at Highmark First Night Pittsburgh
When the Future of Pittsburgh Ball rises atop Penn Avenue Place in downtown Pittsburgh’s Cultural District at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve—signaling, as it has for decades, that Pittsburgh is a city on the rise—it will cap-off the 30th annual arts-focused celebration of the New Year.
Fireworks will illuminate the skies and thousands of residents and visitors alike will revel in the streets during Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2024, an annual production of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. The six-hour, arts-focused, family-friendly celebration is free and open to everyone, promising a blend of new attractions with familiar traditions that have made the event Pittsburgh’s largest New Year’s Eve celebration for three decades.
“Artists lead the way at Highmark First Night Pittsburgh,” said Sarah Aziz, director of programming and manager of DEAI initiatives for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. “Their work helps us reflect on the past year and consider the possibilities awaiting us in the year ahead.”
The 30th annual celebration will showcase work by acclaimed performing and visual artists from around the region and beyond. Downtown Pittsburgh’s renowned 14-block Cultural District will set the stage for live music, dance, theater, visual arts, magic, kids’ activities, a signature community parade and more—sandwiched between fireworks displays at 6 pm and midnight, so that even the smallest attendees don’t miss them.
“On behalf of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, I extend my deepest thanks to Highmark for once again serving as title sponsor of this signature community event. Their generous support enables us to bring members of our community together to celebrate new experiences and familiar traditions,” added Aziz.
“Highmark First Night Pittsburgh is a community tradition that highlights the tremendous impact of arts and culture on quality of life in Pittsburgh. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is proud to continue supporting the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and we look forward to welcoming 2024 in the Cultural District,” said David Holmberg, Highmark Health president and CEO.
NEW ATTRACTIONS
There will be plenty of new sights and sounds to discover on New Year’s Eve, including featured music, public art and renovated host venues.
This year’s headlining performer on the Highmark Stage, at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street, is the New Orleans-based Pittsburgh native, Lyndsey Smith, performing from 10:45 p.m. to midnight. The Flow Band will bring their tropical soul vibes to warm up the Highmark Stage, 8:30-9:30 pm.
Another event entering the spotlight at Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2024 is an artwork by day and celebration by night—The Firetree Project presented by Dollar Bank. The Firetree Project is a 24-foot-tall steel sculpture that looks as if it was lifted from a fairytale. “Firetree infuses the excitement of fire into a playful, thought-provoking sculpture, that challenges our global community to achieve the extraordinary,” said artist Duncan MacDiarmid.
While visiting The Backyard at 8th and Penn sponsored by the Giant Eagle Foundation, guests can enjoy entertainment on the Backyard Stage throughout the evening featuring School of Rock, finalists from the annual SING-OFF Competition and a DJ.
This year’s festivities will showcase the Cultural District’s latest venue renovation at the Greer Cabaret Theater and Lounge. Transformed since it was last open to the public, it features striking new decor and inspired food and beverage programs. The Lounge at the Greer Cabaret will host an intimate performance from jazz standout Dwayne Dolphin. The connected Greer Cabaret Theater will have tarot card readers working with guests to explore what the future holds.
A long-time staple venue of Highmark First Night Pittsburgh is Fifth Avenue Place—home to Highmark Health. Closed last year for renovation, the ground floor of the iconic building reopens this New Year’s Eve, hosting a variety of family-friendly activities.
Guests can expect to find caricaturists, popular entertainers and engaging activities with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Arts Education department.
In addition to the indoor fun hosted at Fifth Avenue Place, the event’s title sponsor brings the family-friendly activities outdoors, too, with the Highmark Holiday Block Party & AHN Family Zone located at the intersection of Penn Avenue and 7th Street.
FAVORITE TRADITIONS
The annual arts-focused New Year’s Eve Parade presented by Giant Eagle is packed with performance groups and loaded with artistic surprises. Find a great view on either side of Penn Avenue running through the entire Cultural District before it starts at 8 p.m.
For the 14th straight year, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is hosting a SING-OFF Competition as part of Highmark First Night Pittsburgh. Throughout the fall, regional student singers in grades 6-12 were invited to submit video auditions. This year’s judge is local musician and 2023 Highmark First Night Pittsburgh headliner, INEZ, who will decide which of these students has the voice of the year. This year’s winner will perform live in the Cultural District, plus earn a $500 cash prize and $1,000 school music department donation.
Highmark First Night Pittsburgh guests have an opportunity to see Cultural District’s iconic theaters in a different light. Guided tours of the Benedum Center and Byham Theater are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more about the history and magic of these historic theaters with venue experts.
There’s something for everyone with even more performing and visual arts attractions dotting the Cultural District. The Trust Arts Education Center in the James E. Rohr Building will host a variety of performances, while street magic will keep mouths agape in disbelief outside of Liberty Magic.
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s visual arts offerings will be on display, too—both outdoor public art and indoor gallery exhibitions. Galleries will be open with extended hours. In addition to the long-term public art works well-known in the Cultural District, two temporary works will be on display. The National Museum, founded and organized by Jon Rubin, will appear at 604 Wood Street while work by photo collective Belgrade Raw will be on display in Tito Way.
FIRST NIGHT FRIENDS
While all events are free and open to everyone, special First Night Friends VIP Experiences are available to elevate the evening. First Night Friends can enjoy exclusive access to the First Night Friends Lounge sponsored by Citizens, located inside the O’Reilly Theater lobby. Friends can enjoy complimentary food, beverages, entertainment and the convenient indoor street-level destination.
First Night Friends play an important role in helping to keep Highmark First Night Pittsburgh free for the entire community. Support the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and the New Year’s Eve festivities in the Cultural District by becoming a First Night Friend.
Learn more and see the full schedule of events at TrustArts.org/FirstNightPGH.
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