Downtown Pittsburgh Aglow for 55th Annual Light Up Night; Pittsburgh Improv Hosts Tammy Pescatelli (Fri., 11/20/15)

1) Tonight’s 55th Annual Light Up Night is the official kick off to Pittsburgh’s holiday season—even if some national retailers started the holiday season the day after Halloween. Highlights include several tree-lighting ceremonies, ice skating at PPG Plaza, Fireworks (Warhol Bridge, 9:38 p.m.), free horse-drawn carriage rides (Fourth Ave.), 6 – 9 p.m.), and several Santa appearances. There’s also top-notch local entertainment featuring Beauty Slap, Jeff Jimerson and Airborne, The Stickers,  Nomad, MCG Jazz All Stars with guest vocalists Tania Grubbs and Dane Vannatter,  Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers, and the Max Leake Trio.. The world-class Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will be giving a free concert as part of RAD Days 2015 (Heinz Hall, 7:05 p.m.). Merriment and goodwill will spontaneously occur all over the Golden Triangle. This is a holiday celebration not to miss. For a complete schedule, visit Downtown Pittsburgh for the Holidays. 5 – 10 p.m., Downtown.

2) Comedian Tammy Pescatelli  brings her special brand of hilarity to Pittsburgh Improv for a three-night stand. Her star rose quickly when she made it to the final five on the NBC TV show “Last Comic Standing 2.” Pescatelli has been a coveted guest on many other shows, including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” BRAVO TV’s “Rocco’s Dinner Party,” and CBS’s “The Talk.” Comedy Central’s 2010 “Stand-Up Showdown” crowned Pescatelli the competition’s winner, and she’s also had her own comedy special on that network. Pescatelli grew up in a large Italian family 133 miles northwest of Pittsburgh (Cleveland), and both provide her with great material. (We Pittsburghers also know how to laugh at ourselves.) She has a house in Meadville, Pa., and recently a reality TV show on We TV, “A Stand Up Mother,” which was set in Meadville and focused on her life as a mother and as a stand-up comedian. Her latest DVD Finding the Funny is from her one hour Netflix special.  Head on over to the Improv, have a few cold ones, and enjoy some great comedy. 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Nightly shows through Sunday. 166 E. Bridge St., The Waterfront, Homestead.

3) Dancing Queen will put people on the dance floor at Jergel’s Rhythm Grille. The disco/funk band takes the stage at 9 p.m. 103 Slade Ln., Warrendale.

Share on Social Media