Where can you wander through a 60,000-pound ice maze, watch drag shows and fire dancing, attend a family rave and sit for a tarot card reading — all while ringing in the New Year?There’s no need to stress over what to do on New Year’s Eve: Skip the crowded bars and boring couch and head Downtown for one of the city’s most jubilant celebrations.For its 31st anniversary, Highmark First Night Pittsburgh will pulse with more than 30 events for all ages. Artists will forge a path into 2025 with live arts and entertainment animating Downtown’s 14-block Cultural District. At First Night, art does not just hang on the walls — it fills spaces of all kinds and spills out into the streets.Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.Produced by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and sponsored by Visit PA, Highmark First Night Pittsburgh runs from 6 p.m. to midnight. Free to all, the arts-focused celebration pairs debut attractions with cherished traditions — from music, dance and theater to public art, film and comedy.This year, the Cultural Trust is unveiling an expanded lineup of indoor ticketed attractions to provide a diverse range of arts programming throughout the evening.And according to a new report just released by WalletHub, we’re in an ideal city to celebrate the holiday. The personal finance website ranks Pittsburgh as the Ninth Best City for New Year’s Eve Celebrations in 2024. Comparing 100 of the biggest cities across 26 key metrics, with data set ranging from the legality of fireworks and nightlife options per capita to the affordability of food and lodging, WalletHub determined “which cities are the best for safely ringing in the new year without breaking the bank.”Ready to make the most of the last six hours of 2024?Free featured eventsPerfect for all early birds, First Night gets underway with the ceremonial Dollar Bank Children’s Fireworks at 6 p.m., plus live entertainment on the Highmark Stage. Gather with friends and family at Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street for the debut performance by this year’s GBU Life SING-OFF Competition winner. Selected by an esteemed panel of judges that included “Funny Girl” cast member Mathew Fedorek, the winner follows in the star-studded footsteps of Gabby Barrett, Trinity Wiseman and Dejah Monea, and will receive a $500 cash prize and a $1,000 school donation.Next, shake it off and make new holiday memories together during a Family Rave led by DJ Todd Griffin from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.For hands-on family fun, crafts and face painting, pop into Highmark Fifth Avenue Place from 6 to 10 p.m. Create your own firestarter with Scouting America, design necklaces and ornaments with Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media, make buttons with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and lots more.Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.Make the Giant Eagle Foundation Backyard, located at Eighth Street and Penn Avenue, your go-to HQ for First Night revelry from 6 to 11 p.m. Always a dazzling highlight is the colossal Ice Creations attraction. Weighing a staggering 60,000 pounds and standing more than 5 feet tall, this year’s sprawling ice maze will occupy a 30-by-40-foot section of the Backyard. Journey through the ice maze to find carved symbols representing different areas in Pennsylvania and make your way to the ice throne to snap festive photos. For an extra wintry experience, kids can build a LEGO car or sled to race down a luge track made of ice.Geo Koryu. Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.After the frigid fun, heat up with Hawaiian Hula Kahiko dancing at the Backyard. Watch in awe as Geo Koryu performs with fire torches.Ready for more family experiences? From 6 to 11 p.m., the AHN Family Zone and Highmark Holiday Block Party will host hands-on activities for all ages at the corner of Penn Avenue and Seventh Street across from the Benedum Center. Join the Allegheny Health Network and local arts organizations for engaging activities, including a CitiParks story set and opportunities to win prizes.For some steamy entertainment, swing by the Greer Cabaret Theater Lounge for evening shows by Phat Mandee. The Pittsburgh-based chanteuse will be joined by a lineup of jazz luminaries featuring Joe Hodges (keys), Cliff Barnes (bass) and Yoko Suzuki (saxophone). The quartet will warm up audiences with their repertoire of original compositions and classic standards.Looking for some laughs to carry you into the New Year? Take a seat indoors at The Harris Theater for “Wild, Crazy and Cool,” a showcase of cartoons produced by United Productions of America. Ushering in the heyday of the “modern cartoon,” United created influential and stylish cartoons blending innovative design with slapstick comedy, imaginative storylines and diverse music. Audiences will love the bold colors, striking graphics and timeless characters like Mr. Magoo. The program cycles every 90 minutes starting at 7 p.m.Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.A signature First Night attraction is the beloved New Year’s Eve Parade presented by Giant Eagle featuring whimsical one-of-a-kind puppets from Studio Capezzuti. The highly anticipated NYE spectacle bursts with performance groups, handmade creative touches and appearances by elected officials. This year’s theme is “Better World.” Running throughout the Cultural District, the parade starts at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center at 8 p.m. and ends after turning right on Stanwix Street toward the Allegheny River. There is no other parade like it in the Burgh. Secure your spot for a great view on either side of Penn Avenue.Keep your eyes peeled for the tallest clown in town, aka O’Ryan the O’Mazing, who will roam around the Cultural District with his suitcase full of props from 9 to 11 p.m. This is your chance to try some “O’Mazing tricks” with Pittsburgh’s very own 10-foot-tall clown! Spin a giant yoga ball on your finger, have a dance-off or just be a spectator watching some of the wildest juggling tricks you’ve ever seen.Pittsburgh’s own rap sensation Frzy kicks the vibes up a few notches as First Night’s headlining act. Returning to his black-and-gold hometown to “close the door on 2024,” Frzy is sure to deliver a powerhouse show featuring special guests and immersive lighting. Rock into the new year with Frzy hits like “Gold In It” and “You ain’t got no money,” along with new songs he’ll debut at First Night. A graduate of Career Connections Charter High School in Lawrenceville, Frzy performs on the Highmark Stage at 10:45 p.m.Other First Night highlights include tarot card readings at the Benedum Center and the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh’s 110th annual exhibition at SPACE Gallery.
