Rescheduled Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta returns to the
Allegheny River
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
3 August 2016
SCHEDULE
AUG. 5
Music, Point State Park
Noon-1 p.m.: The Delaneys, Point State Park
5: 45-6:45 p.m.: Good Brother Earl, Point State Park
7: 15-8:15 p.m.: Better Than Ezra, Point State Park
8: 30-9:30 p.m.: Gin Blossoms, Point State Park
On the Allegheny River
Dragonboats: Noon-2 p.m.
Jet Ski Stunt Show: 2:30, 5, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Venture Outdoors Kayak Interactive: 5:30 p.m.
ALCOSAN 3 Rivers Proud Boat Parade: 9:30-10:30 p.m
Other
BMX Stunt Show: noon, 5:30 and 8 p.m., North Shore Riverwalk
Xpogo Stunt Show: 12:30, 6 and 8:30 p.m., North Shore Riverwalk
Frisbee Dogs: 1:30 and 4 p.m., Point State Park
Red Bull Air Force Skydive: 5 p.m., Point State Park
AUG. 6
Music, Point State Park
Noon-1 p.m.: Lovebettie Acoustic Duet
2-3: 30 p.m.: The Brighton Boys
4-5: 30 p.m.: Turnpike Gardens
6-7: 30 p.m.: The Defibulators
8-9: 30 p.m.: American Authors
10-11 p.m.: Beauty Slap
On the Allegheny River
F-Lights, F1 Powerboat Trials: Noon-2:30 p.m. and 4-6 p.m.
Jet Ski Stunt Show: 2:30 , 6, 9:30 p.m.
Pitt Ohio Anything That Floats Race: 3-4 p.m.:
Gateway Clipper Races: 7:30-8 p.m.
Other
BMX Stunt Show: 2:30 , 6:30, 8:30 p.m., North Shore Riverwalk
Xpogo Stunt Show: 3, 7, 9 p.m., North Shore Riverwalk
Red Bull Air Force Skydive: 4-4:30 p.m., Point State Park
AUG. 7
Music, Point State Park
Noon-1 p.m.: The Dorals
1: 30-2:30 p.m.: Kardasz Brothers
3-4 p.m.: Andy Davis Band
4: 30-5:30 p.m.: Sydney Hutchko
6-7 p.m.: NOMaD
8-9 p.m.: Rodney Atkins
On the Allegheny River
F-Lights Powerboat Finals: Noon-1:30 p.m. and 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Jet Ski Stunt Show: 2 and 4:30 p.m.
Venture Outdoors Kayak Interactive: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Other
Frisbee Dogs: 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m., Point State Park
BMX Stunt Show: 1:30, 3, 5 and 7 p.m., North Shore Riverwalk
Xpogo Stunt Show: 2, 3:30, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., North Shore
Riverwalk
Red Bull Air Force Skydive: 8:30 p.m., Point State Park
Fireworks: 9:30 p.m., Purple Rain Fireworks & FX Tribute to
Prince by Pyrotecnico
The boats are back and the weather looks fine for this weekend's
EQT Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta. Heavy rains forced organizers
to cancel the water activities at the 2015 Regatta, because of
debris in the Allegheny River. Moving the festival from the July
4th weekend to August hopefully means drier weather and definitely
means another summer celebration weekend and, of course, more
fireworks.
Organizers estimate a half million people will take in activities
at the three-day festival, from Aug. 5 to 7. Some will be
searching out the F1 Powerboat races, while others will be heading
to Point State Park for a full line-up of live music. And if you
just want to eat, head to the Roberto Clemente Bridge, where a
variety of food trucks will line the span each day, along with a
marketplace of arts and crafts. Or take in a view of the whole
event from the “Wheel of Lights,” a giant gondola Ferris Wheel in
Point State Park.
POWER BOATS
One year after Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Regatta canceled all
water activities due to hazardous river conditions, some of the
world's fastest boats will come racing back to the Allegheny River
at speeds exceeding 100 mph.
