A long time family tradition for both of us growing up, my husband and I took our 5 month old daughter to Kraynak's this year to start our own traiditions!
Located in Hermitage, PA, Kraynak's offers an experience like none other. Their famous Christmasland is full of dozens of trees decorated beautifully, with winter and Christmas scenes, hundreds, if not thousands, of lights and moving characters. There is a large greenhouse with rows of pointsettas and other beautiful flowers and the main store has aisles and aisles of toys, both modern and classic.
And of course, the kids can sit on Santa's lap and whisper their last-minutes wishes in his ear!
After Christmas with the family, head to Olive or Twist on 12/26 from 10:00pm-2:00a. $7 cover before 10pm.
Bid farewell to 2009 and welcome 2010 in style! Sip martinis and champagne and enjoy hors d'ouveres. Dance the night away to Hip Hop, Reggae, Top 40 and Mashups of the year's greatest hits with a live DJ.
Dress is Holiday Chic and Doors Open at 9pm.
Living Treasures Animal Park is the ultimate place to let your family's animal instincts run wild! The large petting zoo is the thrill of the day for young visitors, while the exotic animals fascinate young and old alike. Bring your camera for those once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities with your favorite animals.
You could spend an entire day learning about the park's 100 species, inlcuding an exotic white tiger. They even allow you to pet and feed some of the animals, which makes for a unique, interactive experience. \
Get up close and make friends with baby Lambs, baby Camels, Sheep, Goats, Pot Belly Pigs, Belted Galloway, Llamas, Yaks and of course Muffin, our miniature Cow with buck teeth! The Park is located in Donegal, about an hour from Pittsburgh.
You can also make arrangements to bring living treasures to you! Treasures Moraine offers a wide variety of traveling exhibits for events ranging from birthday parties to corporate events, parades, photo shoots, festivals, and school programs. Trained staff are supplied for every event. Some shows we commonly done are: Petting Zoos, Pony Rides, Camel Rides, Christmas Parades and Nativities with: Reindeer, Camels, and other desired animals. Photo shoots with reptiles or other animals are available or you can arrange to have staff bring a variety of animals for an educational talk.
Join the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra from 12/17-12/20 as they celebrate Highmark Holiday Pops with Marvin Hamlisch. Marvin takes the stage as some of your favorite holiday music and carols fill the beautiful Heinz Hall. Tickets start at $17.50 so bring the whole family and get into the holiday spirit!
The spirit of the Christmas season is apparent all around Pittsburgh, but the most impressive, and the most beautiful in my opinion, is the Pittsburgh Creche located at the USX Tower on Grant Street. It is so life-like that it is a moving experience just standing in front of it.
Sponsored by the Christian Leaders Fellowship, the Creche is the world’s only authorized replica of the crèche erected in front of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. First erected in 1999 through the work of the Christian Leaders Fellowship, the Pittsburgh Crèche appears again through generous gifts from Pittsburgh labor unions, businesses, religious communities and other community members. It can be viewed 24 hours a day through January 7, 2008. Throughout the Christmas season, various choirs from around Pittsburgh will perform on site.
The Pittsburgh Crèche features larger-than-life-size renderings of the Holy Family, the magi, an angel, shepherds, animals and a stable, along with a professional sound and lighting system. Pietro Simonelli, sculptor of the original Vatican crèche, created the figurines, which have lifelike hands, feet and faces made from clay and weather-proofed papier-mâché placed on a wooden frame. The stable design is also taken directly from Vatican blueprints.
Stop by and be inspired.
Support Old Economy Village on Saturday, December 12 at 6:00pm for a fundraiser dinner. Enjoy a very special evening combining the rich culture of the Harmony Society with a unique dining opportunity. The dinner takes place in the historic Feast Hall, where you will dine by lantern light. Along with a delicious meal, special musical interludes will punctuate the evening as well as an auction of unique gifts for the holidays. Proceeds of this event go to the Friends of Old Economy Village, who support educational programs and special projects to over 20,000 visitors to the Site every year. Reservations and $75.00 prepayment required.
