Rices Landing to hold Riverfest
RICES LANDING – Rices Landing will celebrate its heritage as a Monongahela River town with Riverfest 2013 on Friday and Saturday at the lock wall of the former Rices Landing Lock and Dam.
Riverfest was once an annual event in this small river community but was halted following the 2005 event.
The festival is being revived this year and will feature food and local vendors, music, fireworks, blacksmithing demonstrations and activities for children.
The festival may continue to be an annual event for the community, depending on its success this year, Rices Landing Mayor Ryan Belski said. “We hope to have a good turnout,” he said.
A full slate of activities has been scheduled for the two-day festival. On Friday night, the entertainment will focus on country music with three bands slated to perform. Saturday night will feature two classic rock bands.
On Friday, gates will open at 4 p.m. Activities include blacksmith demonstrations at 4 p.m. at the historic W.A. Young and Sons Foundry; opening remarks at 5:45 by state Rep. Pam Snyder; the country music bands Ruff Creek at 6 p.m.; Justin Fabus Band at 8 p.m.; and The Hillbilly Way band at 9:30 p.m.
On Saturday, the Mon Paddle will be held at 10 a.m. and gates will open at noon. Those who want to participate in the paddle are asked to register by calling 412-481-9400.
Blacksmith demonstrations will be at noon at the W.A. Young and Sons Foundry and Miss Riverfest performances will begin at 2 p.m. The rock bands Hit n’ Run will perform at 6 p.m.; and Two Thumps Up will be up at 9 p.m. Fireworks will begin at 9:45 p.m.
Children’s activities, including games and a live petting zoo, are only scheduled for Saturday.
On Friday, admission is $10 in advance and $15 at the gate. On Saturday, admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children.
Advance Friday tickets can be purchased at Caputo’s Bar in Dry Tavern, Grandma’s Attic in Waynesburg, Tera Shashura’s Hair and Nails in Rices Landing and from any Rices Landing fireman.
The winners were Bailey Barnyack, Tiny Miss Riverfest; Valentina Bruno, Petite Miss Riverfest; Micaela Ricco, Teen Miss Riverfest, Juliana Fowler, Junior Miss Riverfest and Stephanie Mitchell, Miss Riverfest 2013. Brittney Giovanelli will serve as pageant director.
Riverfest was first organized in 1976 to celebrate Greene County’s bicentennial, according to newspaper accounts. It was held each year, except 1986 and 1987, when river flooding damaged the lock wall. The festival was discontinued following the 2005 festival.
The end came after one of its driving forces, Remo Bertugli, died in late 2004, Belski said. Bertugli was the person who knew the most about what had to be done to organize such an event, he said.
In recent years, the festival has been missed, said Belski. “Basically the borough has no major events, nothing that really brings the community together,” he said.
The event is being organized by the Rices Landing Volunteer Fire Company in cooperation with Rices Landing Borough, the River Town program and Rices Landing Boy Scout Troop 1168.
The borough this year also received an $11,777 grant from Alpha Natural Resources for the festival, Belski said. The company is the festival sponsor. Additional money came from the fire company and a community grant.