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It’s that time of year...time for our Christmas Star commercial! Every year, we are moved by the comments we hear about this classic spot. Many of you have told us that it is what gets you in the holiday spirit, and that it reminds you of what the holidays are all about. We’ve even heard the commercial has been referenced in Christmas Eve sermons! 

Retelling the story of the “Christmas Star” has become an annual tradition for us, kind of like reading “The Night Before Christmas” for many families. So just how did this classic come to be? 

It all started in early 1982. Eat’n Park was just beginning to blossom into the family restaurant chain you’re now familiar with, and the company was prospering. Our CEO at the time, Jim Broadhurst, wanted to create a holiday card on video to thank the city of Pittsburgh for their support of Eat’n Park and our Caring for Kids campaign for local children’s hospitals, which at the time, was just a few years old. 

So, Jim tasked Ketchum, our ad agency at the time, with creating a message that would “last for 20 years.” Easy, right? Craig Otto, then a young art director, and Cathy Bowen, a fledgling copywriter at the time, led the project. The pair worked for 3 weeks to generate over 30 ideas, none of which were met with approval. Eventually, they hit upon the idea of an animated commercial, but they still weren’t sure where they were going with it. 

One Sunday shortly thereafter, Craig decided to come into the office. He sketched out a star, a traditional holiday image, and then stopped. “How does the star get to the top of the tree?” He played around with a few ideas until deciding that, of course, the star would need some help from the tree itself. In a fateful coincidence, Cathy had also decided to come into the office that Sunday. So, while Craig worked out the illustrations, Cathy devised a simple, yet perfect sentiment to wrap up the commercial. 

Jim immediately loved the spot, and a timeless classic was born. Even better, the commercial has outlasted his original expectations. The idea of the relationship between the tree and the star illustrates an enduring holiday lesson – by helping one another, you’re making the world a brighter place. 

So, from everyone here at Eat’n Park, here’s hoping the special lift you get this holiday season lasts all year long! 

Read on to see when it will be airing on TV in the Pittsburgh area!   

2025 CHRISTMAS STAR AIR DATES 

WPXI 

• Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – November 27, 8:30 a.m.  
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas – December 4, 8 p.m. 
• Frosty the Snowman – December 4, 8:30 p.m.  
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – December 5 & December 11, 8 p.m. 
• It’s A Wonderful Life – December 24, 8 p.m. 

KDKA 

• A Paw Patrol Christmas – November 28, 8 p.m.  
• Reindeer In Here – December 6, 8 p.m.  
• CBS This Morning – Various episodes, December 22 – 25, 7 a.m. 
• Pittsburgh Today Live – Various episodes, December 22 – 25, 9 a.m. 

WTAE 

• Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town – December 2, 9 p.m. 
• Great Christmas Light Fight – December 4 & December 11, 8 p.m. 
• iHeart Radio Jingle Ball 2025 – December 17, 8 p.m. 
• The Santa Clause – December 21, 8 p.m. 
• Home Alone – December 23, 8 p.m. 
• Disney Christmas Celebration – December 25, 10 a.m. 

TBS 

• A Christmas Story – December 24, 6 p.m. 

Hallmark 

• Countdown to Christmas – Various programming, November 27 – December 25 

Freeform 

• 25 Days of Christmas – Various programming, November 27 – December 25 

AMC 

• Best Christmas Ever – Various programming, November 27 – December 25 

TNT 

• A Christmas Story – December 24, 6 p.m. 

Food Network 

• Holiday Baking Championship – Various episodes, November 27 – December 25 

Be the MVP of Thanksgiving dinner (Most Valuable Party guest) when you show up with Eat’n Park dessert! Choose from pies and Smiles to make the holiday even sweeter!  

Here are a few ways for you to pick up one of our delicious treats and make it the best Thanksgiving ever: 

1. Call your local Eat’n Park! We can let you know what we have behind the bakery case and save you a pie or two for pickup! 
2. Place an order up to 24 hours ahead of time online or on our app! Want to bring Eat’n Park pumpkin pie for dessert? Place an order up to 24 hours ahead of your pickup time and we’ll have it ready for you the next day! Note: We are closed on Thanksgiving so our team members can enjoy the holiday with their family and friends.  
3. Stop in to see what’s behind the bakery case! We usually have a selection of pies hanging out in our bakery case, and if you stop in, they can be yours for takeout!  

