First Night Pittsburgh 2014

The region's largest New Year's Eve celebration, First Night Pittsburgh is a community and family-oriented, alcohol-free celebration of the New Year through the arts. Beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, December 31, 2013 and ending with the Grand Finale and Zambelli Fireworks at midnight, New Year's Eve in downtown Pittsburgh is filled with dance, music, song, mime, magic, story telling, theater and fun.

Nearly 150 arts-focused and family-friendly events will be held in nearly 50 indoor and outdoor venues throughout the Cultural District, including theaters, historic churches, indoor food courts, outdoor plazas, building lobbies, and everywhere in between. First Night Pittsburgh is a great way to join over 100,000 fellow Pittsburghers and safely ring in the New Year with the entire family!
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2013/2014, First Night Pittsburgh is one of many such First Night events around the country sanctioned by First Night International. Founded in Boston in 1976 by civic-minded artists as a meaningful alternative to traditional New Year's revelry, First Night is now celebrated in more than 200 cities in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

First Night Pittsburgh Highlights

Enjoy outdoor and indoor performances, be amazed at magic tricks, laugh to comedians, or dance the night away to music by local blues and jazz bands. There's also swing dancing, juggling, arts and crafts, ice carving, a magic show, the First Night parade and musical performances by a number of local bands, including Rusted Root.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Parrot, Pittsburgh Steelers mascot Steely McBeam and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's Fiddlesticks will also be on hand.
First Night Pittsburgh Highlights & Featured Attractions
Schedule at a Glance Map
Check out the full schedule of events and plan your schedule in advance at TrustArts.org/FirstNightPGH, which is also mobile-friendly so that smartphone users can plan on-the-go during New Year's Eve.

Get Your First Night Pittsburgh Button

"First Night Pittsburgh" is a free event, but all-access buttons are needed to enjoy all indoor venues. They may be purchased in advance for $8.00online, at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue) and participating Giant Eagle locations. First Night buttons will also be available for $10.00 on the night of the event at the following locations:

• Box Office at Theater Square
• Visit Pittsburgh at Fifth Avenue Place
• August Wilson Center
• Information Tent at Katz Plaza
• Highmark Direct Truck at Penn Ave & 9th St.

Children 5 and under are admitted free.

What to Expect

A First Night button admits you to all official events on a first-come, first-served basis. You are encouraged to arrive early. First Night volunteers will be on hand to let you know when a particular performance has reached its full capacity, and to point you to other nearby alternatives. A limited number of pre-admission vouchers that reserve seats in advance can be obtained by calling the Box Office at Theater Square at 412-456-6666.

Getting Downtown on New Year's Eve

Limited parking will be available at the Theater Square Garage, as well as several Pittsburgh Parking Authority lots. The Pittsburgh Parking Authority's real-time parking website, ParkPGH, lets you see exactly how many spaces are available in garages throughout the Cultural District and beyond – check it before you leave the house or have a passenger monitor it on the go from any smartphone. There’s also an iOS app, SMS/text option, and even a standard voice/phone call option! There will be plenty of buses running as well -- check the Port Authority website for route and schedules.
Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2014 is produced by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust with generous support from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, the event's longtime supporter and returning presenting sponsor, along with Equitable Gas Company, Dollar Bank, First National Bank, Giant Eagle, PNC, and Bobby Rahal Motor Company. New this year, FedEx Ground will serve as the sponsor for the annual parade with special puppets designed by Studio Capezzuti. Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2014 community supporters include The Buhl Foundation, The Fine Foundation, and The Grable Foundation.