Highmark First Night Pittsburgh, a production of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, is an arts-focused and family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration in downtown Pittsburgh’s Cultural District.  It is the largest single-day celebration in the region offering around 150 events at nearly 50 indoor and outdoor locations within the 14-block Cultural District.

The celebration offers something for everyone.

• The Future of Pittsburgh Grand Finale (just before midnight)
  • Countdown to Midnight
  • Raising of The Future of Pittsburgh Ball
  • Spectacular Zambelli Fireworks Display
• Kick-Off Celebration (6pm)
  • Dollar Bank Children’s Fireworks
  • Performance on the Dollar Bank Stage
• Highmark First Night Pittsburgh Parade (8pm)
  • Featuring giant puppets, art cars, and more
  • Marches through the Cultural District
• Live Music (ongoing)
  • Headline concert event on the Highmark Stage
  • Local and regional musicians in theaters and on outdoor stages
• Theater & Dance (ongoing)
  • Indoor theater attractions
  • Celebrated local and national performers
• Comedy (ongoing)
  • Indoor comedy club
  • Family-friendly
• Visual Art (ongoing)
  • Annual New Year’s Resolution Sculpture
  • Gallery exhibitions and window displays throughout Cultural District
• Variety Acts (ongoing)
  • Fire and Ice Plaza
  • Magic – in theaters and on the street
• Children’s Activities (ongoing)
  • Family Tent outdoors
  • Decoration Stations indoors

Highmark First Night Pittsburgh is a licensee of First Night® USA, the national association of community-based new year’s eve arts festivals.  First Night® promotes, licenses, and supports the development of First Night® festivals in communities across the United States through First Night® USA. There are currently about 75 First Night® festivals presented by a broad range of nonprofit organizations and municipal agencies in cities and towns across the United States.  First Night® organizers share a commitment to promoting the performing and visual arts as catalysts for unifying their citizens on New Year’s Eve (and beyond) through creativity, imagination, and participation. 

The National Association of Community-Based New Year’s Arts Festivals