Light-up night scheduled in several South Hills communities
They will be rockin’ around the Christmas tree this week as several South Hills municipalities will host light-up night celebrations.
Bethel Park kicks off the festivities with its annual tree lighting celebration taking place Dec. 6 at the community center, located at 5151 Park Ave. Doors open at 6.
Children can write letters to Santa, make reindeer food and enjoy a hot chocolate bar and cookie station. Admission is free.
From 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. the high school jazz ensemble will play Christmas music and the Independence Middle School chorus will perform at 6:50 p.m.
Santa arrives at 7 and Mayor Jack Allen will count down with him the lighting of the tree at 7:10.
Admission is free.
Peters Township will usher in the holiday season on Dec. 8 at the community recreation center located at 700 Meredith Dr.
Free activities, including crafts, games and refreshments, will be offered from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Children can bring letters to be mailed to the North Pole or create them before presenting them to Santa, who will be making a special appearance.
A winter market and holiday celebration will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 9 in Uptown Mt. Lebanon on Washington Road.
The event will be held rain, snow or shine and offers shoppers an opportunity to start or finish their gift-giving purchases.
In addition to artists and merchants selling an assortment of handmade items from apparel to paintings, prints and crafts, there will be live music from local choirs and school groups as well as a visit from St. Nick. There will also be a cookie tour, an elf scavenger hunt, and an antique toy train display.
Bender’s Farm Market will offer activities for kids as well as talk about Fraser firs and evergreens. The organic gardener Doug Oster will hand out free perpetual spinach seeds and garlic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A Christmas tree will be lit at 5 p.m. in the Clearview Common pavilion.
The Beverly Road business district in Mt. Lebanon will hold Brite Nite from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 7.
In addition to extended shopping hours, there will be ice carvers, holiday cheer, a tree lighting and a visit from Santa Claus.
And a last-minute holiday market will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Mt. Lebanon recreation center. A dozen artists in a variety of mediums will offer jewelry, ceramics, fiber art, leather, mixed media and woodworking items as well as fine arts and crafts.