Guide to the German Christmas Market in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
A holiday season is not complete without visiting a German Christmas Market in Pittsburgh. After all, The People Gas Holiday Market™ (that’s the name of this Christmas Market in Pittsburgh) has been named the #1 Best Holiday Market in the country by USA Today in 2020.
The People Gas Holiday Market™ inspired by the original German Christkindlmarkts. Vendors occupied the Alpine-stye wooden chalets situated in the Market Square in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. They offer arts and crafts, Christmas ornaments, candles, chocolates, cookies, and of course, strudels!
In the middle of the area there’s BJ’s Sounds of the Season Stage. This is where you can watch live performances during the week over lunch time, weekday happy hours, and throughout the day on weekends. Our son who plays tenor saxophone at the school band enjoyed a solo saxophone player performance during our visit to Pittsburgh Christmas Market.
At this Christmas Market in Pittsburgh, little ones can meet Santa. But, expect a long line to Santa’s House. However, this year’s Santa experience will be different. For the safety of everyone, your kids will zoom in with Santa. They will have an opportunity to have a real-time conversation with Santa live from the North Pole! Just like last year, families have the option to visit with either a Black or white Santa.
Below is the guide for you to fully enjoy the German Christmas Market in Pittsburgh experience. A free event for everyone in the family.
Christmas Market in Pittsburgh Hours
– Friday, November 19 through Thursday, December 23rd, 2021
– Monday – Thursday: 11am – 8pm
– Friday & Saturday: 11am – 9.30pm
– Sunday: 11am – 6pm
– Closed on Thanksgiving Day
Pittsburgh Christmas Market Location
The People Gas Holiday Market™ takes place at Market Square in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. It’s at the intersection of Market Street and Forbes Avenue.
Market Square was originally constructed in 1764, home of the first courthouse, jail, and newspaper. Today it is surrounded by restaurants and shops, and the grounds for many community-building events and festivals.
What to buy at Pittsburgh Christmas Market
Either to add ornaments for your Christmas decorations, finding gifts for families and colleagues, or looking for non-seasonal items, you will find them all at the Christmas Market. There are arts and crafts locally made in Pittsburgh, there are handmade stuffs from Germany, Poland, Russia, Lithuania, and even Bali.
Here are some of the season-long vendors that you will find at the market:
– 837 North (locally made soy candles and perfumes)
– Old German Christmas (German family-owned company making handblown and hand-painted glass Christmas ornaments.)
– Wagman Design (Jewelry made from shell, wood, glass, metal, and repurposed beads.)
– European Folk Art (Handmade folk art from Poland and surrounding countries.)
– love, Pittsburgh (Gifts from over 100 Pittsburgh-based artists and makers.)
– Pittsburgh Irish Festival Celtic Gift Shoppe (Celtic gift items, decor, ornaments, and more. Also Irish-made sweaters and other clothing.)
– Bali Made (Ethically made crafts from Bali.)
Besides the season-long vendors, there are visiting vendors that will be at the market for a short time. Here they are but dates are subject to change:
– Atelier Glass Studio | Nov. 19-24 (specializes in fused glass and mosaics for home and garden.)
– Focha | Nov. 19 – Dec. 2 (authentic products from Turkey.)
– Sweaters for Turtles | Nov. 26 – Dec. 2 (quirky items made in Pittsburgh.)
– Stories Like Me | Dec. 3-9 (children’s bookstores that build peace and empathy through books.)
– Songbird Artistry | Dec. 3-16 (unique jewelry, printed apparel, glass mosaics, vintage goods, and more by Pittsburgh artists.)
– Light Shine | Dec. 10-16 (hand painted clay jewelry and home decor.)
– Hippies Urban Art | Dec. 17-23 (handmade jewelry using macrame thread, wire, beads, and seeds.)
– JP Diroll Photography | Dec. 17-23 (photographic prints and gifts of the Pittsburgh Skyline.)
What to eat at The People Gas Holiday Market
When visiting the Christmas Market, you can’t leave without trying the food offered by vendors. Here are food vendors that you can’t miss:
– Helmut’s Strudel (Authentic Austrian strudel, baked on site: apple, apricot, and cherry strudels. We tried the apple strudel and it was really good! They also have bratwurst, pretzels, hot chocolate, and hot apple cider.)
– CinnaRoast (Nut and confection shop offering roasted chestnuts, cinnamon roasted almonds, pecans, cashews, and peanuts in a variety of sizes. The smell is irresistible.)
– Copper Coast Confections (Holiday season is not complete without Pittsburgh’s premier hand-crafted chocolate on the table.)
– R Wine Cellar (Grab a bottle of wine for the office Christmas Party or get together at a friend’s house. Locally made in the Strip District using grapes from South America, California, and Pennsylvania.)
Where to Park Near Market Square
Now, this is really tricky. There are several on street parking spaces along the square, but they get full fast. Parking garages are available nearby, and they are not cheap. During the day expect to pay $7 for the first half-hour to one hour and up to $20-22 for four to twelve hours. Market Square and Town Place garages are a couple of the closest ones. We parked in 225 Fifth Avenue garage and it was really small and narrow. It reminded me of the parking garage of one hotel by the RiverWalk in San Antonio, Texas. Check ParkPGH.org for real-time parking garage availability.
