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The Ultimate Pittsburgh Holiday Bucket List

  • November 29, 2022
  • | 12:00 PM

VIPs Only 💁‍♀️‍♀️

Just kidding! (sorta)

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You better believe we are excited for the return of the holiday season! Our Pittsburgh Holiday Bucket List has everything, like drinking hot chocolate, to ice skating and everything in between, we’re thrilled to experience all of the fun activities that come with this time of year. See how many you can check off!

Pittsburgh Holiday Bucket List
📸 Kurt Miller

See Holiday Lights ✅

If you’re anything like me, then your favorite color must be Christmas lights! It’s truly a magical experience to see thousands of dazzling lights illuminate the night sky. From Pittsburgh classics like Kennywood Park’s light display, to the second annual Zoo Lights Drive-Thru to the brand new Dasher’s Lightshow at the Pittsburgh Mills, there’s no shortage of displays this year! Check out our list of Holiday Lights in Pittsburgh and be sure to download our interactive light map!

Holiday Lights in Pittsburgh

How to Spend the Holidays in Downtown Pittsburgh🎄✨

Pittsburgh Holiday Bucket List
PPG Place

Ice Skate at PPG Place ✅

DYK that the UPMC Ice Rink at PPG Place is actually larger than the ice at Rockefeller Center? Surrounded by PPG Buildings on all sides with lights reflecting off of the glass facade, the view is truly jaw dropping. Plus, you can check off two items on your bucket list in one trip to Market Square by visiting the People’s Gas Holiday Market just steps away! And if you don’t want to deal with the Downtown traffic, don’t worry, simply click here to find an ice rink in your neck of the woods!

Hours & Location

Holiday Hours (Nov 18–Jan 8)
Sunday–Thursday | 11:00am–10:00pm
Friday–Saturday | 11:00am–Midnight

Special Holiday Hours
Thanksgiving | Nov 24 | 11:00am–10:00pm
Christmas Eve | Dec 24 | 11:00am–10:00pm
Christmas Day | Dec 25 | 11:00am–10:00pm
New Year’s Eve | Dec 31 | 11:00am–Midnight
New Year’s Day | Jan 1 | 11:00am–10:00pm

Winter Hours (Jan 9–Feb 26)
Monday-Thursday | 11:00am–3:00pm & 6:00pm–10:00pm
Friday–Saturday | 11:00am–11:00pm
Sunday | 11:00am–8:00pm

Special 2023 Winter Holiday Hours
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Jan 16 | 11:00am–10:00pm
President’s Day | Feb 20 | 11:00am–10:00pm

🎟 Adults | $11.00–$12.00
🎟 Children (12 & under) | $10.00–$11.00
🎟 Seniors (50 & up) | $10.00–$11.00
🎟 Discounts for Military members & first responders available with ID
🎟 Skate Rental | $5.00

📍PPG Place

Get Tickets
Pittsburgh Holiday Bucket List
📸 @socialitepittsburgh

Shop for Gifts at Holiday Markets ✅

Part of the magic of the holiday season is showing your loved ones how much they are cared for. Take that love one step further by purchasing them a present from a holiday market! Each market features local vendors selling handcrafted, one-of-a-kind pieces! Some of our favs include the People’s Gas Holiday Market and the Handmade Arcade. The best part is that there’s a holiday market in Pittsburgh just about every weekend from now through December!

Holiday Markets in Pittsburgh

People's Gas Holiday Market🛍️


Pittsburgh Holiday Bucket List
📸 Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

See the Winter Flower Show at Phipps Conservatory ✅

The annual Holiday Magic show at Phipps Conservatory is one of the best displays of holiday lights and joyful decor in the ‘Burgh! Brand new displays will juxtapose classic ones such as the topiary animal display, orbs and more! And after a brief hiatus in 2020, Phipps is excited to bring back the Winter Light Garden once again for all to enjoy!

Hours & Location

🗓 Nov 15–Jan 9 | 9:30am–11:00pm
🎟 $19.95 | Adult
🎟 $17.95 | Students & Seniors
🎟 $11.95 | Child
📍Phipps Conservatory 

Get Tickets
Pittsburgh Holiday Bucket List
📸 Shadyside Nursery

Visit a Christmas Tree Farm ✅

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, How lovely are your branches! Let’s be honest, it’s not about what’s under the Christmas tree, it’s about whose gathered around it. BUT it certainly helps when you have a stunning tree to gather around and the smell of fresh balsam just adds to the holiday charm!  Some of our favorite places to buy live Christmas trees are listed out here, as well as, a downloadable map to help you find the most perfect tree! So make like Clark Griswold and find the BIGGEST tree you possible can!

Christmas Tree Farms in Pittsburgh
Festive Holiday Themed Bars in Pittsburgh
📸 Miracle on 6th

Visit a Pop Up Bar & Have a Holiday-Themed Drink ✅

Who doesn’t love being surrounded by thousands of holiday decorations with a drink in their hand? Sing along to your all-time fav Christmas carols, gulp down a festive drink and immerse yourself in all of the holiday pop up bars in Pittsburgh! Miracle on Liberty is the OG of all holiday-themed bars in the Burgh and they’re excited to get you into the spirit, if ya know what I mean! But that’s not all, there are TONS of holiday-themed pop up bars all over the city, see how many you can visit before the szn is over (we even have a map to help you find them all)!

Hours & Location

🗓 Nov 24–Dec 31 | 4:00pm–12:00am
🎟 Free | No reservations
📍 Sixth Avenue

Holiday Pop Up Bars in Pittsburgh

Cousin Eddie's Pop-Up Bar🍸🎄

More Things to Do in Pittsburgh

We want to see how many activities you complete this year! Tag a picture of your completed bucket list and tag us using #stufftodoinpittsburgh. For additional holiday fun, simply search #MerryU in our app for all of the best events!

Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for all of the fun and exciting things happening in Pittsburgh in 2023!

Happy Holidays!

Curated by

Kaidia Pickels

Kaidia Pickels | Visit Profile >

OG Yinzer 🖤💛 #ShopLocal in the 'Burgh | Fitness | Craft Cocktails | Vegetarian Foodie | Sports in the City of Champions...