Pittsburgh Light Up Night 2025 fills Steel City with celebration, illumination

WPXI-  A show of fireworks near the Sister Bridges concluded Pittsburgh Light Up Night 2025. Channel 11 took a journey Downtown to catch the city’s long-running holiday tradition.

It was a night of celebration and the illumination across the Steel City.

“Coming here, light up night has always been a tradition for me to come down and experience,” Erikka Grayson said.

Two from Lawrenceville say they have a special tie to Pittsburgh’s 110th Christmas tree, which was lit in the City-County Building’s portico.

“The city chose our tree in the back of our building to use for the light up light, which is very, very exciting,” said Nasir Butler, who works for the Boys and Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania.

A few blocks over at PPG Plaza, another countdown took place for the UPMC Ultimate Holiday Tree Lighting and American Cancer Society Tribute of Light Celebration.

One family told Channel 11 that this isn’t their first time coming to Light Up Night, but each year means the same.

“It’s fun, we’ve taken them every year since they were babies, so it’s fun that there are things that they want to see and do, and the tradition is getting stronger with them too,” Jess Franceschina said.

The tradition continued with the lighting of the tree near the Highmark building, and of course, the iconic Sister Bridges.

Two kids gave a reminder of what the holidays mean to them and many of their peers.

“It’s fun seeing all the fireworks and all the lights are a lot of fun,” one said, adding that what he likes about Christmas is, “We get to get out of school.”

Safety at the event was a top priority.

Between 75 and 100 police officers were stationed throughout Downtown.

Parts of Fort Duquesne Boulevard, Penn Avenue extension, Penn Avenue and the Roberto Clemente Bridge are closed until Sunday.

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