It's Christmastime in the City

Jingle your bells, kids. It's the most wonderful time of the year. Before you go home for the holidays, you need to make a few pit stops in the city of Pittsburgh to kick off your holiday celebrations. Compiled below is a list of fun holiday attractions for you to check out that even Ebenezer Scrooge would approve of:

Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Located right across the bridge in Schenley Park next to the Frick Fine Arts Building, Phipps Conservatory dazzles everyone of all ages every holiday season with its Holiday Magic: Let It Glow and Winter Flower Show. Phipps is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., with the Winter Light Garden operating from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Admission is free to students with a valid Pitt ID.

Pittsburgh Christmas Market. Located in Downtown Pittsburgh in the middle of Market Square, the Pittsburgh Christmas Market transforms the heart of the city into a winter wonderland of craft and food vendors. Right behind the Christmas market is a Pittsburgh holiday must-see, the PPG skating rink Christmas tree. If you're feeling particularly full of holiday cheer, you can pay to ice skate around the Christmas tree with your family and friends for only $10. For full hours and information, visit the PPG Ice Rink website.

The Nutcracker. Performed by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, The Nutcracker is a treasured holiday favorite, drawing in crowds from all across the state every year. If you're going to see a ballet, this is the one to see. It's a timeless classic that brings Christmas magic to everyone of all ages, breathing life to the childhood wonder still residing in all of us. Running from November 30- December 27 at the Benedum Center, the PBT puts on shows from each week from Wednesday-Sunday at various times including 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 7 p.m. Tickets start at $28 and can be purchased on the PBT website or at the door.