Make sure everyone gets a slice this Thanksgiving with holiday treats available for pickup at your local Eat’n Park!  

When you’re out and about shopping on Black Friday, make sure you take a break and fill up at our Shopper’s Black Friday Breakfast Buffet on Friday, November 28 until 11AM. Visit the following Eat’n Park locations for our Black Friday Breakfast Buffet:

• Altoona
• Belle Vernon
• Butler
• Butler (United)
  
• Canonsburg
• Chippewa
• Cranberry
• Center Township
• Dubois
• Erie
• Greenburg
• Grove City
• Hampton
• Hermitage
• Indiana
• Johnstown
• Latrobe
• McKnight (Northbound)
• Monroeville
• Moon
• Natrona Heights
• North Huntingdon
• North Versailles
• Pittsburgh Mills
• Robinson
• Sewickley
• Shaler
• Somerset
• South Hills Village
• St. Clairsville, OH
• Steubenville, OH
• Uniontown
• Warren, OH
• Washington
• Waterfront
• Waterworks
• Westmont

Are you in charge of Thanksgiving desserts this year? Eat’n Park can help!  

Thanksgiving Desserts at Eat'n Park

We have all the sweet pies you could want for your holiday spread, including Apple, Dutch Apple, Cookies and Cream, and more! Plus, for a limited time, our Pumpkin Pie is ON SALE! 

Pre-Order Thanksgiving Pies

Pre-order your Thanksgiving pies by November 23 for pickup on November 25 and November 26. Guarantee Smiles for Turkey Day! 

If you miss the pre-order deadline, you can still stop in to see what we have behind the bakery case through Wednesday, November 26!  

It's that time of year — our 47th Annual Caring for Kids campaign is here! Every year since 1979, Eat’n Park guests and team members have come together to raise money for children’s hospitals and charities in our communities. Since the beginning of the campaign, we’ve raised more than $12 million! 

Now through December 13, we’ll be raising money across all our restaurants through raffles, donations, and more!  

This year, our longtime partner, Neighborhood Ford Store, has generously donated a 2025 Ford Bronco Big Bend, which will be raffled off to one lucky guest as part of our annual fundraiser! 

Here’s how you can help give back! 

• Chances to win the Bronco are $2 a ticket and are available now through December 13 at your local Eat’n Park (excluding West Virginia).  
• 100% of the proceeds go directly to the campaign!   
• Just ask your server for a ticket (or 10!) for your chance to win!   
• There are many other ways you can support Caring for Kids! If you’re on the go, you can make a donation on your next online order! 
• Do you love our Christmas Star merch? 10% of sales go to our Caring for Kids campaign! 

Let’s make it a great holiday season for area families!  

Free Coffee for Voters This Election Day

*If placing your order online, do not add cup of coffee to your cart. When you arrive for pickup, let our team know you'd like to add a cup of coffee and show them your voting stub, email, or sticker! 

Who doesn’t enjoy a good sandwich? At Eat’n Park, we certainly love them!  

This National Sandwich Day, dig into these sandwiches at your local Eat’n Park.  

Pittsburgh Turkey Sandwich 

Yinz hungry? Smoked turkey, crinkle-cut French fries, chipotle slaw, and Swiss cheese all piled high on grilled Italian bread. 

Turkey Club 

Smoked turkey with American cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on toasted white bread. 

Hot Roasted Turkey Sandwich 

A comfort food classic! We layer roasted turkey on grilled Italian bread and top it with a helping of homestyle gravy. 

Kielbasa Sandwich  

Grilled smoked kielbasa, green peppers, and onions topped with cheddar cheese, all tucked into a grilled hoagie roll with sweet and spicy brown mustard. 

Chargrilled Chicken 

Chargrilled chicken breast served on a brioche bun with shredded lettuce and tomato. 

Shredded Pot Roast 

Shredded pot roast on grilled Italian bread, covered with gravy. 

Browse more Eat’n Park sandwich options!