It’s Christmas weekend in Pittsburgh, and while there might not be much going on Saturday or Sunday, Friday and Monday offer some great entertainment options.
Immaculate Reception 50th Anniversary Celebration
Though some Immaculate Reception events have been canceled, others are set to go on as scheduled, including a gathering planned for Friday afternoon at the Immaculate Reception monument on West General Robinson Street between Acrisure Stadium and where Three Rivers Stadium once stood. The event will kick off at 3:30 p.m. at the exact spot where Harris made the Immaculate Reception to beat the Oakland Raiders 13-7 in a 1972 AFC playoff game. It will include a replay of Jack Fleming’s famous live radio call of the play at 3:41, the precise moment of the Immaculate Reception on Dec. 23, 1972.
The Steelers will also go ahead with plans to retire Harris’ No. 32 jersey at halftime of their Saturday night game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
‘A Christmas Story’
The final performances of Jean Shepherd’s holiday classic take place Friday at 2 and 4 p.m. at the O’Reilly Theater Downtown. It’s the heartwarming and hilarious story of 9-year-old Ralphie Parker’s quest for the holy grail of Christmas gifts – the Red Ryder carbine action BB gun. The stage version includes many of the lovable elements from the classic 1983 movie starring Peter Billingsley and Darren McGavin, from the exploding furnace to the wet tongue on a cold lamppost. Ticket prices range from $32 to $80 and can be purchased by going to ppt.org or calling the box office at 412-316-1600.
Neapolitan Presepio
If you’re looking for a holiday treat that’s a little off the beaten path, check out the Scaife Galleries’ Neapolitan Presepio, an elaborate nativity scene recreated with what the Carnegie Museum of Art describes as “miniature figures arranged in a detailed panorama of 18th-century life in Naples.” It’s handmade by artists in the Royal Court of Naples between 1700 and 1830, according to the museum, and includes intricately modeled humans, animals, angelic figures and architectural elements. It’s been a holiday staple at the Carnegie Museum of Art since 1957 and is a centuries-old tradition in Naples and southern Italy. The Neapolitan Presepio is on view through Jan. 8. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for those 65 and over, $12 for children 3-18 and students with an ID, and free for children 2 and under. For more information, visit cmoa.org.
For over sixty years, the Neapolitan presepio has delighted visitors and captured imaginations!
A centuries-old tradition in Naples and southern Italy, the presepio is a sprawling nativity scene recreated with figures arranged in a detailed panorama of 18th-century life. pic.twitter.com/7YgYmugKl6
— Carnegie Museum of Art (@cmoa) December 4, 2022
Harlem Globetrotters
The world-famous Harlem Globetrotters have been coming to Pittsburgh to perform on the day after Christmas for the last 50 years — and this year is no exception. One of the longest standing same date tour stops in the U.S. continues on Monday, Dec. 26, a federal holiday. The Globetrotters games will tip off at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Plans had called for the Trotters to honor the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception by making Franco Harris an honorary Globetrotter. However, Harris passed away last week at 72. Tickets are available for $31 each. For information call 412-642-1800 or visit harlemglobetrotters.com.
Bill Deasy
Rock out the day after Christmas with Pittsburgh born and bred rock singer-songwriter Bill Deasy and his Creek Don’t Rise Band as they perform their annual Boxing Day Show on Dec. 26 at 8 p.m at Club Cafe on the South Side. Tickets for the general admission, age 21 and over, show are $20. Deasy tours the U.S. as a headliner, but has also opened up for some of the biggest names in rock including Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Norah Jones and the late Warren Zevon. For tickets or more information, visit ticketweb.com/clubcafe.
