Kennywood Holiday Lights runs November 13, 2026 through January 3, 2027. The old park in West Mifflin puts on millions of lights, keeps a good share of the rides running in the cold, and somehow smells exactly the way it did when you were eight. It is the single biggest holiday-light event in the region and the one most worth building a trip around.
Doing it right
Buy tickets online. The gate price runs roughly double the advance price, which is a painful thing to learn in the parking lot. Weeknights and early December are noticeably calmer than the two weekends before Christmas. Dress for standing still outdoors — the hills catch wind, and the walk between sections is longer than people expect.
Bring the group. This is a night that works for grandparents and toddlers in the same party, which is rare.
Make a weekend of it
Kennywood is about twenty minutes from Downtown, so a holiday weekend can stack easily: lights one night, the rink and Holiday Market downtown the next day, and Phipps for the warm hour in between.
Part of our Christmas in Pittsburgh guide.
Where to stay. Rivers & Steel City Homes offers full homes across the Pittsburgh metropolitan area — parking, a kitchen, and room for everyone who travelled in. 2,700+ guests since 2018; book direct and save 5–15% over Airbnb and VRBO. Lock in your dates at riversandsteel.com/search.
More to plan your trip: Things to Do in Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh Food Guide. Ready to visit? Find your stay »
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