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Three Rivers Regatta Festivities Kick Off With Music, Stunt Shows

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The stage is set, the drinks are on ice, the food booths are up, so let the fun begin!

The Three Rivers Regatta is back after several events had to be canceled last year because of dangerous river conditions.

The Regatta officially kicked off Friday afternoon, and organizers are promising the annual summertime event will exceed expectations.

If you thought last year's Regatta was exciting, get ready, beginning with a later date this year.

"We wanted to separate the Regatta from the 4th of July," Darcy Kucenic with Peony Entertainment said. "We wanted it to be its own event ... Historically, the river conditions are much better in August than they are in July, which led to the unfortunate cancellation of water activities last year."

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(Photo Credit: Bryan Orr/KDKA)

For those of you who have the need for speed on the river, Kucenic says, "back are the Formula 1 powerboats. They were supposed to be back last year, but they haven't been in Pittsburgh for about nine years. A lot of people don't know that the Pittsburgh Regatta was the first place the Formula 1 powerboats raced in the United States back in 1982."

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Folks can head to the Clemente Bridge for a bite to eat at Food Truck Row or do some shopping at the Regatta marketplace, where vendors will be selling their wares.

The sand sculpture contest at The Point has been a work in progress for 12 days and got the final touches on Friday.

"It stays in place because of the three days of preparation we did before we started sculpting. Two days of that is actually just compacting the sand," explained Jill Harris with Sensational Sand Sculpting.

Fun for the whole family is available at the Regatta.

"We have a whole Kids' Zone on the fountain side of the park, with lots of interactive and educational, make-and-take activities," Kucenic said. "Our Frisbee dog shows are back Friday and Sunday."

Of course, the stage will be the focal point for your musical entertainment.

The Regatta ends Sunday night in grand Pittsburgh style with fireworks, set to a soundtrack of Prince, where folks can party like it's 1999.

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