Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Three Rivers Regatta Cuts River-based Programming

UPDATE:

The 38th annual EQT Three Rivers Regatta returns to Pittsburgh once again - but without the water events. The high level of the rivers, along with strong currents and debris, prompted officials to announce Friday that water events, from boat racing, to jet ski shows to the "anything that floats" event are all canceled for the duration of the Regatta. All land-based activities will go on as planned.

The three-day event will take place at Point State Park, on the North Shore, and on the Clemente Bridge, Friday through Sunday.

Darcy Kucenic, senior events coordinator for Peony Entertainment, who has taken control of programming the entertainment this year, says this year they’re striving to make the Three Rivers Regatta one of the best 4th of July celebrations in the country. This year features the return of some favorites and one “big” addition.

New to this year at Point State Park, there is a 90-foot Ferris wheel, called “The Wheel of Lights,” which will give riders great views of the Point and the city. It’s a whole LED light show spectacle within itself and tickets cost $5 each.

On the holiday, there will be an Air Force flyover. Later that night, at 9:35 p.m., will be the firework show.

There will be music throughout the three days featuring country superstars Brett Eldredge and Chris Young. The Air Force National Heritage Band will play at 8 p.m. on the 4th.

“We’re just making everything kind of bigger and better: expanding the Kids Zone, and increasing the number of concerts and the music and the quality of the music, those are all big for us,” said Kucenic.

The event is family-friendly; there’s a Kids Zone and face painting. The event also features interactive activities, including building boats from recycled materials and seeing what happens when objects are frozen in liquid nitrogen demonstrations, made possible by the Children’s Museum and the Carnegie Science Center.

Children will experience something not particularly close to Pittsburgh, too.

“We have a beach, actually. It’s called ‘Travel to the Beach,’ it’s sponsored by AAA,” said Kucenic . “And we actually set up sand along the river walk…there’s some kids in Pittsburgh who have never been to the beach, so it kind of gives them a little bit of the feel and they can play in the sand and make some sand castles.”

For last-minute updates, you can go to EQT’s social media sites to receive up-to-date information on the event and any changes or on the Yougottaregatta page.

The official hours of the event are from noon to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

An estimated 500,000-750,000 are expected to attend over the three days, according to Kucenic.