Get Creative! It's time for the Three Rivers Arts Festival!
Written by Madeline Milchman
Get ready to tap into your creativity at Pittsburgh’s annual arts celebration. Thursday, June 5th through Sunday, June 8th, Pittsburgh residents will come together to enjoy art at the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, including live music, an artist market, dance, gallery exhibitions, creative family activities, and more. For its 65th year and this year only, the festival is taking place at the riverfront lots at the 15th Street Plaza along Waterfront Place in the Strip District. In future years, the festival's home will be Arts Landing, where construction just began in April.
The festival is an entirely free, fun-filled celebration of Pittsburgh’s art and music scene. Since its first run in 1960, it has attracted millions of guests and featured over 10,000 visual and performing artists. Some of the most notable musicians and artists featured in the past are Ella Fitzgerald, Philip Glass, Smokey Robinson, Keith Haring, Otto Piene, and more. In 2009, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust took over production of the festival and continues it with the goal of cultivating an “open space for creativity, dialogue, ideas, and participation.”
Pittsburgh residents and visitors can look forward to free song and dance performances at Dollar Bank Main Stage all weekend. The stage will feature music from nearly every genre, including hip hop, R&B, jazz, country, rock, and more. Some performing artists include Megan Paulett and the HR Department, Las Cafeteras, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and Garba360. On Saturday, June 7th, the stage will hold a dance battle with cash prizes and trophies.
The festival includes a 4-day market for visual art as well. From 12:00 pm-8:00 pm every day of the festival, vendors will set up for the Artist Market. Products range from jewelry to wood carvings, and vendors are carefully selected by a jury that focuses on craftsmanship and presentation. The festival’s Emerging Artist Scholarship Program gives artists with little experience in exhibiting at festivals the opportunity to take part in the Three Rivers Festival. At this market, you can find art made with nothing but skill, passion, and dedication.
For families with children, make your way to the Creativity Zone. With activities held by Giant Eagle, YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Glass Center, and more, children of all ages can put their imaginations to work. Let them get their hands dirty with clay, paint, glue, or markers.
For more information, visit https://traf.trustarts.org/.