On Aug. 6 and 7, the Regatta will host the United States Formula 1
Powerboat Race Series, dubbed as the “most exciting race series on
water.” The race includes missile-shaped boats, called “tunnel
hull catamarans,” which will be raced around an obstacle course of
buoys in the Allegheny River.
“Our boats can hit 120 faster than any car can hit 60,” says boat
racer Carlos Mendana, 25, of Miami, Fla., who will be competing.
The races will be separated into two classes of competitions
featuring different boat sizes: the classic Formula 1 Powerboat
Race and the Formula 1 Light race, which features more agile
versions of the Formula 1 boats with shorter tunnels and reduced
horsepower.
Qualifying races for both will be on Aug. 6, with the
championships on Aug. 7.
The U.S. Formula 1 series has roots in Pittsburgh; its inaugural
race took place at the 1982 Pittsburgh Regatta. The race was
scheduled to return to Pittsburgh for the first time in eight
years in last year's Regatta, but was canceled because of what
public safety officials called hazardous river conditions caused
by heavy rainfall.
“As a series, we are so excited to come back to Pittsburgh,”
Mendana says. “It's a great venue where the fans are always
especially excited to come out and see us.”
MUSIC
Performers will take the stage starting at noon each day in Point
State Park. Local bands, like LoveBettie, NoMAD and Beauty Slap,
will fill several slots, but the headliners are some recognizable
national acts.
Better Than Ezra, 7:15 p.m. Aug. 5: If you're only going to have
one hit, it might as well be good — literally. Better Than Ezra's
“Good” reached No. 1 on Billboard's modern rock charts in 1995.
Its thumping bass intro, a mesmerizing hook and buzzing guitars
that dart in and out made for one of the most memorable songs of
the era. The New Orleans-based band released a series of albums
from 1996 to 2001 — “Friction, Baby,” “How Does Your Garden Grow?”
and “Closer” — that were very good but may have eluded casual
fans. The band has undergone multiple personnel changes over the
years, but charismatic lead singer Kevin Griffin and bassist Joe
Rundell remain from the original Better Than Ezra lineup.
Gin Blossoms, 8:30 p.m. Aug. 5: The Gin Blossoms are the
embodiment of jangle pop, the branch of rock music featuring
chiming guitars and bubbly melodies. Hailing from Tempe, Ariz.,
the band came to prominence in 1992 with the release of the album
“New Miserable Experience,” which yielded the hit singles “Hey
Jealousy,” “Found Out About You,” and “Allison Road.” The band's
success was colored by tragedy: Founding member and guitarist Doug
Hopkins, who wrote “Hey Jealousy” and “Found Out About You,”
committed suicide after being dismissed from the band in 1993.
Despite that dark moment, the Gin Blossoms have soldiered on.
Original members Robin Wilson (vocals), Bill Leen (bass) and
guitarist Jesse Valenzuela still perform around 120 dates a year
across the country.
American Authors, 8 p.m. Aug. 6: Even if you don't know the band
American Authors, you've probably heard them. The indie band's
single, “The Best Day of My Life,” was prominently featured in a
commercial for home improvement retailer Lowe's and in the opening
sequence of ESPN's coverage of the World Series of Poker in
2013-14. It's easy to see why the song is so popular — who
wouldn't want to have the best day of a life? But American Authors
is more than just a one-trick band. The music is a blend of pop
and rock, driving melodies and soaring choruses. A new single,
“What We Live For,” (from the album of the same name) has an
anthem-like quality that almost guarantees it's going to be heard
everywhere.
Rodney Atkins, 8 p.m. Aug. 7: Rodney Atkins doesn't do glitz and
glamour. In almost every video, the country musician from
Knoxville, Tenn., wears a battered ballcap and drives a pickup
truck that's seen better days. Atkins simple approach is reflected
in his music. It's direct and to the point, no flourishes or
artifice. His singles “In America” or “ If You're Going Through
Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows) ” are guitar-driven songs of
the road. He's had six No. 1 singles on the country charts.
