2016
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS
& GIFTS
ACTIVITIES
AND PARADES
Dec. 1 – Holiday Season
Greeting Celebration
FREE, fireworks, arrival of Santa and Rudolph, live
seasonal music, cookies & hot chocolate, 7pm,
Hampton Community Center, Allison Park
• hampton-pa.org
Dec. 3, 10, 11 & 18 – Polar Pj Party
Put your pj’s on & then climb on board to watch
the Polar Express while enjoying the hot
chocolate bar, Carnegie Science Center
• (*PR) carnegiesciencecenter.org
Dec. 1 – Light Up the Town
Horse drawn carriage rides, cloggers, singers, hot
chocolate & more, 6pm, Wampum
• visitlawrencecounty.com
Dec. 1-23 – Peoples Gas
Holiday Market
Gifts, live performances, Santa & much more,
M-Th, 11am-8pm, F & S, 11am-9:30pm,
Sun, 11am-6pm, Market Square, Pittsburgh
• downtownpittsburgh.com/holidays
Dec. 2 – Night of Lights
Holiday crafts, train display, horse-drawn
carriage rides & more, 6-8pm, 1st United
Methodist Church, Murrysville
• murrysvilleparecreation.com
Dec. 2 – Christmas on the Square
Courthouse Square light up, pet parade, ice
sculpture & Santa’s arrival by firetruck, 6-8pm
• visitmercercountypa.com
Dec. 2 – Noel Night (Light up Night)
Singing, storytelling, food & more, 5-9pm, Main
Street, Volant • volantshops.com
Dec. 3, 10 & 17 – Fab Lab Family Workshop:
Laser-cut Holiday Ornaments
Design & create laser cut ornaments,
1:30 & 3pm, Carnegie Science Center
• (*PR) carnegiesciencecenter.org
Dec. 3 – Creation Stations: Snowman Squalls
Bean bag toss, create snowmen snow globes &
sock snowmen, 11am-2pm, Fifth Avenue Place,
Downtown Pittsburgh • FifthAvenuePlacePA.com
Dec. 3 – Girls and Dolls Holiday Tea
Tea, snacks, holiday carols & a craft,
11am & 3pm, Succop Nature Park
• (*PR) visitbutlercounty.com
Dec. 3 – Santa in Wonderland
Santa & his reindeer, crafts, cookie decorating,
games & more, 11am-2pm, Hopewell
Community Park • hopewelltwp.com
Dec. 10 – Creation Stations: Bright Bulbs
Balloon art, keepsake caricature, create
personalized paper light bulb wreaths & an
ornament, 11am-2pm, Fifth Avenue Place,
Downtown Pittsburgh • FifthAvenuePlacePA.com
Dec. 11 & 18 – Skate with Santa
Dec. 11, 10am-noon, South Park Ice Rink &
Dec. 18, 10am-noon, North Park Ice Rink
• alleghenycounty.us/special-events
Dec. 3 – Candyland
Tour through a life-sized game of Candyland, meet
the characters & hear the story as you become
the player in the game & get treats along the way,
9am-2pm, Four Mile Church Beaver • fourmile.org
Dec. 3 – Santa Express
Indoor train rides, bounce house, crafts,
facepainting, pictures with Santa & more, 10amnoon or 1-3pm, St. Paul’s Preschool, Allison Park
• (*PR) santaexpress.weebly.com
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Dec. 10 – Super Science Series:
Holidays Around the World
Noon-4pm, Carnegie Museum of Natural History
• carnegiemnh.org/programs
Dec. 11 – Sensory Friendly
Experience Polar Pj Party
Put your pj’s on & then climb on board to
watch the Polar Express while enjoying the hot
chocolate bar, Carnegie Science Center
• (*PR) carnegiesciencecenter.org
Dec. 16 – Polar Express Sleepover
Themed activities, Omnimax movie, late night
snack & continental breakfast, 6pm-9:30am,
Carnegie Science Center
• (*PR) carnegiesciencecenter.org
Dec. 17
Creation Stations: Whispering Wishes
Themed face painting, design winter wishing
