2016

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS & GIFTS

ACTIVITIES AND PARADES Dec. 1 – Holiday Season Greeting Celebration FREE, fireworks, arrival of Santa and Rudolph, live seasonal music, cookies & hot chocolate, 7pm, Hampton Community Center, Allison Park • hampton-pa.org Dec. 3, 10, 11 & 18 – Polar Pj Party Put your pj’s on & then climb on board to watch the Polar Express while enjoying the hot chocolate bar, Carnegie Science Center • (*PR) carnegiesciencecenter.org Dec. 1 – Light Up the Town Horse drawn carriage rides, cloggers, singers, hot chocolate & more, 6pm, Wampum • visitlawrencecounty.com Dec. 1-23 – Peoples Gas Holiday Market Gifts, live performances, Santa & much more, M-Th, 11am-8pm, F & S, 11am-9:30pm, Sun, 11am-6pm, Market Square, Pittsburgh • downtownpittsburgh.com/holidays Dec. 2 – Night of Lights Holiday crafts, train display, horse-drawn carriage rides & more, 6-8pm, 1st United Methodist Church, Murrysville • murrysvilleparecreation.com Dec. 2 – Christmas on the Square Courthouse Square light up, pet parade, ice sculpture & Santa’s arrival by firetruck, 6-8pm • visitmercercountypa.com Dec. 2 – Noel Night (Light up Night) Singing, storytelling, food & more, 5-9pm, Main Street, Volant • volantshops.com

Dec. 3, 10 & 17 – Fab Lab Family Workshop: Laser-cut Holiday Ornaments Design & create laser cut ornaments, 1:30 & 3pm, Carnegie Science Center • (*PR) carnegiesciencecenter.org Dec. 3 – Creation Stations: Snowman Squalls Bean bag toss, create snowmen snow globes & sock snowmen, 11am-2pm, Fifth Avenue Place, Downtown Pittsburgh • FifthAvenuePlacePA.com Dec. 3 – Girls and Dolls Holiday Tea Tea, snacks, holiday carols & a craft, 11am & 3pm, Succop Nature Park • (*PR) visitbutlercounty.com Dec. 3 – Santa in Wonderland Santa & his reindeer, crafts, cookie decorating, games & more, 11am-2pm, Hopewell Community Park • hopewelltwp.com Dec. 10 – Creation Stations: Bright Bulbs Balloon art, keepsake caricature, create personalized paper light bulb wreaths & an ornament, 11am-2pm, Fifth Avenue Place, Downtown Pittsburgh • FifthAvenuePlacePA.com Dec. 11 & 18 – Skate with Santa Dec. 11, 10am-noon, South Park Ice Rink & Dec. 18, 10am-noon, North Park Ice Rink • alleghenycounty.us/special-events Dec. 3 – Candyland Tour through a life-sized game of Candyland, meet the characters & hear the story as you become the player in the game & get treats along the way, 9am-2pm, Four Mile Church Beaver • fourmile.org Dec. 3 – Santa Express Indoor train rides, bounce house, crafts, facepainting, pictures with Santa & more, 10amnoon or 1-3pm, St. Paul’s Preschool, Allison Park • (*PR) santaexpress.weebly.com

PITTSBURGH PARENT • December 2016 PARENT • December 2016 12PITTSBURGH 12

Dec. 10 – Super Science Series: Holidays Around the World Noon-4pm, Carnegie Museum of Natural History • carnegiemnh.org/programs Dec. 11 – Sensory Friendly Experience Polar Pj Party Put your pj’s on & then climb on board to watch the Polar Express while enjoying the hot chocolate bar, Carnegie Science Center • (*PR) carnegiesciencecenter.org Dec. 16 – Polar Express Sleepover Themed activities, Omnimax movie, late night snack & continental breakfast, 6pm-9:30am, Carnegie Science Center • (*PR) carnegiesciencecenter.org Dec. 17 Creation Stations: Whispering Wishes Themed face painting, design winter wishing dolls/elves, wishing plants & listen to Mrs. Claus read stories, 11am-2pm, Fifth Avenue Place, Downtown Pittsburgh • FifthAvenuePlacePA.com Dec. 3 – Jingle Bell Run Be part of a race that is aimed at fighting arthritis, 7:30am, North Shore, Art Rooney Avenue • (*PR) jbr.org Dec. 3 – Get Fit Families Reindeer Race Walk, run or skip your way to the finish and visit with Santa Clause, 7am-1:30pm, Downtown Harmony • (*PR) visitbutlercounty.com Dec. 10 – A visit from Santa and a holiday play A special play & a visit from Santa, 10:15am,

Shaler North Hills Library, Glenshaw • snhlkids.blogspot.com

holiday happenings & gifts

Fun & Joy for Girls & Boys Awesome toys for all ages 724-285-7529

www.Playthings-Etc.com 2483 William Flynn Hwy. (Rte 8) Butler PA 16001

13

holiday happenings & gifts

December December2016 2016••PITTSBURGH PITTSBURGHPARENT PARENT

13 13

Dec. 16 – Pajama Party Ages 6-12, cookie decorating, board games, Wii, holiday movie & more, 7-8pm, Pine Community Center, Wexford • (*PR) twp.pine.pa.us/communitycenter

LET’S EAT WITH SANTA (*PR) BRING YOUR CAMERA Dec. 2 – Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Movie, snacks, hot chocolate & photo with Santa, 5:30-8pm, Grove City YMCA • 724-458-9781 Dec. 3 – Kids Christmas Town Breakfast and pictures with Santa, a Christmas Shop and a Christmas craft room, Chippewa United Methodist Church, Beaver Falls • chippewaumc.org Dec. 3 – Breakfast with Santa Breakfast, crafts, goodies & Santa, 9-11am, Slippery Rock Area Parks & Recreation • (*PR) slipperyrockpark-rec.org Dec. 3 – Breakfast with Santa Enjoy breakfast with Santa and his special friends, 8am-noon, Bradys Run Park Lodge • (*PR) beavercountyfestivaloftrees.org Dec. 3 – Breakfast with Santa Breakfast, crafts, goodies & Santa, 10:30am12:30pm, Butler Twp. Park Building, Butler • (*PR) co.butler.pa.us/Parks-and-Recreation Dec. 3 – Breakfast with Santa at Buhl Farm Park 9am-1pm, Hermitage • visitmercercountypa.com Dec. 3 & 10-11 – Breakfast with Santa Springhouse Market, Washington, PA • springhousemarket.com Dec. 3, 10 & 17 – Breakfast or Lunch with Santa Breakfast or lunch buffet with Santa, general zoo admission (including Penguins on Parade-weather permitting), cookie to decorate, Christmas craft & a photo with Santa, 9:30am-1:30pm, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium • pittsburghzoo.org Dec. 3-4, 10-11 & 17-18 Breakfast with Santa 9-11am, Hard Rock Cafe Pittsburgh • (*PR) hardrock.com/cafes/pittsburgh

Dec. 10 – Breakfast with Santa Breakfast, crafts, dancing, face painting & more, 9-10:30am, Pine Community Center, Wexford • (*PR) twp.pine.pa.us/communitycenter

Dec. 3-4 Ho Ho Ho with the WSO New Castle Playhouse, Augustine Auditorium, Washington Symphony Orchestra • washsym.org

Dec. 10 – Brunch with Santa Brunch, carols & a visit from Santa, Butler YMCA • (*PR) butler.bcfymca.org/upcoming-events

Dec. 3-4 – The Reindeer Games A children’s theatre holiday production performed for kids, by kids, South Park Theatre • sites.google.com/a/southparktheatre.com/

Dec. 10 & 17 – Cookies with Santa Cookies, holiday crafts & jolly old elf himself, Dec. 10, 10am-noon, Round Hill Park Visitors Center & Dec. 17, 10am-noon, Boyce Park Seasons Lodge • alleghenycounty.us/special-events

HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES Dec. 1-10 – Elf The Musical Jr. Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, Midland • lincolnparkarts.org Dec. 2 – Holiday Ice Show Holiday Ice Show, basic skills students and guest skaters, Santa too, 7:30pm, Beaver County Recreation Center (Ice Arena), Beaver Falls • bcfsc.org Dec. 2-27 – The Nutcracker Presented by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Benedum Center • pbt.culturaldistrict.org Dec. 2 – “A Christmas Carol” Presented by HobNob, Succop Theater, BCCC, Butler • hobnobtheatre.com/shows Dec. 2 – Holiday Pops Presented by the The Pittsburgh Philharmonic, bring a toy for Toys for Tots, plus a visit from Santa, Succop Theater, BCCC, Butler • bc3.edu Dec. 2-3 – The Lightning Thief EQT Bridge Theater Series, recommended for ages 7-Adult, August Wilson Center • trustarts.org Dec. 2, 3 & 4 – Sounds of the Season Presented by Pittsburgh Concert Chorale, check website for times & locations • pccsing.org Dec. 2-4 & 8-11 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever New Castle Playhouse, Augustine Auditorium • newcastleplayhouse.org

Dec. 5 & 12 – Kids’ Holiday Character Breakfast Breakfast & crafts, 9-10am, parade to follow at 10:30am, Sewickley • (*PR) exploresewickley.com/yuletide

