PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — With the Fourth of July holiday coming up next week, these are the busiest two weeks of summer on Pittsburgh’s three rivers.

And this year, the Three Rivers Regatta has been expanded from three days to five.

The first tractor trailers have arrived at Heinz Field to set up for the Kenny Chesney-Tim McGraw concert, and the temporary marina along the northern bank of the Allegheny started forming before the weekend.

They are the the early birds, determined to get the best spots in an armada that will only grow over the next five days.

“We enjoy each other’s company each night and go up to the restaurants and you know visit everybody and it’s a lot of fun being down here,” said Terry Grantz, of Allison Park. “The week ahead is almost as much fun as the party itself.”

Of course, the focus of the first part of this celebration is the concert on Saturday night.

“It’s a lot of fun; we get a lot of people having a good time,” added Dave Hoogerhyde, of Shaler.

The river safety folks say they’ll allow tie-offs out into the river as long as they don’t interfere with river traffic.

Strict BUI enforcement will be in effect for boats that are free floating, and as the signs say, come Sunday morning, everyone has to be out by 10 a.m. because the area is also the prime Regatta practice and race area.

“Well, it’s got to start about eight o’clock because boats are usually stacked about 10 deep,” said Grantz. “So, first thing in the morning, at eight o’clock, the smaller boats start peeling out and that takes about an hour or so before everybody starts rolling out of here.”

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