PHOTO COURTESY EAT’N PARK

Forget Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” In Pittsburgh, Walt Woodward’s little ditty ushers in the holiday season. The folk singer-turned-jingle writer penned the score for a beloved Eat’n Park ad. You know the one: a star attempts to hop atop a Tannenbaum but can’t quite make it. As it lies panting on the snowy ground, the tree bends over and raises it up. As the music crescendos, the star shines and its joy illuminates the branches below.

The late Bob Trow, who was a local radio personality and “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” regular, then delivers the heartfelt line: “We hope the special lift you get this holiday season lasts all year long. Happy Holidays from Eat’n Park.”

Are you crying yet?

Eat’n Park President Jeff Broadhurst has been known to shed a tear or two over the commercial, which his father, Jim Broadhurst, commissioned for the company in 1982.

“He was very innovative — and still is,” Jeff says of his dad, who joined Eat’n Park in 1973.

The 30-second spot is one of the longest-running seasonal ads in the country, but it started as a simple “thank you” to Steel City residents.

After Pittsburghers generously donated to Eat’n Park Hospitality Group’s Caring for Kids Campaign, a fundraiser for area hospitals now in its 45th year, Jim hired advertising agency Ketchum MacLeod & Grove to create an animated display of appreciation.

Art Director Craig Otto and copywriter Cathy Bowen spent nearly a month coming up with sappy sentiments before delivering the iconic idea to freelance illustrator Nancy Beiman, who served as lead animator on the project. With Woodward’s whimsical score as the final bow on the package, the Christmas Star commercial made its debut during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade telecast (as it has every year since).

You can find the festive star/tree duo on T-shirts, mugs, ornaments, flipbooks and stickers. It’s been the subject of radio segments and “Pittsburgh Dad” videos, and you can even chow down on cookie forms of the characters. This year, Eat’n Park started selling ugly Christmas sweater tributes to the twinkling tree.

Last December, babies at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital donned festive, crocheted hats shaped like the tree to warm their little heads and their parents’ hearts.

I was born on Dec. 17, 1978; while I typically sneer at Santa for stealing my thunder, I don’t mind seeing the Christmas Star commercial on my birthday. In fact, I consider it a gift when it unexpectedly appears on my TV screen.

You can watch the spot anytime thanks to social media, but Eat’n Park still posts the air dates on its website, eatnpark.com. It’s also lighting up the streaming service Hulu for the first time. As the chain enters its 75th anniversary year and the Caring for Kids campaign is on track to raise $12 million this season, Jeff promises there will be no attempts to modernize the ad.

Its message of kindness and compassion is evergreen — just like the conifer featured in it.

“It’s universal and timeless. It doesn’t matter what faith you are,” Jeff says. “When you think about what’s going on in the world right now, the message becomes more important.”