By Janice Lane Palko

So many people are drawn to PPG Place during the holiday season, one would think that the Christmas tree towering in the center of the plaza’s ice rink is a giant magnet. It’s no wonder people are attracted to PPG Place; it becomes a magical area and the hotspot for holiday happenings this time of the year.

The Holiday season was ushered in with style on November 16 during Pittsburgh’s Light-Up Night. From then until January 7, there is always something going on at PPG Place to get one into a festive mood. In addition, The Rink at PPG Place will be open for skating until early March.

PPG Place’s Wintergarden is transformed into a winter wonderland while hosting the “Spirits of Giving Around the World” exhibit. For 23 years, this display of life-size Santas and original paintings that captures the Christmas spirit, fantasy and folklore from around the world has turned the Wintergarden into a place of enchantment. There, the magnificent 32- foot Christmas tree, decorated with exquisite ornaments and gifts symbolic of this most special season of love and joy, dazzles the young and old alike.

The “Spirit of Giving Around the World” exhibit is open Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 6 a.m .to 10 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It closes at 4 p.m. on December 1 and will be closed all day December 2, and all day on either December 19 or 20.

Adding to the magic is the unique train display assembled by local artist Don Jones. Each year the display is expanded and enhanced to delight the crowds.

Returning is the Gingerbread House display. According to Anita D. Falce, Manager of Marketing and Events at PPG Place, the Gingerbread House display has grown considerably during the last five years. “We started out with 100 houses and last year we had nearly 350,” Falce said.

Each year area students, chefs, organizations and individuals create cookie and candy houses, which are available for purchase with the proceeds benefiting the Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund. Several Girl Scout troops and individuals from the North Hills as well as schools from the northern suburbs participated by creating gingerbread houses for the display. All the houses on display can be viewed from the exterior windows of Two PPG Place round-the-clock, seven days a week. To view them in the Wintergarden, they follow the same schedule as the “Spirit of Giving Around the World” exhibit.

Throughout the season, a variety of holiday music is performed by area musicians daily in both the Wintergarden and the Food Court. On December 5, the Hampton High School Choir will perform in the Food Court and on December 7, the Jazz Band will perform from noon to 1 p.m. in the Food Court. On December 11, the Sewickley Academy Chamber Singers will take the stage in the Food Court from noon to 1 p.m. On December 18 the Shaler Area 8th Grade Chorus will entertain in the Wintergarden from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. On December 16 the Pine- Richland Chamber Ensemble will spread the holiday cheer in the Wintergarden from 2 to 3 p.m. and then from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on that same afternoon, the Sewickley Academy Orchestra will provide the music.

The magic continues outside at The Rink, where skaters can glide around the 65-foot breathtaking Christmas tree. It is no small feat transforming a city plaza into an ice rink. Work began in the fall, and it takes 15.5 miles of tubing to freeze the ice and more than 1,000 square feet of PPG tempered glass to construct the handrail system.

On a frosty night with snow gently swirling around the gleaming spires of the PPG buildings, there is no more charming a place to be than on the ice in the heart of the city. The Rink at PPG has been graced with the likes of Olympic skater Brian Boitano and former Pittsburgh Penguin Mario Lemieux. Even Santa has been known to show up to take a few strides on the ice.

The Rink is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight; Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. The Rink is open on all holidays. On Christmas it is open from noon to 10 p.m., Christmas Day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., New Year’s Eve from noon to midnight and New Year’s Day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Rates are $7 for adults; children and seniors $6; and skate rental is $3. Parties and group rates are available as well as skating lessons, monthly passes and special student ID nights in January.

The PPG Place parking garage entrance is located on Third Avenue, and parking after 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday is a flat fee of $5. There is also free parking on Saturdays in December at select city garages. Information on this is available at www.downtownpittsburgh.com.

To find out more about the magic being made this holiday season at PPG Place, visit www.ppgplace.com or call 412-434-1900. For information on The Rink, call 412-394-3641.

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