The 50th Annual Luminary Night on December 5 from 5-9pm in downtown Greensburg is bigger than ever with the addition of new activities and 600 luminaries.
New activities this year include a mini Holiday Night Market in Buncher Parking Lot on South Pennsylvania Avenue with 15 local makers, bakers and artisans selling their items from 5-9pm. Another new activity is the Pop-Up Bar and Ugly Sweater Contest (for adults) hosted by the Westmoreland Cultural Trust in Art in the Alley, they will also have a photo booth (sponsored by Moxie Events) a Letters to Santa Station, Ice Sculptures and Elegant Catering food truck will be set up selling bites to eat. Full list of activities.
“We took over this event last year and our goal is to add more activities every year,” said Jessica Hickey, director of the Downtown Greensburg Project who produces the event. “Last year the community wanted food trucks and more adult activities so we added the Holiday Night Market and the Trust added the Pop-Up Bar and Ugly Sweater Contest. We defiantly have more ideas and things to add for years to come as well.”
Stop by for a bite to eat or a drink at Oliver’s Pourhouse, it’s wing night and they have $2 Yeunglings! Or, snag a cocktail at Rialto for their Christmas Pop-Up and Winter Drink Menu or at Hugo’s for their Holiday Cocktail Menu. Looking for craft beer? Invisible Man Brewing will be releasing their new gingerbread beer and a food truck will be set up out front.
Take a walk down candy-cane lane, say hello to Santa, make a fun craft and enjoy a cookie at The Greensburg Hempfield Area Library’s annual Winter Wonderland held during Luminary Night in the library basement. Also at the Library, this is where you can take a free Horse and Carriage ride from 6-8pm sponsored by the City of Greensburg and Hartman Eye Group!
A favorite from last year is the live nativity scene in front of the Westmoreland County Courthouse put on by the Christian Leaders Mentoring. They will have several dance groups, singers and free raffles, along with free hot cocoa & cookies.
Create an ornament in the Downtown Greensburg Project office and then hang it on the Christmas Tree in the South Pennsylvania Avenue parklet, ornaments are first come first serve and limited to one per person. The parklet is also where children of all ages can drop off their letter to Santa! Ornament station sponsored by The Henry Group, Tuscano Agency, 60 Minute Missions Escape Room.
Luminaries will be lit along Main Street from The Westmoreland Museum of American Art to City Hall, along S. PA Avenue from the intersection of Otterman to the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library, and portions of 2nd Street, Otterman, Pittsburgh plus the Art in the Alley will be sparkling with luminaries. Luminaries are sponsored by Spreadshop and Somerset Trust.
“This year we really wanted to light up downtown and made adjustments to make sure the luminaries stayed lit throughout the evening,” said Jessica Hickey. “We’ve switched to reusable luminaries with battery powered lights, so everyone can enjoy the luminary lit streets and we can reuse them for years to come.”
It wouldn’t be Luminary Night without some music! In Art in the Ally there will be Christmas Caroling with the vocal studio of Chris Pickering, music from The Harrold Middle School Honors Chorus, Antolena Damico and Adam Fitz throughout the evening. Symphony Carolers will be at the library and strolling through downtown starting at 6pm while The Lazy Susan Band plays holiday favorites at the Holiday Night Market in Buncher Parking Lot. Plus, Stage Right Inspirations will be bringing all your holiday favorites from 7:15-7:30 and Stage Sensations from 7:30 – 8:00pm at the Zion Lutheran Church on S. PA Ave.
Information and maps can be picked up at the Art in the Alley, the Holiday Night Market and in the Make and Take Ornament Station (136 South Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 2.) all evening.