Other Things to Do or See Near the Market Square
– The Pittsburgh Creche: Venture from Market Square to the U.S. Steel Tower and visit The Pittsburgh Creche, the world’s only approved replica of the Vatican’s Nativity Scene.
– The UPMC Rink at PPG Place: Old and young, everyone has a great time skating here during the holiday. Just a block away from the Market Square. If you don’t skate, the PPG Place offers a free horse-drawn carriage ride around downtown. I also like the International Santas display.
– Gingerbread houses at the City-County Building.
– World’s Largest Pickle Ornament: Don’t miss the three-story high Heinz pickle balloon at the EQT Plaza.
Notes before visiting:
– Check the weather before you go.
– Dress appropriately.
– Christmas Market is a dog friendly event. Keep your dog on the leash at all times.
– Bring cash. Most vendors don’t accept credit cards or debit cards.
– Don’t go if you are not feeling well.
Christmas markets are so exciting like the Diwali markets here. I would love to choose something from Ethically made crafts from Bali and also try the food offered by vendors.
Diwali sounds intriguing. I hope to be able to visit one of the celebration in the US with my friend.
I LOVE exploring markets, It is one of my favourite things to do while exploring a new place. One learns a lot about the place through its markets.
I love Christmas markets and I had no idea that you had German Christmas markets in Pittsburg! I’m a child at heart when it comes to visiting Santa Claus house and doing all things Christmasy. The experience looks awesome, I’d totally go for it !
It’s their 10th year and is always fun to visit.
I always wanted to go to Germany for the holiday markets. I now know I could visit a German holiday market in Pittsburgh and save myself some travel. I am sure I would find gifts for many people on our list. But I might visit just for the great food.
You will like it here, Linda. There’s a wine vendor, too. 🙂
Aww I love visiting Christmas markets. Unfortunately, I have not been to too many of them. The German Christmas market at Pittsburgh looks so beautiful and vibrant. I would also love to go see Santa like the kids. Also, when I visit I want to shop and buy those beautiful things.
Wow! This is really awesome. For someone who enjoys the Christmas season a lot, this is just a delight. We would love to visit the Pittsburgh Christmas Market. Thank you foro sharing the list of season long vendors. That is really helpful.
Initially I was super thrilled because I thought you’re talking about the Christmas Markets in Germany where I could go this year! Well, I might head to USA by next Christmas or later! Interesting about the zoom call with Santa concept this year. Well adjusted and keeping up with the needs of the times. Handmade, hand blown Christmas glass ornaments? Wow. I’d love to buy some of those. Do you get the German Mulled Wine in these Christmas markets as well?
I just back from the market and I didn’t see any German mulled wine.
I am envious! A German Christmas Market in Pittsburgh! I would love that authentic German apple strudel!
I love a good market. This one sounds like quite the Christmas outing.
Are the markets lit with lights at night? Christmas lights are my favourite part of Christmas. Also is there public transport?
There are lights in the evening, but we always visited during the day. The only public transport are buses. Or, Uber.
How interesting to hear they have a German Christmas Market in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! There must be quite a big German community there. We’ve only been in Pittsburg once, but if I’d like to return sometimes around Christmas time and visit this market. It reminds me a lot about the beautiful European Christmas markets that I used to visit when I lived in Europe. The Pittsburg Creche must be quite unique if it’s the world’s only approved replica of the Vatican’s Nativity Scene!
Yes! There are lots of German descendant here. One of them is my husband’s family. 😉
Every year my family has a tradition that everyone gets to pick out one new ornament to put on the tree so this is definitely what I would be buying at the market. I absolutely love Christmas so this market is right up my alley! Between all of those nutcrackers or the worlds largest pickle ornament, I am not sure where I would find myself going first!
Actually, whenever you come first from the parking you will start it first from that corner. Then walk clockwise so you won’t miss a thing.
I love the Christmas Markets in Germany and would go every year if the flight wasn’t so long. This sounds like a great alternative; it would be worth it just for the bratwurst and strudel! Thank you for including the list of vendors.
Definitely worth a visit to Pittsburgh. Not a long flight and cheaper for sure. 😉
I didn’t know there was a German Christmas market in Pittsburgh, but it looks like they do it very well. It definitely seems to have that festive wintery market feel. I see they even have a few traditional German foods to try.
I wish to see snow on the ground when I go to the market to complete the festive feel.
I love these markets. The German embassy in India used to have these Christmas markets before COVID-19. And of course, the stuff was towards the Indian consumer, but there’s always pretty things. I like the Chritsmas cakes too.
I hope next year they can be back.
I love Christmas markets. Wrapping up warm drinking mulled wine and eating strudel really gets you in the mood. You’re so lucky you can go this year – a lot of the Christmas markets in Europe have been cancelled this year. Enjoy and have fun!
Thank you!
Interesting: A German Christmas Market in Pittsburgh! Do you know where the name comes from? People Gas Holiday Market? Funny to see all this traditional christmas decoration from Germany in the US. Apfelstrudel is always a good idea!
The name came from the company who is the main sponsor.
I have always wanted to go to Europe to see the Christmas markets. It won’t happen soon, but I don’t live too far from Pennsylvania. I would love to head down there.
Yes! You must come here. We tried to come here whenever we are in Pittsburgh during Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays.