Gina Grone, executive director of the North Side/Shore Chamber, reflects on the second annual Northside Glow in Allegheny Commons East Park.

By Gina Grone, Executive Director – North Side/Shore Chamber of Commerce

Photo: The 2021 Northside Glow kicked off with a community-focused opening night event on Saturday, Dec. 4. Hundreds of community members came together to visit Santa, buy gifts, eat and drink local food and beverages, hear live music, and enjoy the display of lights in Allegheny Commons East Park. By Joe Riebling*

In 2020, with the support of several Northside businesses, the North Side/Shore Chamber of Commerce coordinated a beautiful light display in Allegheny Commons East Park. Northside Glow provided cheer and light during the entire month of December. The extra glow on the northeast corner was appreciated by thousands of people: patients at Allegheny General, pedestrians passing through the park, nearby residents, and vehicles driving by.

For the 2021 Northside Glow, the Chamber wanted to build on the success of last year’s plan and decided to add a community-focused opening night event. Dozens of sponsors and volunteers made it a successful launch, and the light displays brightened the northeast section of the park through the month of December. 

The Northside Glow Opening Night took place on Saturday, Dec. 4 from 4 to 7 p.m. A wide variety of activities was enjoyed by 600-700 attendees.

• Santa Claus joined the fun and welcomed children of all ages (and dogs) to share their holiday wish lists. Professional photos captured the sheer joy on the kids’ faces. (Thank you to Doug and Anna Yoder for providing such a magical experience!)
• Santa Shop – Children were able to shop for gifts for loved ones. The elves at the shop helped the kids to choose and wrap the items.
• Lights – The lights around the Patricia Rooney Memorial Fountain, with letters spelling JOY, PEACE, and HOPE, and the wrapped light poles added a sense of charm and provided great photo opportunities.
• Music – B Man played a great mix of holiday music and original songs, adding to the festive atmosphere.
• Beverage tastings were offered by four local vendors. It was a nice way for attendees to sample drinks and then purchase gifts for later consumption.
• Local restaurants provided five different food options: something for everyone.
• Local artists and crafters – Attendees enjoyed purchasing items for their holiday shopping.

Scott Pipitone, chairman of the board of the Northside Chamber and presenting sponsor for the event, had this to say about last month’s Northside Glow: 

“The event was a way for Northside businesses to support the community and start the holiday season. The people, lights, and participants were all magical.”

For more information about the North Side/Shore Chamber, including how local business can get involved, visit www.northsidechamberofcommerce.com.

*Editor’s note 1/10/2022: In previous versions of this article, the photographer was misidentified. We regret the error.