Thousands Expected To Pack Pittsburgh For Annual EQT Three Rivers Regatta
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The EQT Three Rivers Regatta is underway in Downtown Pittsburgh!
Organizers are expecting more than half a million visitors over three days. So, keeping people safe is top of mind for police.
The food booths are set up, so is the stage, and the impressive sand sculpture of a locomotive and passengers is complete.
"We have people that come from Canada, Tokyo, all over just to simply see -- they plan their vacation to come and see Sandsational," EQT Three Rivers Regatta Chairman John Bonassi said.
Spectators watched in awe as powerboats returned to the Allegheny River for their practice runs.
"It's amazing. Those guys have a lot of bravery to go out there on a boat like that because anything could happen," John Sluss, of Orlando, Fla., said.
The powerboats are the centerpiece of a weekend that grows each year.
Musical acts performed all day as delicacies flowed from the tents in the park and the food trucks on Liberty.
Something they've been planning for months is security.
"Safety is our number one thing, always for everything," said Derek Weber, one of the regatta organizers. "We've spent months with City of Pittsburgh Public Safety, police, EMS, water rescue and the Coast Guard."
Pittsburgh Public Safety says it'll have a zero tolerance policy for any type of disorderly conduct. Prohibited items include alcohol, drones, grills, laser pointers, illegal weapons, explosives or ammunition.
- For more information and a schedule of events, visit the Three Rivers Regatta website here.
- For information on event security, click here.
The jam-packed event offers something for everyone, including three championship races - Formula 1 Power Boats, jet-ski championships and paddleboad championships.
Sugar Ray was scheduled to headline the musical acts Friday night, but the band's flight to Pittsburgh was canceled, forcing the cancellation of their performance as well.
Waynesburg, Pa., native Jackson Gardner, an Americana rock country singer and songwriter, will perform instead.
