Pittsburgh First Night Festivities: What You Need To Know

PITTSBURGH, PA - Two Zambelli fireworks displays, the New Year's Eve Parade with its famed giant puppets, the countdown to midnight and the raising of the Future of Pittsburgh Ball will be among the highlights of the city's annual First Night celebration.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's programming lineup for Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2020 will begin Dec. 31 at 6 p.m. As usual, the event will be an arts-focused, family-friendly event spanning the cultural district's 14 blocks.

The evening begins with Dollar Bank Children’s Fireworks on the Dollar Bank Stage, and concludes with the Future of Pittsburgh Grand Finale beginning at 11:58 p.m. In the six hours in between, expect comedy, dance, music, magic, theater, visual art, and more, as well as hands-on activities for every age in indoor and outdoor venues.

Weather shouldn't inhibit people from attending as 90 percent of the activities will be indoors, trust officials said.

New this year will be piece premiering in the Trust Oasis public art space on Seventh Street: Primastica, an interactive modern ice palace made up of large prisms arriving in Pittsburgh from the Quartier de Spectacles Partnership in Montreal. The prisms create kaleidoscope of colors and light after sunset; they will be in place until March.

Other outdoor experiences include the ‘Take Flight’ New Year’s Eve Parade featuring Studio Capezzuti puppets, Fire and Ice Plaza at Penn Avenue and Ninth Street, Kidsplay at the Heinz Hall Courtyard, and the Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network sponsored Family Tent at Penn Avenue and Seventh Street.

Indoor program highlights include Arcade Comedy Theater, The Zuzu African Acrobats and musician Sierra Sellers at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, New Year’s Eve Comedy Showcase at the Byham Theater, Bookish in the ‘Burgh author talks, face painting, tarot card readings, and caricatures at Fifth Avenue Place, magicians Jon Tai and Robert Ramirez at Liberty Magic and the O’Reilly Theater, and in the Trust Arts Education Center, a special pilot of Game Time!, the Cultural Trust’s new live, large-scale game show premiering in April.

Before the evening’s finale, The Shadowboxers will take the Highmark Stage at 10:45 p.m. to begin the countdown to midnight. This trio formed in 2007 at Emory university and their combination of vocals, keyboard, and guitar is rhythmically driven with layers of tempos and harmonies.

For a full listing of Highmark Pittsburgh First Night events, click on the link.

Admission Buttons are $10 each (children five and under are free) and grant access to all attractions in the Cultural District on New Year’s Eve. The First Night Friend VIP experience ($40) is also available, and provides priority access to seating, parking, a private lounge sponsored
by Citizens Bank, and more.

Admission Buttons and First Night Friend VIP Packages are now available for sale at TrustArts.org/FirstNightPGH, in person at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue), or by phone at (412) 456-6666.

Additionally, participating Giant Eagle store locations will have Admission Buttons available for sale at half price. This special discount is also available at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branches throughout Pittsburgh. When library members check out a book between now and December 25th, they will receive a special bookmark with discount and redemption details.

Some indoor performances require free reserved seating. See the full event listings for details.