101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh's big list of holiday events in 2025 : Christmas concerts, lights, trees, nativities, and more. . . plus activities for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve.
The activities we've listed here are confirmed for this year, but many require reserving ahead of time, and please keep in mind that events could be canceled... so click through to make arrangements. Enjoy the holidays!
If we're missing an activity that should be on our list, please email Mindy Mangan at mindy@kidsoutandabout.com. Please make sure to include a link to the event when you email. Thank you!
If you don't already receive our free weekly e-newsletter for Pittsburgh, sign up today to make sure you're in the know about free stuff, festivals, classes, camps, vacation ideas, and all the best events near you! In the meantime, enjoy the ideas below for holiday family fun!
Santa Sightings
Old-Time Christmas
| Nov 15, 2025 | Holiday Dazzle - Pine Community Center |
| Nov 22, 2025 | Oakmont's Hometown Christmas - Oakmont |
| Dec 5 - 6, 2025 | Canonsburgh's Old Fashioned Christmas - Canonsburgh Borough |
| Dec 6 - 7, 2025 | Christmas at the Village - Old Economy Village |
| Dec 6, 2025 | The Annual Wassail Walk- Downtown New Brighton |
| Dec 6, 2025 | Christmas Open House - Vicary Mansion |
| Dec 6, 2025 | Holiday Trail - Hopewell Township Municipal Building |
Light Displays
| Nov 6, 2025 - Jan 4, 2026(select dates) | Oglebay Festival of Lights - Oglebay |
| Nov 9, 2025 | Let it Glow - Town Center |
| Nov 14, 2025 - Jan 3, 2026 (select days) | Phipps Holiday Magic: Wild Winter - Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens |
| Nov 14, 2025 - Jan 1, 2026 | Holiday Lights - Kennywood |
| Nov 15, 2025 | Holiday Dazzle 2025 - Pine Community Center |
| Nov 21, 2025 - Jan 3, 2026 | Holiday Lights Mini Golf - Fun Fore All Family Fun Park |
| Nov 22, 2025 | Pittsburgh's Light Up Night - Downtown Pittsburgh |
| Nov 22 - Dec 13, 2025 | Festival of Trees - Old Economy Village |
| Nov 22, 2025 - Jan 11, 2026 | Wild Illuminations: A Holiday Lanterns Experience - Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium |
| Nov 28 - Dec 31, 2025 | Laser Holiday Magic - Kamin Science Center |
| Nov 26 - Dec 30, 2025 | Holiday Lights Tour - Walk the Burgh Tours |
| Nov 28, 2025 - Jan 3, 2026 | Dazzling Nights - Pittsburgh Botanical Garden |
| Dec 17 - 23, 2025 (select days) | Holiday Laser Show - North Park |
Living Nativities
| Dec 7, 2025 | Concordia Live Nativity - Cabot |
| Dec 13, 2025 | Live Nativity - Mt. Carmel Evangelical Presbyterian Church |
Holiday Theatre
Holiday Concerts
| Nov 21 & 23, 2025 | Elf in Concert- Heinz Hall |
| Nov 22, 2025 | Highmark Light Up Night® Concerts - Heinz Hall |
| Dec 4, 2025 | A Carpenter's Christmas - The Oaks Theater |
| Dec 5, 2025 | A Doo Wop Christmas - The Oats Theater |
| Dec 6, 2025 | Lights Out Presents - "It's a Very Valli Holiday"- The Oaks Theater |
| Dec 7, 2025 | Sounds of Christmas - A Festive Christmas Experience - The Oaks Theater |
| Dec 9, 2025 | Handel's Messiah - Heinz Hall |
| Dec 8, 2025 | A Very Yinzer Christmas - Benedum Center |
| Dec 12 - 21, 2025 | Highmark Holiday Pops - Heinz Hall |
| Dec 16, 2025 | Holiday Brass Spectacular - Heinz Hall |
| Dec 17 - 21, 2025 | A Lyrical Christmas Carol - Gargaro Theater |
| Dec 18, 2025 | A Christmas Music Spectacular - The Oats Theater |
| Dec 19, 2025 | Cello Fury & Friends Holiday Show |
| Dec 20, 2025 | The New PURE GOLD - The Oaks Theater |
| Dec 20, 2025 | Trans-Siberian Orchestra - PPG Paints Arena |
Christmas Tree Experience
| Open Nov 2025 | Hozak Farms - Clinton |
| Open Nov 2025 | Grupp's Christmas Trees- Harmony |
| Open Nov 22, 2025 | Buchanan's Evergreen Farm- Hookstown |
| Open Nov 2025 | Candle Tree Farm - Washington |
| Open Nov 28, 2025 | Mytrysak Family Tree Farm- Indiana |
Ice Skating
| Nov 14 , 2025 - Jan 4, 2026 | The UPMC Rink at PPG Place |
| Opening Dec 20, 2025 | North Park- Allsion Park |
| Open Nov 2025 | South Park- Bethel Park |
| Open year round | Ice Castle Arena - Pittsburgh |
| Open year round | Public In-door Skate - UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex |
Shopping & Craft Fairs
| Nov 15, 2025 | I Made It! for the Holidays - The Block Northway |
| Nov 21 - 23, 2025 | Arts & Crafts Holiday Spectacular - Monroeville Coonvention Center |
| Nov 21 - Dec 24, 2025 (closed Thankgiving) | Peoples Gas Holiday Market™ - Market Square |
| Dec 4 - 6, 2025 | Gifts and Greens Markets - Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens |
| Dec 5 - 6, 2025 | Handmade Arcade’s Holiday Market - David L. Lawrenece Convention Center |
| Dec 6, 2025 | Christmas at the Village - Old Economy Village |
| Dec 6, 2025 | Holiday Horses & Bazaar - Northwestern Stables |
| Dec 6, 2025 | Uptown Market & Holiday Celebration - Uptown Mt. Lebanon |
| Dec 13, 2025 | Cambria City Cookie Tour - Heritage Discovery Center |
New Year's Eve
| Dec 31, 2025 | Noon Year's Eve - Pittsburgh Zoo |
| Dec 31, 2025 | Noon Years Celebration - The State Museum of Pennsylvania |
| Dec 31, 2025 | Pittsburgh's 2025 New Year's Eve Party - Throughout the Cultural District |
| Dec 31, 2025 | New Year's Eve at Noon - Live, Laugh, Play, & Learn |
Miscellaneous
| Nov 21 - 23, 2025 | Christmas Festival - Shady Elms |
| Nov 29 - Dec 28, 2025 | Annual Holiday Model Railroad Open House - Rochester Area Heritage Society |
| Dec 7, 14, 2025 | Holiday Brunches - National Aviary |
| Dec 6, 2025 | Nature's Wreath - Pittsburgh Zoo |
| Dec 18, 2025 | Christmas Movie Trivia - Bakery Square |
| Jan 6, 2026 | New Year's 1 Mile Family Fun Walk - Oakdale, PA |
Below are upcoming holiday events that have been posted to our calendar by local organizations. If you are affiliated with a business hosting a holiday event that should be on our calendar, we'd love to see it there... it's free to post! Click here for instructions about how to add your organization to our list and easily post your events to our calendar!
Christmas Tree Farms
Do you cut your own Christmas tree? Here's our big list of farms where you can cut your own Christmas tree in Pittsburgh.
Subscription Boxes: Gifts That Keep on Giving
Send thoughtful choices to the ones you love near and far, and plan some excellent expected surprises for your own family in the months to come. KidsOutAndAbout has put together of some of our favorite choices with a range for all different ages and interests.