The long-awaited culmination arrives just before midnight, when it’s time to bid adieu to 2024 with a Pittsburgh tradition. Join the exhilarating countdown to midnight and watch the dramatic raising of the 1,000-pound Future of Pittsburgh Ball 75 feet above the Highmark Stage guiding our way into January. The skyline will be illuminated by a Pyrotecnico fireworks display as Frzy leads revelers in a rousing rendition of “Auld Lang Syne.”Indoor ticketed eventsWarm up with a host of special ticketed events taking place in venues throughout the Cultural District.Watch from the edge of your seat as East Africa’s Zuzu African Acrobats perform at the Trust Arts Education Center. The dynamic troupe will wow onlookers with their fast-paced performances combining traditional African acrobatics, high-energy tumbling, balancing acts and clever humor. Tickets.Also at the Trust Arts Education Center, the Alumni Theater Co. will perform original songs and spoken word expressions exploring this time of transition, change and growth. Tickets.Over at the Byham Theater, Pittsburgh jazz legend Roger Humphries will celebrate the eternal music of Ray Charles. For the one-of-a-kind performance of blues, jazz, R&B and gospel compositions, Humphries will be accompanied by 16 of the region’s leading musicians. Tickets. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s First Lady of Drag Kierra Darshell will spice up First Night with performances at the newly renovated Greer Cabaret Theater. Tickets. For something out of the ordinary, take a seat at Liberty Magic for the unparalleled art of Luis Carreon. In his new one-man show, “A Glimpse of The Beast,” Carreon melds “his jaw-dropping magical skills, his Latin heritage and off-the-wall comedy to share his real-life experiences, poking fun at stereotypes, cultural differences and himself.” Just for First Night audiences, he’ll share some routines you won’t see in his regular show. Tickets.Ed Bailey and Day Bracey. Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.Cap off your First Night entertainment with comedy duo extraordinaire, Ed Bailey and Day Bracey. Co-hosts of the Emmy-nominated TV show, “Ed & Day in The Burgh,” the can’t-miss pair will ring in the New Year with their signature brand of stand-up. Tickets.Calling all puppet makersLove a parade? Always wanted to make a puppet? You’re in luck because artist Cheryl Capezzuti is hosting hands-on Parade Workshops for the public in her Termon Avenue studio on Sunday, Dec. 22, Monday, Dec. 23, and Friday, Dec. 27, from 1 to 4 p.m. Roll up your sleeves as you build puppets to carry in the parade. After the workshops, meet under the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on 10th Street at 7:15 p.m. to march in the New Year’s Eve Parade with your creations! Register.Go behind the velvet curtain Get a rare look at where the magic happens at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts and discover the fascinating history of “Pittsburgh’s Palace of Amusement” during a guided behind-the-scenes tour of the Downtown landmark. Tours are 20 minutes and depart approximately every five-10 minutes.Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.Get VIP treatmentFor the ultimate New Year’s Eve experience, consider becoming a Citizens First Night Friend. Get access to the exclusive O’Reilly Theater Lounge offering an evening of family fun, plus food and beverages. Enjoy a cozy celebration while supporting the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and helping to ensure that First Night remains free for all. Donations supporting the Citizens First Night Friends Lounge include a light-up keepsake necklace delivered to your door by Dec. 20 or picked up at the Box Office at Theater Square. A variety of packages are available.View all Highmark First Night Pittsburgh events here.6 more things to do on New Year’s Eve:N.Y.E. Spaghetti Disco at SpritA Bejeweled New Year’s Eve at Kingfly SpiritsPittsburgh Festival Opera’s Sing and Ring in the New Year at the Pittsburgh Field ClubNew Year’s Eve Cruises on the Gateway ClipperCountdown to Noon at the Children’s Museum of PittsburghNoon Year’s Eve at SouthSide WorksFind more things to do in Pittsburgh with NEXT, including live music, outdoor recreation, holiday attractions and family activities, plus our December event guide. Celebrate Hanukkah in Pittsburgh with these foods and events December 19, 2024December 19, 2024 11 things to do this weekend in Pittsburgh, from In Bed by Ten Holidays to Season’s Greetings Saturdays December 18, 2024December 18, 2024 6 unusual holiday events to break tradition — or make a new one December 4, 2024December 4, 2024 The post Our ultimate guide to Highmark First Night Pittsburgh appeared first on NEXTpittsburgh.