Finish Your Holiday Shopping in Market Square

Head to the Peoples Natural Gas Holiday Market to find all remaining gifts on your list.

photo by John Altdorfer, courtesy of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership
 

PITTSBURGH’S FAVORITE HOLIDAY MARKETPLACE IS YOUR BIG-BOX ANTIDOTE
Even the most mall-averse, Black Friday-hating shoppers must shop this time of year. You might as well pick a destination that’s local, festive and — yes — fun. The annual Peoples Gas Holiday Market continues in Market Square through Monday, offering a blend of internationally inspired and locally made gifts from a range of purveyors. Got kids in tow? Santa’s house is open daily (hours vary), and you’ll get a free photo of your tykes with Saint Nick if you donate an item to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Shopping solo? Take a moment away from the whirlwind of commerce to admire the BNY Mellon Season of Lights display illuminating the square. Don’t forget the Ice Rink at PPG Place around the corner.

(Mon-Thu, 11 a.m.-8 p.m; Fri-Sat, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Sun, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Santa’s house: noon-3 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. weekdays, noon-3 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. Sat and noon-4 p.m. Sun; downtownpghholidays.com)
—Sean Collier, PM Associate Editor

IT’S THE MOST CINEMATIC TIME OF THE YEAR
The last week of the year is one of Hollywood’s biggest, as a final round of blockbusters competes with family fare and Oscar hopefuls to draw droves to cinemas around the holidays. In this week’s edition of After Dark, we’ll provide a cheat sheet for moviegoers. Sure, you know to take the kids to see “Frozen,” the teens to “The Hunger Games” and the cinephiles to “Inside Llewyn Davis.” But we’ve seen most of the holiday releases and are prepared to steer you away from the duds and toward the gems. Find your film in this week’s edition of After Dark!

SCROOGE’S PITTSBURGH HOME
Charles Dickens’ classic novella “A Christmas Carol” continues to delight. Catch one of this season’s final Pittsburgh CLO stage presentations of “A Musical Christmas Carol” at the Byham Theater. Sponsored by First Niagara and Macy’s, tickets are priced for gifts and family outings. Take a nonperishable food item to benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and spread a little holiday cheer yourself.

(101 Sixth St., downtown; $14-$60; 412/456-6666, pittsburghclo.org)
—Krystal Hare, PM Fact-Checker

• See Kennywood sparkle and hear the park come to life with music during its Holiday Lights festivities, set for 5-9 p.m. tomorrow through Sunday. —K.H.
   
• There are three remaining Highmark Holiday Pops shows — scheduled tomorrow and Saturday — featuring the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Mendelssohn Choir and an array of guest artists. —K.H.
   
• It’s the creepiest Christmas ever, as The Scarehouse reopens the doors to its R-rated, immersive attraction Dec. 28. Click here for tickets to Christmas in the Basement. — S.C.