101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in Pittsburgh - 2023
KidsOutAndAbout is Pittsburgh's online guide to everything for kids, teens, and families! 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 in 2023!
Santa Sightings
Nov 11 - Dec 24, 2022 | Santa Photo Experience - Ross Park Mall |
Nov 18 - Dec 24, 2022 | Santa Magic - The Mall at Robinson |
Nov 18 - Dec 23, 2022 | Visit Santa - Downtown Pittsburgh |
Nov 23 - Dec 24, 2022 | Visit Santa in Person - Monroeville Mall |
Nov 25,27, Dec 10, 17, 24, 2022 | Visit Santa - Heinz History Center |
Nov 24 - Dec 17, 2023 select dates | Santa Trolley - Pennsylvania Trolley Museum |
Nov 25 - Dec 18, 2022 | Santa Fun Kids Cruise - Gateway Clipper |
Nov 26, 2022 | Christmas in Guyasuta - Camp Guyasuta |
Nov 29 - Dec 22, 2022 | Virtual Stories with Santa - Phipps |
Nov 26, 2022 | Christmas In Guyasuta - Camp Guyasuta |
Dec 3 - 22, 2022 | Photos with Santa - The Waterfront |
Dec 3, 2022 | Christmas in the Park - Townsend Park New Brighton |
Dec 3, 2022 | A Very Merry Christmas in Chippewa - Wright Fields @ Veteran's Park |
Dec 3, 2022 | Christmas Parade- Harrison Township |
Dec 4, 2022 | Sunday Christmas Festival - Shady Elms |
Dec 4, 2022 | Caring Santa - Ross Park Mall |
Dec 4, 11, & 18,2022 | Sundaes with Santa - Johnstown Children’s Museum |
Dec 17, 2022 | Meet Belsnickel - Old Economy Village |
Dec 4, 2022 | Santa at the Station - Cochran Hose Company - Sewickley Fire Department |
Dec 4, 2022 | Holly Jolly Holiday Party - Live, Laugh, Play & Learn LLC |
Dec 10, 2022 | Ice Skating with Santa - Fire & Ice Festival, New Brighton |
Dec 10, 2022 | Breakfast with Santa - GV Social Hall |
Old-Time Christmas
Dec 2, 2022 | Canonsburgh's Old Fashioned - Canonsburgh Borough |
Dec 3, 4, 2022 | Christmas at the Village - Old Economy Village |
Dec 3, 2022 | Christmas in the Park - Townsend Park New Brighton |
Dec 3, 2022 | Christmas Open House - Vicary Mansion |
Dec 3, 2022 | Holiday Trail 2022 - Hopewell Township Municipal Building |
Light Displays
Nov 5- Jan 15, 2022 | Winter Festival of Lights- Oglebay |
Nov 13, 2022 | Let it Glow - Town Center |
Nov 17 - Dec 30, 2022 (Select dates) | Overly’s Country Christmas® - Greensburgh |
Nov 18, 2022 - Jan 8, 2023 | Holiday Magic! Winter FlowerShow & Light Garden - Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens |
Nov 19, 2022 | Pittsburgh's Light Up Night - Downtown Pittsburgh |
Nov 19, 2022 - Jan 1, 2023 | Christmas Light Up - Clinton |
Nov 22, 2022 - Jan 1, 2023 | Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland -Cooper’s Lake Campground |
Nov 25 - Dec 30, 2022 | Drive-Thru Zoo Lights - Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium |
Nov 25, 2022 - Jan 1, 2023 | Laser Holiday Magic - Carnegie Science Center |
Nov 25, 2022 - Jan 1, 2023 | Holiday Lights Mini Golf- Fun Fore All Family Fun Park |
Nov 26 - Dec 17, 2022 | Holidays in the Garden- National Aviary |
Nov 27, 2022 - Jan 1, 2023 | Dazzling Nights - Pittsburgh Botanical Garden |
Dec 2, 2022 - Jan 2, 2023 | Holiday Lights Tour - Walk the Burgh Tours |
Living Nativities
Dec 2 - 4, 2022 | Return to Bethlehem - World of Life Church- Greensburg |
Dec 10,11, 2022 | Annual Drive-Thru Nativity - Nixion United Methodist Church |
Dec 3 - 4, 2022 | Live Nativity - Zion United Methodist Church Sarver |
Dec 9 - 11, 2022 | Live Nativity - Mt. Carmel Evangelical Presbyterian Church |
Dec 11, 2022 | Concordia at Cabot Live Nativity 2022 - Cabot |
Nov 19, 2022 - early Jan 2023 | Pittsburgh Créche- USX Tower Plaza |
Holiday Theatre
Nov 25, 2022 | Lightwire Theater’s A Very Electric Christmas - Byham Theater |
Nov 30, 2022 | The Hip Hop Nutcracker - Benedum Center |
Nov 30 - Dec 18, 2022 | A Christmas Story - O'Reilly Theater |
Dec 1 - 17, 2022 | Miracle on 34th Street - Little Lake Theatre Company |
Dec 3, 4, 2022 | The Nutcracker - August Wilson Cultural Center |
Dec 4, 2022 | The Polar Express Cinebrunch - The Oaks Theater |
Dec 8, 2022 | How the Grinch Stole Christmas - The Oaks Theater |
Dec 9 - 23, 2022 | A Musical Christmas Carol - Byham Theatre |
