Light Up Night schedule of events announced

Light Up Night -- downtown Pittsburgh's traditional kickoff of the holiday season -- marks its 54th year on Friday, Nov. 21, one week before Black Friday.

VIDEO: Watch Bob Mayo's report

There are expanded entertainment plans this year. Cobra Starship is among headliners performing at several stages in downtown Pittsburgh. Cobra Starship, which is known for several Top 10 hits, will perform on the BNY Mellon New Music Stage on the Clemente Bridge. Joe Grushecky and E Street Band member Eddie Manion will perform on the Northwest Savings bank stage at Smithfield Street. Jazz trumpeter Sean Jones, a native of Pittsburgh, will peform at the EQT Jazzmasters State at Katz Plaza, joined by Roger Humphries and three vocalists.

"Those are huge acts for us. The largest acts we've seen in Light Up Night, I think in our history," said Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.

MORE: Schedule of events and maps from the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership

There will be a Zambelli Internationale fireworks finale launched from the Andy Warhol Bridge to mark the occasion that night as well as a rooftop fireworks display following the lighting of the Highmark Unity Tree. Though the day, there will be more than eight official tree lightings at various downtown landmark locations.

Lght Up Night will kick off more 30 days of downtown holiday season activities. The event stirs memories that resonate for longtime Pittsburghers.

"It brings back memories of coming downtown with a grandparent or with a parent. It allows for that to be continued with a child or grandchild, and it becomes part of the Pittsburgh fabric," Mayor Bill Peduto said.

Light Up Night is "making downtown the place to be, not just for people who live in the city and not just live in the county, but everybody in western Pennsylvania who loves to come down and be part of the magic," Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said.

The People's Gas Holiday Market in Market Square will return. It will be open daily from Nov. 21 through Dec. 23, except for Thanksgiving Day.

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Light Up Night schedule of events announced