Beginning December 11th-27th, visit the Benedum Center to see the ever-classic production by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater "The Nutcracker."
The holidays wouldn’t be complete without the magic of Pittsburgh’s favorite family holiday tradition, The Nutcracker! The adventures of Marie and her Nutcracker Prince bring the awe and wonder of the season to children of all ages. Set in turn-of-the-century Pittsburgh, Terrence S. Orr’s grand-scale production features scenes of old-time Pittsburgh, including Kaufmann’s clock, a Heinz delivery truck and a beautiful view of Mt. Washington during the famous first act snow scene. Dazzling costumes and exquisite sets, including a colorful carousel and a larger-than-life Christmas tree, make The Nutcracker a must-see for the entire family.
Tickets start at $20
The Pittsburgh Camerata will perform "Journey to the Manger," a tapestry of Christams music woven into a song. Shows are this weekend:
Friday, December 11th, 8:00pm
Sixth Presbyterian Church, Squirrel Hill
Saturday, December 12th, 8:00pm
Mt. Lebanon United Lutheran Church
$20 Admission (Children FREE)
$10 Students
The concert will detail the Christmas story- mixing choral and instrumental music in a sometimes poignant, pastoral and luminous way.
Come hear the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh perform Handel's Messiah this Friday and Saturday December 11 and 12 at 8:00pm. This Christmas classic is synonymous with the holiday season and is a show not to miss. Tickets start at $20.
This Sunday, have breakfast with Santa at the National Aviary at 8:30am! Have fun with your favorite feathery friends, crafts, bird encounters and a visit by Santa Claus himself! Santa’s penguin helpers will be on hand to pose for photos and help hand out a special take-away treat. Admission is $15 per person.
Bring the whole family on Saturdays thru December 19th for Breakfast Express at the Carnegie Science Center! Enjoy a hot breakfast from 9am-1pm, crafts, trains, stories and The Polar Express playing in the IMAX theater. Not to mention, a special trip to the Miniature Railroad and Village. Cost is included in general admission.
Indiana County 55 miles east of Pittsburgh calls itself the Christmas Tree Capitol of the World. Why because it produces over 500,000 Christmas trees each year. Several of the farms are cut-your-own, so this is perfect place to take the family and find the special tree you've always wanted.
Before trekking off to find that tree visit the Jimmy Stewart Museum where for the month of December to January 3, 2010 they will host matinees of "It's a Wonderful Life" every Saturday and Sunday.
Come on now you can't get a better family outing than this!
Join the National Aviary on Saturdays and Sundays through December 20 for Duck the Halls! Bird Show @ National Aviary. Join some of the Aviary's most popular birds in a presentation of carols including: "Duck the Halls,” “I’m Dreaming of a White Chicken,” and “Ruby the Red-feathered Macaw.” Show starts at 1:30 and is included in general admission cost.
Admission is $10 adults; $9 seniors; $8.50 children 2 and up; under 2 admitted free.
Looking for another way to get into the holiday spirit? Try the Christmas Ghost Tea this Saturday, Dec 12 at the Gypsy Cafe! Brought to you by Haunted Pittsburgh, this unique tea costs $22 and will have you shaking in your Uggs as you enjoy a traditional English Tea while listening to ghostly Christmas tales.
Call 412.381.4977 for reservations!
Continue an old, or start a new family tradition at Kraynaks! Located in Hermitage, PA, Kraynaks has been the place to go for decades- especially around Christmas and Easter. Kraynaks has a huge selection of holiday toys- from board games to classic trains, dolls, decorations for your home and so much more! Not to mention a huge garden center filled with Pointsettias and other gorgeous greenery.
But bring the whole family because Santa's Christmasland is a FREE exhibit that will keep you coming back. Walk through the beautifully lit path and see dozens of trees decorated in themes, animated characters, and of course... Santa!