Atkins' new release, “Take a Back Road,” with the single of the
same name, is cut from the same cloth as his previous material.
FIREWORKS
It's a 'Burgh thing: No city celebration is complete without
fireworks.
The Regatta's pyrotechnic finale Aug. 7 will begin at 9:30 p.m.
with the theme “Purple Rain,” in memory of rock star Prince, who
died April 21.
Produced by New Castle-based Pyrotecnico, the “Purple Rain” show
at Point State Park will feature special-effects fireworks
choreographed to some of Prince's most memorable songs, including
“When Doves Cry,” “Little Red Corvette” and “1999.”
STUNT TEAMS
The Regatta's boats may be the main draw, but to get the full
experience, you might have to look up (bring sunglasses). Or down.
Or, well, bouncing around.
• The Red Bull Air Force Skydive team is world famous for
base-jumping and wing-suit skydiving aerobatic maneuvers. They'll
make the jump at 5 p.m. Aug. 5, 4 p.m. Aug. 6 and 8:30 p.m. Aug.
7.
• The Xpogo extreme pogo stick jumpers just had their Pogopalooza
championship event in Pittsburgh, and will show off their skills
on the North Shore Riverwalk. These aren't the rusty old things
you have in your garage — they're high-tech machines that enable
10-foot launches into the air, backflips and other stunts.
• BMX bike stunts are a pretty familiar part of the Regatta by
now. These athletes will exhibit their array of backflips,
frontflips, taiwhips and “Superman seat-grabs” on the North Shore
Riverwalk.
• Jet Ski Freestyle Stunt Show performers will use the Jetovator
to fly up to 30 feet in the air and dive 10 feet below the water,
all while doing flips, monkey jumps, submarines, 180s, barrel
rolls, 360s, and firehose fountains of water.
SANDSATIONAL
Many of us remember the beach diversion of filling a pail with
moist sand, turning it over and shaping it with a Popsicle stick.
That was literally child's play, although often with parents'
help, but one of the Regatta's favorite attractions takes that
same principle and runs with it on a bigger scale in every way.
Sandsational Sand Sculpture will use 150 tons of sand to create a
tribute to the bicentennial of the incorporation of Pittsburgh as
a city. You'll be able to watch as it's being created and find out
whether it will include a blast furnace or Forbes Field.
The artists will work noon to 10 p.m. Aug. 5 to 7 at Point State
Park.
KIDS ZONE
Beyond the sights of watercraft on the three rivers, the Regatta
offers a boatload of fun on land.
The Kids Zone at Point State Park will be a buzz of activities all
three days, starting at noon.
Among the activities will be creating “ships in a bottle,”
sponsored by the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.
Children can be artistic by adding their personal touch to the
Regatta mural. They also will be introduced to the wonder of Amp'd
Robotics. And there will be special entertainment for the kids.
ANYTHING THAT FLOATS
It's surprising how entertaining it is to watch homemade boats
sink in the Allegheny River. At 3 p.m. Aug. 6, boats made from
materials found around the house such as cardboard, wood, PVC,
duct tape, milk jugs, Saran Wrap, old T-shirts, outdoor furniture,
old bikes and pool noodles will take to the rivers for the
Anything That Floats Race.
Oars, paddles and sails are allowed and pedal power is OK, but no
motors, foam, inflatable rafts or pool toys are allowed. Up to
eight people are allowed per boat.
The winning team can take home to $2,500 for the charity of its
choice. It's still not too late to sign up.
CLEMENTE BRIDGE
The bridge will be closed to traffic throughout the Regatta so it
can be filled with food trucks and handmade wares from local
artisans. It also will allow for foot traffic to the Pirates'
games against the Reds on Friday and Saturday evening and Sunday
afternoon.
Each day, Food Truck Row will feature the Pittsburgh Pierogi
truck, BRGR, Giant Eagle chicken truck, Stickler's Ice Pop Co.,
Papa Wood, Pita Pan, Kona Ice, as well as traditional festival
food vendors.
The marketplace and food will be available starting at noon each
day.