1. Krampusnacht at Penn Brewery: Dec. 5Whether you think of him (it?) as an antidote to Santa, a folksy pagan or just ye olde Krampus, it’s time to take note of his whereabouts. The mythical goat-like creature with sharp fangs, spiked horns and a pointy tongue is on the move to a new HQ for the event’s 10th anniversary. It seems fitting that this 12th-century German tradition would take place in Pittsburgh’s oldest and largest brewery, known for its popular Oktoberfest. Imagine it’s the night before the Feast of St. Nicholas, when Krampus appears on the streets bearing not gifts, but sooty coal and birch sticks. Meet the beast himself, join the Krampi Parade and rock out to heavy metal holiday carols with Sleigher. Snap a selfie with naughty Krampus and get a color print to take home. Information.Photo courtesy of Steel City Con.2. Steel City Con at the Monroeville Convention Center: Dec. 6-8From Joe Manganiello, Selma Blair and Danny Glover to Mary-Louise Parker, Annie Potts and Heather Locklear, the stars will be out in full force at one of the country’s largest comic conventions. The 100,000-square-foot pop culture playground is packed with 600 vendors peddling comics, collectibles and memorabilia – so it’s a great place to score stocking stuffers. Snap selfies with your favorite celebs during meet-and-greets, attend industry panels and watch the Artist Charity Quick Sketch. Join imaginative cosplay activities, play rounds of trivia and show off your threads in the costume contest. Tickets.Midnight Radio’s “Die Hard N’At.” Photo by Handerson Gomes.3. Midnight Radio “Die Hard N’At” at the Barebones Black Box: Dec. 6-22Acclaimed for its immersive live experiences, Bricolage Production Co. has a lot to celebrate as it prepares to relocate to a new theater inside Wilkinsburg’s Community Forge. In the meantime, Bricolage is reviving one of the company’s biggest fan favorites at the Barebones Black Box in Braddock. It’s the first time the company has staged Midnight Radio since 2019. Audiences will be treated to a “riotous Steel City spin” on the 1988 film “Die Hard.” Bricolage founder and Co-Artistic Director Jeffrey Carpenter directs the LOL parody adapted by Gayle Pazerski. The cast of local favorites includes Bricolage Co-Artistic Director Tami Dixon, along with Wali Jamal, Patrick Jordan, Jason McCune and Sheila McKenna. The perfect panacea to holiday stress, the retro “radio romp” features Foley sound effects and commercial spoofs. Tickets.Spiderbite Boutique booth at Handmade Arcade. Photo by Joey Kennedy.4. Handmade Arcade at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center: Dec. 7Marking its milestone 20th anniversary with 275 vendors, the region’s largest holiday shopping market is your one-stop shop for supporting independent makers. Among the event’s established and emerging vendors are 100 artists selling here for the first time, plus the largest Youth Maker Accelerator cohort to date. If makers can dream it up, you’ll find it here — from upcycled fashion, home decor and bold artwork, to unique accessories, toys and even “cottagecore” goods.You’re not just finding handmade gifts — you’re helping creative entrepreneurs survive. Take a break from shopping to participate in the free Hands-On Handmade Activities area. Get a first look at all the wares and shop crowd-free at the Friday Night Preview Party and the Early Birdie Shopping Hour. (ticketed events). Plan your day with the market’s virtual catalog.5. AUTOnomous Body Shop Extrava(n)ganza at the WBU Event Venue: Dec. 11There’s never been a more urgent time to support reproductive health, bodily autonomy and community care. If you’re looking for concrete ways to get involved locally, don’t miss the AUTOnomous Body Shop when it parks in Spring Hill. The Pittsburgh-based mobile resource started cruising around Pittsburgh one year ago and is now rallying its fans. Learn about how this unique mutual aid resource provides free information and supplies — and help them raise crucial funds needed for growth in 2025. Hop in the van for a tour, strike a powerful pose in the photo booth and help empower this grassroots movement. Held from 6 to 9 p.m., the “fancy vancy” celebration features a cookie table, raffles and trophies, drinks and bites, and more. As of press time, NEXT has learned that this event is now sold out. Consider supporting them here.Photo courtesy of Carnegie Science Center.6. 21+ Night: Swiftie Science at Carnegie Science Center: Dec. 13Taylor Swift concerts might be overflowing with moms and daughters, but there will be no tweens in sight at this rock star-style party. Show your devotion to the pop icon through every Era — and celebrate her 35th birthday — at this adults-only bash. Trade friendship bracelets, sip T. Swizzle-themed cocktails and enjoy after-hours access to four floors of exhibits. Test your Tay Tay knowledge during trivia games, show off your Eras Tour ensembles in a costume contest and channel your inner “Fearless” fashionista. Hunt for tiny Taylors from every era in the Miniature Railroad & Village and watch science demonstrations. Feeling stressed? “Shake it off” with laser karaoke in Buhl Planetarium. Tickets.Gerard Malanga, stills from “Salvador Dali Visits the Factory 1966;” Andy Warhol films Edie Sedgwick putting on makeup, 1965; Bob Dylan visits the Factory, 1965, from “Film Notebooks,” 1964–1970 © Gerard Malanga. Courtesy The Waverly Press.7. Gerard Malanga: Secret Cinema at the Harris Theater: Dec. 14Fans of all things Warhol can’t miss this world premiere presentation exploring the work of prolific