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas - in downtown Pittsburgh! I love just going outside and taking a walk around town during this time of year. There are lights glittering from atop buildings and colorful decorations everywhere. You can hear the rhythmic jingling of Salvation Army bellringers and stores have holiday music playing.
The Macy's windows tell their own story as you walk by. Each scene makes you want to wander to the next window to see how the story unfolds. Duck into Macy's for a yummy treat in the bakery, located on the Arcade level. Check out the sales going on. You're sure to find a great gift for the people on your list.
Garland is a familiar sight downtown. Storefronts wear necklaces of silver and gold and red and green. Windows are adorned with merry mannequins donning holiday outfits silently beckoning shoppers. Wander within and explore the treasures each store has to offer.
Coffee shops send out their own sweet invitation to passersby, with delicious aromas dancing in the air. Drop down onto a comfy bench with a gingerbread latte and watch the world go by. Sip a scrumptous peppermint mocha and rest your shopping weary feet.
There are lots of holiday events, including "Memories Made Here," presented by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, featuring free horse-drawn carriage rides and free Holly Trolley rides every Saturday through December 26.
Lace up your skates and glide onto the ice rink at PPG Place. Do twirly loops and figure eights like the Olympic wannabe skater that your are and see the beautiful lights reflected from the huge Christmas tree in the center of the rink.
Shop till you drop at Fifth Avenue Place and One Oxford Centre. Downtown is the place to be this holiday season. Don't forget to bring your Market Square Holiday Coupon to receive great deals on food and merchandise from your favorite merchants.
Happy Holidays!
Hurry and get your tickets- this is the last weekend for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring The Rockettes! The Rockettes have been in Pittsburgh performing since November 12 and will be kicking through December 6 at the Benedum Center.
There's no better way to get ready for the season as the cast and crew of over 100 brings you some of your favorite Christmas songs and performances! Don't miss this spectacular show!
Spend a Special Sunday afternoon with a Daughter or Granddaughter at Little Lake Theater in Canonsburg. "Madeline's Christmas" is presented on stage for the month of December: The musical follows Madeline and eleven other girls who live at Miss Clavel's Boarding School. You can make a perfect afternoon for the good little girls on your shopping list. Show times are 1:30 Saturdays and Sundays, with a just right admittance of $14 for adults and $12 for children under 15 years. Canonsburg is located in Washington County and within 25 minutes of Downtown Pittsburgh.
This is just good old frontier fun at the Oliver Miller Homestead in South Park. Sunday, December 6 step back in time to traditional Scottish dancing and enjoy blacksmithing demonstrations spinning, weaving and quilting. Just don't miss the next Sunday December 12, that's when the homestead celebrates an "18th Century Frontier Christmas" you'll be entertained with ancient and traditional carols sung by Dorothy McClelland. Both events take place at 1:30pm to 4:30pm.
Visit Beaver County for the last weekend of the Festival of Trees running 12/4-12/6. This year's theme is "Christmases of Years Gone By" and is the 20th anniversary of the celebration.
The Festival is held at the Lodge in Brady's Run Park- and the indoor winter wonderland not only includes beautifully decorated trees, but trains, a snack bar, children's corner, a gift shop, and of course, Santa!
The Festival of Trees is a family event held to benefit the children involved with Beaver County Children and Youth Services. Proceeds are used to purchase school shoes, winter coats, summer camp outings, eyeglasses, smoke detectors and scholarships to graduating seniors entering the field of Human Services or children involved with the agency continuing the education.
Looking for something to do this Friday? Try Unblurred: First Fridays on Penn! Various galleries in the Penn Ave Arts District (4800-5500 Penn Ave) to showcase a variety of artwork and performances. Events include:
GO EAST! at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater from 7-10pm
Tweek Clothing, 1-11pm (holiday shopping for clothing, skateboarding and bmx products)
Pittsburgh Glass Center, Holiday glass sale, 6-9pm
And so much more! Bundle up and tour the street for some great Holiday deals!