Winter Classic Expected To Boost First Night Attendance
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - First Night Pittsburgh will have an international flair this year as people from around the world will be in town for the NHL Winter Classic.
With the Pittsburgh Penguins scheduled to host the Washington Capitals at Heinz Field on New Year's Day, First Night is expected to be more crowded than usual.
This year, there will be something for everyone.
"We kind of draw people in with that classical sound and then, the rhythm hits and then we go crazy [until] the end," Nicole Myers of Cello Fury said.
"I kind of grew up with First Night and it's really been great to be able to perform on it," Simon Cummings said.
This year's edition of First Night Pittsburgh promises to be the best yet.
There will be the traditional fireworks and not just at midnight. They'll have an earlier show for the kids at 6 p.m.
"We focused it in the Cultural District intentionally to give people a sense of the Cultural District and it is a family-friendly alcohol-free arts celebration, but it's very diverse," Kevin McMahon of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust said.
It's not every day that you find Caribbean-style steel drums, but it will all come together with First Night Pittsburgh.
"We have a tie-in with the big hockey match on New Year's Day, so we are really excited about having a bigger crowd than normal," McMahon said.
In all, 150 performances at more than 50 venues will grace the Cultural District.
Crowd favorite Steel Town Fire is coming back with its unique mix of flames and dance. More music than you can imagine will be heard throughout the Cultural District.
"This is really the community's event and we recognize the importance of the arts and of course we want to develop new arts audiences as well. So, we want to expose as many people as we can to the wealth of offerings that we have," Kathryn Heinemann from First Night Pittsburgh said.
Tickets cost just $8 in advance and $10 at the door.
