Naomi Girson | staff writer

For some, the holidays start the second Halloween ends, but in the city of Pittsburgh, the official ringing in of the season happens during the annual Light Up Night.

Pittsburgh’s 2024 Light Up Night will occur on Saturday, Nov. 23 from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The city will be abuzz with holiday spirit and festivities to match, lit up with an assortment of bright Christmas lights and the all-too-important tree, which stands proudly in the middle of the PPG Place Ice Rink, located in Downtown Pittsburgh.

The festivities of the evening include the aforementioned ice skating, live music drifting in from various stages across the city and the unveiling of the annual gingerbread house competition — featuring the homemade and edible crafted designs from local schools and organizations.

There will also be the ceremonial tree lighting at Fifth Avenue Place and a variety of food and shopping options for the duration of the festivities.

This year, there will be a brand new art installation in Mellon Square, courtesy of the Eden Hall Foundation and The Benter Foundation, to bring holiday cheer to another nook of the city.

Debbie Jacknin, co-owner of Songbird Artistry, loves events in Pittsburgh and said that Light Up Night is just another chance for everyone to come out to the city and enjoy the festivities.

“No matter who you are, you feel comfortable coming down, there’s a lot of people. The vibe is good. Everybody’s in a festive and fun mood. I think it just works,” Jacknin said.

As a full-time vendor for this year’s holiday season, Jacknin and her daughters, Jennifer Orefice and Jacklyn Juliard, will set up shop in the People’s Gas Holiday Market, selling everything from blown glass to crocheted beanies to olive oil.

The 63rd Light Up Night marks the reopening of the market, which features artisanal goods from local makers. Each vendor is set up in their own cabin, draped with Christmas lights and holiday garlands. The market can be found in Market Square until Christmas Eve.

Over the past eight years Songbird Artistry has established itself as part of the creative community in the city, friendly with other artists and small businesses in the area.

For many Pittsburghers, Light Up Night has become a traditional part of their family holiday festivities. Stores across town open their doors and welcome the patronage of an estimated 200,000 people who attend each year.

Andre Sanders, general manager of the PPG Ice Rink, said Light Up Night is always their busiest night of the year. They see a lot of returnees each year who enjoy the holiday spirit Pittsburgh brings.

“We have people from all over. A lot of people who come into town from Pittsburgh, who don’t live here anymore, [but] always want to come down and skate where they did when they were a kid,” Sanders said.

Michael Blackburn, owner of CinnaRoasts, a German-style nut company, sees the most sales during the last months of the year.

CinnaRoasts has been a full-time vendor at Light Up Night for over 20 years, roasting all their nuts fresh on site and creating a warm, welcoming aroma for all of Market Square, according to Blackburn.

“[Light Up Night is] the kick off to the holiday season, and everybody’s in a good holiday Christmas mood, and we’re there making the place smell wonderful. [It] just adds a nice atmosphere to the overall experience,” Blackburn said.

“We’re blessed enough to say that people come back and say that we’re part of [their] Christmas tradition again every year. That means a lot to myself,” he said.

For others involved in Light Up Night, they do not track the night in profits, but in smiles.

For the last 30 years, Richard Bubin of Ice Creations has been a part of Light Up Night with his one-of-a-kind Ice sculptures.

Each holiday season he does different sculptures, some pre-chiseled, others he does live in front of the Highmark building.

This year, his repertoire includes a 3,000 pound fireplace, a snowflake, a snowman, a detailed ski slope and an ice skating Snoopy from the popular “Peanuts” franchise. Bubin is hoping for some snow on Saturday, as the forecast is predicting, so all the ice doesn’t have to come from him.

Every year he looks forward to his high energy audience, which watches him carve ice blocks into familiar holiday icons.

“It’s a blessing to see the face of the kids when I hand them candy canes and I take group pictures. If I’m carving Rudolph, I’ll have everybody sing ‘Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.’ It’s the reaction and the unconditional love I get from the crowd — it’s like spreading holiday cheer,” Bubin said.