PITTSBURGH, PA (November 12, 2021) The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Works advises that one lane of Grant Street will be closed between Fourth and Forbes Avenues, from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Saturday, November 13th and Sunday, November 14th, to allow the Forestry Division to transport and install the 106th City of Pittsburgh Christmas Tree at the City-County Building.
Drivers can expect temporary lane and road closures beginning at 8:00 A.M. on Ollie Street in the Lincoln Place neighborhood. There may also be delays along Mifflin Road, the Glenwood Bridge, Irvine Street, and Second Avenue as the tree is escorted Downtown.
About Pittsburgh’s 106th Christmas Tree
The 106th City of Pittsburgh Christmas Tree has been donated by the Fuga Family from the Lincoln Place neighborhood. While Lincoln Place has been home to the tree for decades, the tree is actually returning to Downtown Pittsburgh.
In the 1990's, the blue spruce was one of two small decorative trees that sat outside of the Pennsylvanian at Grant Street and Liberty Avenue. Mr. Chris Fuga, a former employee of the Pennsylvanian, took the two pine trees home following the holiday season. He planted both trees in his front yard, but only one survived and flourished. The Fuga family started a tradition to decorate the tree every holiday season, until it became too big to continue decorating. Now over twenty years later, the tree is returning to Downtown Pittsburgh.
“It was like our tree was practicing for all of its life for this moment,” said Mr. Fuga.
The tree will serve as Pittsburgh’s official Christmas tree through the New Year. The erection of a Christmas tree at the City-County Building remains one of Downtown’s oldest traditions. The first tree was erected on the construction site of the City-County Building in 1914.
“It’s bittersweet to see the tree Downtown. It represents so many great childhood memories for our family, but I’m glad it will bring joy to so many others this holiday season,” said Carly Fuga, Mr. Fuga’s youngest daughter.
Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Festivities at the City-County Building
The annual City of Pittsburgh Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and City-County Building light show will take place on a new date and at a new time this year during the return of the Downtown Pittsburgh Partnership's Highmark Light Up Night celebrations.
The ceremonies will take place on Grant Street in front of the City-County Building beginning at 4 P.M. on Saturday, November 20th, and feature River City Brass, Texture Contemporary Ballet, Pittsburgh CLO Holiday Melody, and Pitches and Tones. The 106th Christmas Tree will be lit at 5 PM and feature rooftop fireworks for the first time. The musically timed City-County Building Holiday Lightshow will also perform at 5:20, 6:45, and 8:00 PM. For more details visit: https://pittsburghpa.gov/events/index.html
The Gingerbread House Competition will return to the City-County Building on November 20. The 19th annual event will bring the 60 award-winning houses to be displayed behind glass on the Grant Street Portico of the City-County Building. The portico is open to the public around the clock and the winning creations will be available for viewing until early January. Learn more here.
For the full schedule of events for Highmark Light Up Night by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership visit: https://downtownpittsburghholidays.com/
The City of Pittsburgh will also be hosting the annual Menorah Lighting on Monday, November 29, 2021. Mayor William Peduto will be joined by community leaders to light the candles for the second night of Hannukah as the menorah serves as a beacon of light, symbolizing freedom and peace for all. The celebration will include live music and refreshments. Learn more here.
