River Conditions Major Factor in Three Rivers Regatta's Possible
Return to August
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
13 January 2016
By Susan Jones
The Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta may move back to August this
year.
Derek Weber, director of the regatta for event manager Peony
Entertainment, said organizers began talking last year about
moving the event — for multiple reasons that include river
conditions.
That's a big factor, since last year's water activities were
cancelled because of hazardous river conditions.
“The river conditions in August are a lot different than in July,”
Weber said.
Organizers plan to make a decision by late February. He said the
company in securing permits.
Peony, a Pittsburgh-based company, was hired by the nonprofit
Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta to run the event.
The three-day festival moved from August to the Fourth of July
weekend in 2004, to combine celebrations for the then-financially
struggling regatta and Independence Day.
Country music star Kenny Chesney is scheduled to perform at Heinz
Field on July 2, and KDKA-TV reports that Billy Joel will perform
at PNC Park on July 1.
The regatta wouldn't move because of big-name concerts, Weber
said, noting the festival has overlapped with the Chesney concert
before without problems. Regatta organizers also are preparing for
the festival's 40th anniversary in 2017, he said: “We're trying to
get back to its roots and make sure it's over a weekend.”
The July 4 weekend presented some scheduling challenges, since the
festival always ended with fireworks. That sometimes required
starting the festival mid-week.
Peony, which has the same owners as New Castle-based Pyrotecnico,
would still produce a one-day Fourth of July celebration with
fireworks by Pyrotecnico if the regatta moves.
Susan Jones is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at
412-320-7919 or sjones@tribweb.com.
Read more: http://triblive.com/aande/moreaande/9792587-74/july-regatta-weber#ixzz3xCe2ElXv