In Honor of Its 60th Anniversary Celebration The Story of Light Up Night® When the very first Light Up Night was held in Downtown Pittsburgh on November 21, 1960, it was promoted as a “spectacular preview of Christmas.” Local newspapers reported that Downtown would be lit as “brightly as any Christmas tree.”

An advertisement for the famed Gimbels department store proclaimed: “You and your family will be dazzled by the spectacular Golden Triangle Light Up Night. Be here when the giant searchlight gives the magic signal for all the buildings to throw on their Christmas lights.” And so, it began. The tradition of Light Up Night in Pittsburgh—which has served as the official kickoff to the holiday season for six decades and counting.

IN THE BEGINNING

Kaufmann’s Christmas window featuring Santa’s Workshop, 1960s

Cosponsored by the Building Owners and Management Association together with the Golden Triangle Association—a predecessor organization to the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership—the 1960 event marked the first time in the city’s history when all major Downtown stores simultaneously unveiled their festively decorated store windows, and all exterior decorations were lit up.

Though this was not the first time that Downtown lit up like a candle. On April 9, 1959, every light in the Golden Triangle was turned on to celebrate the first Pittsburgh Pirates home game.

Pittsburghers loved these celebrations, and the Downtown Light Up Night event grew from here. National celebrities would come to Pittsburgh to flick the oversized switch purportedly to illuminate Downtown buildings simultaneously. In actuality, building workers physically threw switches in the electrical control rooms of many buildings.

In 1962, famed bandleader Guy Lombardo came to Pittsburgh and was photographed holding an oversized 12,000-kilowatt bulb in preparation for an “extravaganza of illumination.”

By 1965, several Downtown buildings were spelling out seasonal messages with special window lighting. Some 50 million kilowatts of electricity is said to have poured into the city for the sixth annual Light Up Night. That same year, the newly formed Port Authority offered bus tours to view the City from its highest points, including Troy Hill, Lower Hill, and Mt. Washington—well known for their Downtown vistas. Photo contests to capture the illuminated Downtown were all part and parcel of the event.

LIGHTS OUT — AND BACK ON

In 1970, Three Rivers Stadium was lit up for the first time. Pittsburgh’s Light Up Night was reported to be the first of its kind in the country, and was seeing its bright idea replicated in places near and far.

Then, in 1973, the energy crisis struck. Conservation measures meant no Light Up Night would take place in Pittsburgh for nine years.

The Pittsburgh tradition was rekindled in 1982 when Mayor Richard Caliguiri said during the press announcement, “We have a new skyline that deserves to be highlighted with Light Up Night. After a season of heavy construction, the Golden Triangle has earned its special night.” This same year, WPXI-TV extended its 5:30 p.m. newscast over the normal 6 p.m. break, long enough to broadcast the lighting of the traditional Horne’s Christmas tree via some “spectacular helicopter coverage.”

Light Up Night continued in 1983 amidst the steel industry collapse. Jacques “Jack” Kahn, founder of the Golden Triangle Association and considered to be Downtown’s biggest cheerleader at the time, said, “I think the city could use an emotional lift.”

MOVE OVER MONDAY, FRIDAY’S HERE

Ballet dancers pose at the 2003 Light Up Night press conference

Historically held on the second Monday in November, Light Up Night moved to the Friday before Thanksgiving in 1990. Mondays were originally selected because most Downtown stores stayed open later on Mondays. In making the switch to Friday, promoters hoped that more children and adults would now be able to attend because they wouldn’t have to get up for school or work the next morning. “I don’t know why we didn’t do this sooner,” said Mr. Kahn in making the announcement.

Friday Light Up Nights proved to be a huge hit. Throughout the years, attendance grew. And grew. An estimated 25,000 people made their way Downtown for Light Up Night by 1997. That doubled in 1998, and in 2000, an estimated 100,000 people were attending. There were about 300,000 in 2009. And, in 2016—billed as “The Biggest Party of the Year”—an estimated 500,000 people turned out in unusually warm weather for the Nov. 18 Light Up Night. Daytime temperatures hit 72 degrees that day.

To celebrate Light Up Night’s 50th Anniversary in 2010, the event was spread over two days. What a celebration it was: A wedding officiated by Santa and Mrs. Claus took place in Market Square – cake included. Joe Negri performed. The Carnegie Science Center sponsored a special sleepover. The Gateway Clipper Fleet offered boat rides. A candle-lit horse-drawn carriage parade featured 40 horse-drawn carriages and 250 horses.

In 2020, a pandemic kept Light Up Night under wraps. But, as a testament to this city’s resilience, strength, and fortitude, the tradition of Light Up Night returned 2021 on a new day—and bigger, better, and brighter than ever. Following last year’s success, Light Up Night 2022 will once again return on a Saturday, delivering an experience where so many new memories will be made.