usual bands and floats, this year’s parade will feature Blake Stadnik from “This Is Us,’ Layla from Kidspop and Mr. McFeely from “Mister Rogers Neighborhood.” The parade starts at Eleventh and Liberty and ends at Stanwix and Liberty.

• Lumaze, Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. 31st Street Studios, Strip District.

Billed as one of the world's largest indoor Christmas festivals, Lumaze is a 100,000 square-foot exhibition with more than one million lights, as well as vendors, live music, food trucks, kids play areas and a bar. We're told visitors might also catch a glimpse of Santa. If you don't catch it this weekend, don't worry - the display will be up through the first weekend in January.

• Holiday Lights, Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Kennywood

For those who prefer outdoor holiday light festivals, this one features a 100-foot Christmas tree, the state's tallest, a massive model train display and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" playing in the amusement park's 4D theater. Rides that will be operating include the Kangaroo, Merry Go Round and Noah's Ark, plus Kiddieland and Thomas Town.

• Kids Craft Workshop, Dec. 1, 11 a.m., The Block Northway, Ross

Families can stop by the crafting tables for activities in the south corridor as they are doing their holiday shopping. Attendees are asked to make a donation to Every Child, a local human service nonprofit, to participate. The featured activities are a fleece pillow project, a gingerbread person ornament and a painted frame option.