What Will Catch Your Eye at This Year’s First Night Festivities?
The annual celebration features music, performances, family fun and more — including a 24-foot, flaming tree made of steel.
PHOTOS COURTESY PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST
There are plenty of holiday trees Downtown, including a particularly large one that made a welcome return this year. On First Night, however, a new holiday iconic will rise — and it’ll be unlike all the other decorated trees in the neighborhood.
The Firetree Project is among the highlights promised for this year’s Highmark First Night Pittsburgh. The annual celebration, a production of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust that this year celebrates its 30th anniversary, always offers music, entertainment and interactive fun as midnight approaches.
This year, however, the Firetree Project — a massive, 24-foot-tall steel sculpture wreathed in flame — will likely pull some eyes away from even the fireworks. Designed by artist Dunan MacDiarmid and presented by Dollar Bank, the tree was developed over a six-year period and contains interactive elements (far from the flames, of course).
On the Highmark Stage, Pittsburgh native and New Orleans soul standout Lyndsey Smith headlines an evening of music; her performance begins at 10:45 p.m. and continues until the “Countdown to Midnight and Future of Pittsburgh Grand Finale” counts down the seconds until midnight.
First Night features plenty of other music throughout the Cultural District — including an evening of jazz at the newly redesigned Greer Cabaret Theater and Lounge. Dwayne Dolphin will perform at the Greer, which will be open to all First Night guests (with or without food or drink purchase).
The evening begins with the New Year’s Eve Parade, an arts-focused stroll through the Golden Triangle featuring performance groups and larger-than-life surprises. The parade, which is presented by Giant Eagle, kicks off at 8 p.m. and will also feature giant puppets from Studio Capezzuti.
As always, the list of family activities, arts exhibits, performances and vendors is a long one. First Night visitors can plan out a point-to-point schedule of sites to see with help from the event’s official website — or simply head Downtown and see what wonders catch the eye.
All events are free and open to the public. The “First Night Friends VIP Experience,” which starts at $50 for adults, offers access to a lounge with complimentary food, beverages and entertainment, a parking pass and more.