dolls/elves, wishing plants & listen to Mrs. Claus
read stories, 11am-2pm, Fifth Avenue Place,
Downtown Pittsburgh • FifthAvenuePlacePA.com
Dec. 3 – Jingle Bell Run
Be part of a race that is aimed at fighting arthritis,
7:30am, North Shore, Art Rooney Avenue
• (*PR) jbr.org
Dec. 3 – Get Fit Families Reindeer Race
Walk, run or skip your way to the finish and visit
with Santa Clause, 7am-1:30pm, Downtown
Harmony • (*PR) visitbutlercounty.com
Dec. 10 – A visit from Santa
and a holiday play
A special play & a visit from Santa, 10:15am,
Shaler North Hills Library, Glenshaw
• snhlkids.blogspot.com
holiday happenings & gifts
Fun & Joy for Girls & Boys
Awesome toys for all ages
724-285-7529
www.Playthings-Etc.com 2483 William Flynn Hwy. (Rte 8) Butler PA 16001
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holiday happenings & gifts
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Dec. 16 – Pajama Party
Ages 6-12, cookie decorating, board games,
Wii, holiday movie & more, 7-8pm,
Pine Community Center, Wexford
• (*PR) twp.pine.pa.us/communitycenter
LET’S EAT WITH SANTA
(*PR) BRING YOUR CAMERA
Dec. 2 – Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Movie, snacks, hot chocolate & photo with Santa,
5:30-8pm, Grove City YMCA • 724-458-9781
Dec. 3 – Kids Christmas Town
Breakfast and pictures with Santa, a Christmas
Shop and a Christmas craft room, Chippewa
United Methodist Church, Beaver Falls
• chippewaumc.org
Dec. 3 – Breakfast with Santa
Breakfast, crafts, goodies & Santa, 9-11am,
Slippery Rock Area Parks & Recreation
• (*PR) slipperyrockpark-rec.org
Dec. 3 – Breakfast with Santa
Enjoy breakfast with Santa and his special friends,
8am-noon, Bradys Run Park Lodge
• (*PR) beavercountyfestivaloftrees.org
Dec. 3 – Breakfast with Santa
Breakfast, crafts, goodies & Santa, 10:30am12:30pm, Butler Twp. Park Building, Butler
• (*PR) co.butler.pa.us/Parks-and-Recreation
Dec. 3 – Breakfast with Santa
at Buhl Farm Park
9am-1pm, Hermitage • visitmercercountypa.com
Dec. 3 & 10-11 – Breakfast with Santa
Springhouse Market, Washington, PA
• springhousemarket.com
Dec. 3, 10 & 17 – Breakfast or
Lunch with Santa
Breakfast or lunch buffet with Santa, general zoo
admission (including Penguins on Parade-weather
permitting), cookie to decorate, Christmas craft &
a photo with Santa, 9:30am-1:30pm, Pittsburgh
Zoo & PPG Aquarium • pittsburghzoo.org
Dec. 3-4, 10-11 & 17-18
Breakfast with Santa
9-11am, Hard Rock Cafe Pittsburgh
• (*PR) hardrock.com/cafes/pittsburgh
Dec. 10 – Breakfast with Santa
Breakfast, crafts, dancing, face painting & more,
9-10:30am, Pine Community Center, Wexford
• (*PR) twp.pine.pa.us/communitycenter
Dec. 3-4
Ho Ho Ho with the WSO
New Castle Playhouse, Augustine Auditorium,
Washington Symphony Orchestra • washsym.org
Dec. 10 – Brunch with Santa
Brunch, carols & a visit from Santa, Butler YMCA
• (*PR) butler.bcfymca.org/upcoming-events
Dec. 3-4 – The Reindeer Games
A children’s theatre holiday production performed
for kids, by kids, South Park Theatre
• sites.google.com/a/southparktheatre.com/
Dec. 10 & 17 – Cookies with Santa
Cookies, holiday crafts & jolly old elf himself,
Dec. 10, 10am-noon, Round Hill Park
Visitors Center & Dec. 17, 10am-noon,
Boyce Park Seasons Lodge
• alleghenycounty.us/special-events
HOLIDAY
PERFORMANCES
Dec. 1-10 – Elf The Musical Jr.
Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, Midland
• lincolnparkarts.org
Dec. 2 – Holiday Ice Show
Holiday Ice Show, basic skills students and guest
skaters, Santa too, 7:30pm, Beaver County
Recreation Center (Ice Arena), Beaver Falls
• bcfsc.org
Dec. 2-27 – The Nutcracker
Presented by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre,
Benedum Center • pbt.culturaldistrict.org
Dec. 2 – “A Christmas Carol”
Presented by HobNob, Succop Theater, BCCC,
Butler • hobnobtheatre.com/shows
Dec. 2 – Holiday Pops
Presented by the The Pittsburgh Philharmonic,
bring a toy for Toys for Tots, plus a visit from Santa,
Succop Theater, BCCC, Butler • bc3.edu
Dec. 2-3 – The Lightning Thief
EQT Bridge Theater Series, recommended for ages
7-Adult, August Wilson Center • trustarts.org
Dec. 2, 3 & 4 – Sounds of the Season
Presented by Pittsburgh Concert Chorale, check
website for times & locations • pccsing.org
Dec. 2-4 & 8-11
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
New Castle Playhouse, Augustine Auditorium
• newcastleplayhouse.org
Dec. 5 & 12 – Kids’ Holiday
Character Breakfast
Breakfast & crafts, 9-10am, parade to follow at
10:30am, Sewickley
• (*PR) exploresewickley.com/yuletide
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Dec. 3-18 – Gift of the Ice Queen
Gemini Theater, McKees Rocks
• geminitheater.org
Dec. 3 – Christmas Brasstacular
7:30pm, Palace Theatre, Greensburg
• thepalacetheatre.org
Dec. 6 – Westminster College Celebrity
Series: Sandi Patty - Christmas Blessings
7:30pm, Westminster College Orr Auditorium
• westminster.edu
Dec. 9-11 & 16-18
Twas the Night Before Christmas
Presented by the Indiana Players, Philadelphia
Street Playhouse, Indiana • indianaplayers.com
Dec. 9-23 – A Musical Christmas Carol
Pittsburgh CLO, Byham Theater
• pittsburghclo.org
Dec. 10 – Holiday Brown Bag Concerts
FREE, open to everyone, bring a friend & bring a
lunch, meet the Resident Artists afterward in an
informal reception, Noon-1pm, Pittsburgh Opera
Headquarters • pittsburghopera.org
Dec. 10-11 – The Nutcracker
Presented by the Pittsburgh Youth Ballet, Bethel
Park High School Theater • pybco.com
Dec. 10-11 – The Nutcracker Ballet
7:30pm, Palace Theatre, Greensburg
• thepalacetheatre.org
Dec. 13 – Mannheim Steamroller Christmas
Cohen & Grigsby TRUST PRESENTS Series, 8pm,
Benedum Center • trustarts.org
Dec. 15 – Holiday Pops
Presented by the Pittsburgh Symphony, 8pm,
Scottish Rite Cathedral, New Castle
pittsburghsymphony.org
Dec. 27 – The Nutcracker Sensory-Friendly
Presented by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre,
Benedum Center • pbt.culturaldistrict.org
Dec. 10 & 17 – Rudolph, Frosty,
The Grinch & Friends
A Heartwarming Tribute to the Classic Christmas
Specials of the 1960s & 70s, Live On Stage! The
Strand Theater, Zelienople • thestrandtheater.org
holiday happenings & gifts
holiday happenings & gifts
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HOLIDAY EXHIBITS,
LIGHTS & TOURS
Dec. 1-31 – Santa’s Christmasland
Each tree has a specific theme that is
complimented by surrounding scenery & life-like
animated characters, Kraynak’s, Hermitage
• kraynaks.com
Dec. 1 - Jan. 7 – Wintergarden Opens
Spirits of Giving Around the World & Gingerbread
House & train exhibits, PPG Place, visit the
website for hours • ppgplace.com
Dec. 1 - Jan. 1 – Overly’s
Country Christmas
Gates open 5:30pm, Westmoreland County
• overlys.com
Dec. 1 - Jan. 2 – Christmas in the Park
5-11pm, Grove City Memorial Park, Grove City
• mercercountypa.org
Dec. 2-4 – Annual Beaver County
Festival Of Trees
Brady’s Run Park Lodge, Beaver
• beavercountyfestivaloftrees.org
Dec. 2-23 – Kennywood Holiday Lights
Fri, Sat & Sun nights, Pennsylvania’s tallest
Christmas tree, holiday themed entertainment &
more, Kennywood Park • kennywood.com
Dec. 2-4 & 9-11
Festival of Trees Christmas Tour
the Stewart House, Hermitage
• hermitage.net/historicalsociety/events.html
Dec. 3-6 – Festival of Lights
10am-6pm, Ligonier Town Hall Community Room
• ligonier.com/events.php
MINIATURE
RAILROAD
Miniature R.R. & Village
Daily, Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh
• carnegiesciencecenter.org
Dec. 2-Jan. 15 –
Annual Holiday Train Display
F, S & S, W PA Model Railroad Museum,
Gibsonia • wpmrm.org
Dec. 4 & 11 – Villa Maria Nativity Display
Entertainment & nativity sets from around the
world, noon-5pm, dinners served until 4pm, Villa
Maria • humilityofmary.org/media/news-events
Dec. 2-31– Model R.R.
Christmas Open House
F, 5-9pm, S & S, Noon-5pm, Beaver County Model
R.R. & Historical Society, Monaca
• bcmrr.railfan.net
Dec. 4-6 & 12-14
Candlelight Mansion Tours
Every room in the Mansion is decorated in keeping
with the season, visit website for times, Hartwood
Acres • alleghenycounty.us/parks
Dec. 2-18 – Santa Trolley
Toy train display, decorated street cars, caroling &
more, F, S & S, Pennsylvania Trolley Museum,
Washington, PA • pa-trolley.org
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Dec. 3 - Jan. 8
Ohio Valley Lines Model R.R.
S & S, Noon-5pm, Ambridge • ohiovalleylines.org
holiday happenings & gifts