poet, photographer and filmmaker Gerard Malanga. Be among the first to see three newly restored Malanga films – “Andy Warhol: Portraits of the Artist as a Young Man;” “The Filmmaker Records a Portion of His Life in the Month of August, 1968;” and “Film Notebooks, 1964-1970.” Following the screening, Malanga will participate in a poetry reading, Q&A and conversation. Serving as Warhol’s chief assistant from 1963 to 1970, Malanga was one of the iconic artist’s most significant collaborators, including co-directing, editing and starring in several legendary “Screen Tests” and producing silkscreen paintings. Spotlighting Malanga’s “avant-garde artistry,” which merged art, poetry and underground culture, the event gives filmgoers a rare glimpse into the collaborative environment of Warhol’s Factory. Tickets.Crafts and Drafts. Photo courtesy of East End Brewing Co.8. Crafts and Drafts Holiday Show at East End Brewing: Dec. 14Craft goods and craft brews are on tap at this holiday market. Surrounded by the beer-and-pizza-making gurus from East End Brewing and Chewing, 14 local makers will sell everything from small-batch home goods, eclectic accessories, toys and art prints, to herbal remedies, jewelry, screen-printed apparel and more. Held indoors from 12 to 4 p.m., Pittsburgh’s longest-running brewery craft show is curated by Matt Buchholz, who is also hosting the In Bed By Ten Holiday Dance Party on Dec. 20 at Spirit. For the first time since the market’s inception, Buchholz introduced an application process, which attracted some brand new vendors to the lineup. DJ Rojo provides the shopping soundtrack with a mix of holiday, disco and R&B tunes.Photo courtesy of the Lawrenceville Corp.9. Lawrenceville Cookie Tour: Dec. 14 & 15A cookie table at a wedding is one of our favorite Burgh traditions. That’s why we love these two days in December when holiday shoppers can nibble their way through a 30-block-long neighborhood-wide cookie table. What began 27 years ago as a way to boost Lawrenceville businesses is now one of the region’s largest and most anticipated holiday sensations. Satisfy your sweet tooth, add new recipes to your holiday menu and put your dollars back into the local economy.Eclectic businesses along Butler Street and Penn Avenue will offer homemade cookies, warm beverages and shopping deals so you can actually enjoy crossing names off your list. Pick up a map and munch your way through the roving bakery from noon to 5 p.m. Need a lift? Hop on the cookie trolley for transportation throughout the route. Information.Crochet dinosaur by The Acrylic Heathen. Photo courtesy of I Made It! Market.10. I Made It! Merry & Bright at SouthSide Works: Dec. 14 & 15Celebrating 18 years in the Burgh, I Made It! Market is teaming up with SouthSide Works to help frantic shoppers slay those gift lists once and for all. Find artists inside and outdoors offering last-minute handmade gifts and even some vintage finds from a few Neighborhood Flea vendors plus a winter-themed bar for libations while you shop. Participating vendors include Women Who Rock, PINS Mechanical, Co-Hatch and many more. Running from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the market showcases everything from cards, artisan wares, wellness products and textiles, to jewelry, home décor, pet treats and candles. Information.Image courtesy of the Queer Craft Market.11. Queer Craft Market Winter Bazaar at Union Project: Dec. 15Pittsburgh’s queer maker community is the crafty force behind one of the city’s most distinct holiday markets. It’s not only a place to find handcrafted gifts for everyone creative on your list, it’s also a space where shoppers and artists alike can support a grassroots DIY community. Launched in 2017, the city’s premiere queer-led craft market showcases local LGBTQIA+ makers, artists and creators from around the region. This market is stocked with one-of-a-kind crafts, wares and artwork you can’t find elsewhere. Meet vendors selling goods with personality and flair from 3 to 7 p.m. The relaxing Sunday format arrives just in time for all the well-meaning procrastinators among us. Information.Highmark First Night Pittsburgh. Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.12. Highmark First Night in Downtown Pittsburgh: Dec 31The event elves at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust are busy putting the final touches on the city’s biggest party of the year. As part of its core mission, First Night is uniquely arts-focused, fusing premiere attractions and cherished traditions. Spanning Downtown’s 14-block Cultural District, the 31st annual celebration will teem with live music, magic shows, dance and theater performances, art exhibits and film screenings. Held indoors and outside, six hours of free entertainment will be presented in theaters, galleries and one-of-a-kind spaces, along with family experiences and public art activations. Signature events include the jubilant New Year’s Eve Parade featuring giant, colorful puppets and the GBU Life Sing-off Competition. All the Auld Lang Syne action culminates with the thrilling Countdown to Midnight, raising of the Future of Pittsburgh Ball and fireworks show. Become a Citizens First Night Friend to get access to the exclusive O’Reilly Theater lounge. Keep reading NEXT for more exciting details coming soon. Information.Bonus events:Spaghetti Disco New Year’s Eve Party at Spirit: Dec. 31“The Nutcracker” at the Benedum Center: Dec. 6-27The post 12 quintessential December events, plus a few surprises, from the Cookie Tour to First Night appeared first on NEXTpittsburgh.