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Officials Considering Moving Regatta Back To August In 2016

PITTSBURGH (NewsRadio 1020 KDKA) - The Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta has been a stable of the Fourth of July celebrations in Pittsburgh for a while now. However, it may be moving to August next year.

John Bonassi, Regatta board chairman, joined the "KDKA Morning News" to talk about why there could be shift in dates.

It has been announced that country artist Kenny Chesney announced he will be at Heinz Field July 2, 2016, for his "Spread the Love" tour, but Bonassi says that isn't the main reason they would shift the river celebration.

He says the biggest reason is safety. People with the Regatta have been looking at data from Homeland Security and the Port of Pittsburgh, "to see if indeed we are holding the (power boat) races at the right time of the year."

Bonassi adds they have had the Regatta alongside the Chesney concert with little problem.

"Other than moving some of the pleasure boats out of the river in time for our power boat races, that was really the key point of coordination," he said.

Bonassi said moving the Regatta to August is not new.

"In the past, we held the Regatta in the first weekend in August for a number of years," he said.

If the Regatta does move to August, Bonassi says the official fireworks display would still be on July 4, and the activities at Point State Park and powerboat races could move to August, but a decision has not been made.

Bonassi hopes to makes the decision, "sooner rather than later."

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