PITTSBURGH PARENT PARENT •• December December 2016 2016 14 14 PITTSBURGH

Dec. 3-18 – Gift of the Ice Queen Gemini Theater, McKees Rocks • geminitheater.org

Dec. 3 – Christmas Brasstacular 7:30pm, Palace Theatre, Greensburg • thepalacetheatre.org Dec. 6 – Westminster College Celebrity Series: Sandi Patty - Christmas Blessings 7:30pm, Westminster College Orr Auditorium • westminster.edu Dec. 9-11 & 16-18 Twas the Night Before Christmas Presented by the Indiana Players, Philadelphia Street Playhouse, Indiana • indianaplayers.com Dec. 9-23 – A Musical Christmas Carol Pittsburgh CLO, Byham Theater • pittsburghclo.org Dec. 10 – Holiday Brown Bag Concerts FREE, open to everyone, bring a friend & bring a lunch, meet the Resident Artists afterward in an informal reception, Noon-1pm, Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters • pittsburghopera.org Dec. 10-11 – The Nutcracker Presented by the Pittsburgh Youth Ballet, Bethel Park High School Theater • pybco.com Dec. 10-11 – The Nutcracker Ballet 7:30pm, Palace Theatre, Greensburg • thepalacetheatre.org Dec. 13 – Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Cohen & Grigsby TRUST PRESENTS Series, 8pm, Benedum Center • trustarts.org Dec. 15 – Holiday Pops Presented by the Pittsburgh Symphony, 8pm, Scottish Rite Cathedral, New Castle pittsburghsymphony.org Dec. 27 – The Nutcracker Sensory-Friendly Presented by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Benedum Center • pbt.culturaldistrict.org Dec. 10 & 17 – Rudolph, Frosty, The Grinch & Friends A Heartwarming Tribute to the Classic Christmas Specials of the 1960s & 70s, Live On Stage! The Strand Theater, Zelienople • thestrandtheater.org

holiday happenings & gifts

holiday happenings & gifts

December December2016 2016••PITTSBURGH PITTSBURGHPARENT PARENT

15 15

HOLIDAY EXHIBITS, LIGHTS & TOURS Dec. 1-31 – Santa’s Christmasland Each tree has a specific theme that is complimented by surrounding scenery & life-like animated characters, Kraynak’s, Hermitage • kraynaks.com Dec. 1 - Jan. 7 – Wintergarden Opens Spirits of Giving Around the World & Gingerbread House & train exhibits, PPG Place, visit the website for hours • ppgplace.com Dec. 1 - Jan. 1 – Overly’s Country Christmas Gates open 5:30pm, Westmoreland County • overlys.com Dec. 1 - Jan. 2 – Christmas in the Park 5-11pm, Grove City Memorial Park, Grove City • mercercountypa.org Dec. 2-4 – Annual Beaver County Festival Of Trees Brady’s Run Park Lodge, Beaver • beavercountyfestivaloftrees.org

Dec. 2-23 – Kennywood Holiday Lights Fri, Sat & Sun nights, Pennsylvania’s tallest Christmas tree, holiday themed entertainment & more, Kennywood Park • kennywood.com Dec. 2-4 & 9-11 Festival of Trees Christmas Tour the Stewart House, Hermitage • hermitage.net/historicalsociety/events.html Dec. 3-6 – Festival of Lights 10am-6pm, Ligonier Town Hall Community Room • ligonier.com/events.php

MINIATURE RAILROAD Miniature R.R. & Village Daily, Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh • carnegiesciencecenter.org Dec. 2-Jan. 15 – Annual Holiday Train Display F, S & S, W PA Model Railroad Museum, Gibsonia • wpmrm.org

Dec. 4 & 11 – Villa Maria Nativity Display Entertainment & nativity sets from around the world, noon-5pm, dinners served until 4pm, Villa Maria • humilityofmary.org/media/news-events

Dec. 2-31– Model R.R. Christmas Open House F, 5-9pm, S & S, Noon-5pm, Beaver County Model R.R. & Historical Society, Monaca • bcmrr.railfan.net

Dec. 4-6 & 12-14 Candlelight Mansion Tours Every room in the Mansion is decorated in keeping with the season, visit website for times, Hartwood Acres • alleghenycounty.us/parks

Dec. 2-18 – Santa Trolley Toy train display, decorated street cars, caroling & more, F, S & S, Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, Washington, PA • pa-trolley.org

PITTSBURGH PARENT PARENT •• December December 2016 2016 16 16 PITTSBURGH

Dec. 3 - Jan. 8 Ohio Valley Lines Model R.R. S & S, Noon-5pm, Ambridge • ohiovalleylines.org

holiday happenings & gifts