Riverplex is the place for festivals

By Stacy Wolford
VALLEY INDEPENDENT
Thursday, September 4, 2008

Summer may be winding down, but the Riverplex amphitheatre and park is just starting to heat up.

Riverplex, located between Sandcastle Waterpark and The Waterfront in West Homestead, will host the Pittsburgh Irish Festival this weekend, the Festa Italiana Sept. 12 to 14 and the International Taste of Pittsburgh Sept. 19 and 20.

Located along the shores of the Monongahela River with tree-lined walkways and wooded areas, the 400,000-square-foot landscaped area features pavilions, tents and a children's playground.

Festival organizers found success hosting events there last year and decided to return.

Pittsburgh Irish Festival

The 18th annual Pittsburgh Irish Festival returns to Riverplex after a successful introduction there last year.

The festival will feature entertainment by Gaelic Storm (from "Titanic" fame), Glengarry Bhoys (Canada), POGEY (from Sidney Crosby's hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia), Beoga (Ireland), Screaming Orphans (Ireland), Gadelle (Prince Edward Island, Canada) and more.

There will also be plenty of Irish food and drinks.

Children will get to learn to dance a jig, make an Irish craft, and hear an Irish folktale.

Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Sunday.

Festival hours are 4 p.m. to midnight Friday; 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday; and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, go to www.pghirishfest.org or call (412) 422-1113.

Festa Italiana

The tradition continues as the Italian Festival that thousands of people enjoyed at Station Square for years moves to Riverplex this year.

Set for Sept. 12-14, Festa Italiana returns with the traditional food and music. Visitors can try their hand at bocce, sample Italian delicacies and savory cookies, dance the tarantella, and purchase an authentic present from Italy.

An Italian Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Sept. 14 with Bishop Anthony G. Bosco, Bishop Emeritus.

Festival hours are 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, go to www.sandcastlewaterpark.com or call (412) 462-6666, option 8.

International Taste

of Pittsburgh

The International Taste of Pittsburgh, set for Sept. 19 and 20, will celebrate the best of Pittsburgh's multicultural food, dance, music and heritage featuring Bulgaria, Carpatho-Rus, England, Germany, India, International, Ireland, Italy, Latin America, Polynesia, Russia, Ukraine and West Africa. More are expected to be announced.

Festival entertainers will be Grammy Award-winner Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience, Scott Blasey of The Clarks, Joe Grushecky, and The Elliotts.

Festival hours are 4 p.m. to midnight Friday; and 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday.

For more information, go to www.sandcastlewaterpark.com or call (412) 462-6666 option 8.

Prices for all three festivals are $8 for adults in advance or $10 at the gate.

Discounts are available for seniors, students with identification, active or retired military personnel and children, Children 3 and under are free.

Tickets can be purchased at the gate, in advance at www. sandcastlewaterpark.com, or at Sandcastle Guest Relations.