Downtown Pittsburgh tree-lighting goes virtual

A virtual tree-lighting ceremony will take the place of Pittsburgh’s Light Up Night on Friday, as officials hope to bring cheer to holiday season that will look much different than ever before.

“Until we can gather again, we’re all adapting to this new medium,” Mayor Bill Peduto said.

The city’s annual Light Up Night celebration was canceled amid the ongoing covid-19 pandemic in which mass gatherings have proven to be a haven for the virus, as seen by super-spreader events across the country. The event is the largest one-day happening in Pittsburgh, which typically draws many thousands of people to Downtown.

Friday’s virtual tree-lighting will be streamed live on social media and the City-Channel’s YouTube page at 7:30 p.m.

The 33-foot spruce tree was delivered to the City-County Building portico Saturday, where it will remain until early January. It was donated by Nona Lee from her Hill District yard.

It is the 105th year for the tradition, and the first live tree was lit in 1915 outside of an unfinished City-County Building.

In addition to the tree-lighting, the virtual event will showcase five members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s brass section performing holiday tunes, and the ceremony will also include Duquesne University’s Vocal Jazz Ensemble.

The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership announced in October the regular holiday season kickoff event would be canceled. It would have been the event’s 60^th year.

“The holiday plans this year will be quite different,” the partnership said in a news release. “We have some reconfigured traditional attractions returning, and a great new attraction that will offer a safe and well-considered option for families to still get the holiday spirit Downtown.”