Pittsburgh · November 15, 2026 – January 1, 2027
Christmas and holiday events for kids in Pittsburgh
40 tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays and holiday shows around Pittsburgh, November 15 to New Year’s Day. 1 are free.
Don’t miss
- Nov20FriNutcracker and shows
Through Jan 1
Phipps Holiday Magic: Winter Flower Show and Light Garden
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
From $13.95All ages
- Dec5SatLight displays
Sat, Dec 5 · 5:00 PM
Moon Lights Holiday Festival
Moon Park
Free
- Nov15SunLight displays
Sun, Nov 15
Holiday Lights at Kennywood
Kennywood
PaidAll ages
NovemberSun, Nov 15 – Mon, Nov 30
- Nov15SunCrafts and cookies
Sun, Nov 15 · 1:00 PM
(Clay) Gingerbread Houses workshop at Union Project
Union Project
From $40All ages
- Nov15SunCrafts and cookies
Sun, Nov 15 · 1:30 PM
Carols, Crafts & Cocoa with Pittsburgh Youth Chorus
Pine Community Center
With admissionAll ages
- Nov15SunLight displays
Sun, Nov 15
Holiday Lights at Kennywood
Kennywood
PaidAll ages
- Nov20FriCrafts and cookies
Fri, Nov 20 · 12:00 PM
Gingerbread House Display & Competition at the City-County Building
City-County Building
All ages
- Nov20FriSanta visits
Fri, Nov 20 · 6:00 PM
Santa's First Stop
Cranberry Municipal Center
- Nov21SatMarkets and festivals
Sat, Nov 21 · 10:00 AM
Holiday Eco-Markets at Beechwood Farms
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve
All ages
- Nov21SatTree lightings
Sat, Nov 21 · 4:00 PM
City of Pittsburgh Tree Lighting on Highmark Light Up Night
City-County Building portico and Grant Street
- Nov27FriSanta visits
Fri, Nov 27 · 9:00 AM
Santa Trolley at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
From $25All ages
- Nov27FriSanta visits
Fri, Nov 27 · 10:30 AM
Santa at the Heinz History Center
Heinz History Center
With admission
- Nov27FriLight displays
Fri, Nov 27 · 5:00 PM
Zoo Lights Drive-Thru at Pittsburgh Zoo
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
From $45All ages
- Nov29SunSanta visits
Sun, Nov 29 · 9:00 AM
Breakfast with Santa & Friend at the National Aviary
National Aviary
From $8All ages
DecemberTue, Dec 1 – Fri, Dec 18
- Dec3ThuSanta visits
Thu, Dec 3 · 6:30 PM
Elf on the Shelf Kick-Off Party — Peters Township
Peters Township Public Library
- Dec3ThuSanta visits
Thu, Dec 3 · 6:30 PM
Santa's Sparktacular (Hampton Township)
Hampton Community Center
- Dec4FriTree lightings
Fri, Dec 4 · 5:00 PM
City of Pittsburgh Menorah Lighting
City-County Building
- Dec4FriNutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 4 · 7:00 PM
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre: The Nutcracker
Benedum Center
Paid
- Dec5SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 5 · 9:00 AM
North Pole Dessert Float with Santa — Butler Township
Butler Township Park Building
From $10Ages 1–10
- Dec5SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 5 · 11:00 AM
Brunch with Santa at the Pittsburgh Zoo
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
From $10
- Dec5SatCrafts and cookies
Sat, Dec 5 · 11:30 AM
Gingerbread Houses Ho! Ho! Ho! Morning Session
Shaler North Hills Library
- Dec5SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 5 · 1:00 PM
Santa's Cookie & Craft Workshop — Findlay Township
Findlay Township Activity Center – Upper Level
From $10All ages
- Dec5SatLight displays
Sat, Dec 5 · 5:00 PM
Moon Lights Holiday Festival
Moon Park
Free
- Dec5SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 5
The Nutcracker by Texture Ballet School — August Wilson Center
August Wilson African American Cultural Center
- Dec6SunNutcracker and shows
Sun, Dec 6 · 4:30 PM
The Nutcracker Sensory-Friendly Performance (Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre)
Benedum Center
Paid
- Dec6SunChristmas
Sun, Dec 6
Holiday Brunch at the National Aviary
National Aviary
From $35
- Dec10ThuChristmas
Thu, Dec 10 · 6:00 PM
Tween/Teen Awkward Christmas Photos
Cranberry Public Library
- Dec11FriSanta visits
Fri, Dec 11 · 5:30 PM
Santa's Cocoa Corner (Pine Township)
Pine Community Center
From $8
- Dec11FriNutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 11 · 7:00 PM
The Muppet Christmas Carol on the Giant Screen at Kamin Science Center
Kamin Science Center (formerly Carnegie Science Center)
From $12All ages
- Dec11FriNutcracker and shows
Through Dec 23
A Musical Christmas Carol (Byham Theater)
Byham Theater
PaidAges 3+
- Dec12SatChristmas
Sat, Dec 12 · 10:30 AM
Open Play: Winter Wonders
Penn Hills Library
- Dec12SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 12 · 11:00 AM
The Nutcracker with Live Orchestra — Palace Theatre, Greensburg
The Palace Theatre
Paid
- Dec13SunSanta visits
Sun, Dec 13 · 10:00 AM
Breakfast with Santa (West Deer Township)
West Deer Township event location (venue name not published)
- Dec14MonChristmas
Mon, Dec 14 · 1:00 PM
Homeschool Investigators: Holiday Traditions Around the World — Greensburg
Greensburg Hempfield Area Library
Ages 5–12
- Dec16WedNutcracker and shows
Through Dec 20
A Lyrical Christmas Carol (Pittsburgh Musical Theater)
Gargaro Theater
PaidAll ages
- Dec17ThuChristmas
Thu, Dec 17 · 6:00 PM
American Girl 40th Anniversary Holiday Celebration
Peters Township Public Library
Ages 7+
- Dec17ThuCrafts and cookies
Thu, Dec 17 · 6:00 PM
Gingerbread STEAM
Cranberry Public Library
- Dec18FriChristmas
Fri, Dec 18 · 6:30 PM
Teen Holiday Movie Night & Hot Chocolate Bar
Shaler North Hills Library
Ages 11–18
Christmas breakSat, Dec 19 – Fri, Jan 1
- Dec21MonChristmas
Mon, Dec 21 · 6:30 PM
Family Holiday Treats — Peters Township Public Library
Peters Township Public Library
- Dec31ThuNew Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 10:00 AM
Noon Year's Eve at the Mad Science Lab
The Mad Science Lab
From $39
- Dec31ThuNew Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 11:15 AM
Noon Years Eve Storytime — Penn Hills Library
Penn Hills Library
- Dec31ThuNew Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 11:30 AM
Noon Years Eve Party
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Homewood
All seasonLight displays, Santa visits, shows and exhibits that run for weeks. Check the organizer’s page for open nights and times.
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For organizers
Hosting a tree lighting, Santa visit or holiday show in Pittsburgh?
List it on Grassy Knees and it can show up on this Christmas page, in the metro’s weekend picks and in the app. Free to post until Oct 31.
How this list works
Tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays, Nutcrackers, menorah lightings and Noon Year’s Eve parties, beyond your own block. This page collects every event and program in our Pittsburgh listings whose title names Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Santa, holiday lights, the New Year or the like, dated between November 15 and January 1. 40 are still ahead. Each one opens its listing page, which links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. Dates are in Eastern Time.