Dec 9 - 28, 2022 (select dates) | The Nutcracker - Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre |
Dec 11, 2022 | White Christmas Cinebrunch - The Oaks Theater |
De 13 -18, 2022 | A Lyrical Christmas Carol - Gargaro Theatre |
Dec 15 - 18, 2022 | The Nutcracker - Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center |
Dec 17,18, 2022 | It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play - The Oaks Theater |
Dec 29, 30 , 2022 | Holiday Dreams:A Spectacular Holiday Cirque - Benedum Center |
Holiday Concerts
Nov 18 , 2022 | Elf in Concert - Heinz Hall |
Nov 18 - 27, 2022 | Symphony Splendor: Holiday Fantasy Tour - Symphony Splendor Holiday House |
Nov 26, 2022 | Sounds of Christmas - The Oaks Theatre |
Nov 27, 2022 | Mark Milovats in Concert:Christmas Wonderland - Byham Theater |
Dec 1,3,4,9,11, 2022 | Campus Holiday Concert - |
Dec 1 - 22, 2022 | 55th Annual Holiday Music Program - Grand Staircase of the Allegheny County Courthouse |
Dec 2, 2022 | Season’s Ringings: Winter 2022 Concert Series - Bower Hill Community Church |
Dec 3, 2022 | Handel's Messiah - Heinz Hall |
Dec 6, 2022 | Chancellor Holiday Concert - Heinz Memorial Chapel |
Dec 9, 2022 | Holly Jolly Christmas Party - UPMC Club at Heinz Field |
Dec 9 -18, 2022 | Highmark Holiday Pops - Heinz Hall |
Dec 9, 2022 | A Doo Wop Christmas - The Oaks Theater |
Dec 10, 2022 | A Christmas Music Spectacular - The Oaks Theater |
Dec 14, 2022 | Celtic Women Christmas - Heinz Hall |
Dec 17, 2022 | Sensory Friendly Concert: Holiday Pops - Heinz Hall |
Dec 17, 2022 | Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve - PPG Paints Arena |
Dec 20, 2022 | Holiday Concert - MainStage Theater |
Dec 21, 2022 | Holiday Brasstacular - MainStage Theater |
Christmas Tree Experience
Open Nov 23, 2022 (closed Thanksgiving) | Candle Tree Farm- Washington |
Open Nov 25, 2022 | Buchanan's Evergreen Farm- Hookstown |
Open Nov 25, 2022 | Mytrysak Family Tree Farm- Indiana |
Open Nov 19, 2022 | Grupp's Christmas Trees- Harmony |
Open Nov 19, 2022 | Hozak Farms- Clinton |
Ice Skating
Opens Nov 18, 2022 - Jan 8, 2023 | The UPMC Rink at PPG Place |
Open mid-Nov 2022 | North Park- Allsion Park |
Open mid-Nov 2022 | 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 18, 2022 | Holiday Market Extravaganza - Monroeville Mall |
Nov 18 - Dec 24, 2022 | Peoples Gas Holiday Market™ - Market Square |
Dec 3, 2022 | 5th Annual Wassail Walk - New Brighton Public Library |
Dec 3, 2022 | 2022 Holiday Village Market - Cranberry Township Municipal Building |
Dec 3, 2022 | Handmade Arcade Holiday Market 2022 - David L. Lawrence Convention Center |
Dec 8 - 10, 2022 | Gifts & Greens Market - Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens |
Dec 10, 2022 | Uptown Market & Holiday Celebration - Uptown Mt. Lebanon |
Dec 10, 11, 2022 | SantaPalooza Holiday Mall Markets - Monroeville Mall |
Dec 10,11, 2022 | Cookie Tour 2022- Lawrenceville |
Dec 17, 2022 | Holiday Community Day - August Wilson African American Cultural Center |
New Year's Eve
Dec 31, 2022 | Holiday Lights Mini Golf - Fun Fore All Family Fun Park |
Dec 31, 2022 | Noon Year's Eve Party - Bakery Square |
Dec 31, 2022 | Pittsburgh's 2023 New Year's Eve Party - Throughout the Cultural District |
Dec 31, 2022 | New Year's Eve at Noon - Live, Laugh, Play, & Learn LLC |
Miscellaneous
Nov 22, 2022 - Jan 3, 2023 | Community Gingerbread Display- The Block Northway |
Nov 18, 2022 - Jan 1, 2023 | Spirits of Giving Around the World Exhibit - PPG Place |
Nov 26 - Dec 8, 2022 | 7th Annual Holiday Model Railroad Open House - Rochester Area Heritage Society |
Dec 3, 2022 | Hopewell's Holiday Trail - Hopewell Township |
Dec 9,15,17, 2022 | Holiday Evening Tours - Wagner Ritter House |
Dec 15, 2022 | Holiday Lights Charity Run - Nova Place |
Dec 17, 2022 | Mommy & Me Christmas Cookie Decorating - Northland Public Library |
Various dates in Dec 2022 | Various Christmas Art Workshops - Dots and Doodles |
Various classes in Dec 2022 | Holiday Cooking Classes - Gaynor's School of Cooking |
Below are items that have been posted to our calendar. 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!