Call it the trifecta, the triple whammy or, like Pittsburgh parking magnate Merrill Stabile, the perfect storm.
No matter how you describe it, Saturday is shaping up to be an epic one for Pittsburgh, as the city hosts three major events downtown and on the North Shore that are expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors.
The day will include the Pittsburgh Pride March through downtown to the North Side, which will pass directly past the Three Rivers Arts Fest crowds on the banks of the Allegheny River. Not far away, Kenny Chesney fans will sing their hearts out during the country artist’s show at Acrisure Stadium.
“This is as close to a perfect storm as we can see,” said Stabile, president of ALCO Parking, which manages spaces on Pittsburgh’s North Side and downtown. “It’s going to be the busiest week of the summer because there’s so much going on.”
Jerad Bachar, president and CEO of VisitPittsurgh, said the convergence of the three big events means “summer is officially underway in Pittsburgh.” Bachar, fresh off a 2026 NFL Draft triumph, said the events allow the city to market itself as a “must-visit travel destination” and generate money for hotels, restaurants and other local businesses.
The city’s tourism authority could not provide attendance figures for these events last year because it did not receive that data from the Chesney concert organizers and cannot accurately count people attending ticketless events.
However, on Saturday there will likely be hundreds of thousands of visitors. Chesney’s final concert in Pittsburgh in 2022 drew more than 50,000 fans and last year’s Pride parade saw 200,000 protesters. The 2023 Arts Festival welcomed more than 500,000 participants over 10 days.
Parking, boating and public transportation will all be at capacity Saturday as hundreds of thousands of revelers are expected to descend on downtown and the city’s North Shore.
Adam Brandolph, a spokesman for Pittsburgh Regional Transit, said people wanting to get to, through and around the festivities should prepare for some delays.
“It won’t be a usual Saturday, that’s for sure,” he said.
When do the festivals start?
The Pittsburgh Pride Parade will kick off the celebration in Pittsburgh on Saturday.
The line for the LGBTQ celebration march begins at 10 a.m. at 11th Street and Liberty Avenue. The parade starts at noon, travels down Liberty, across the Andy Warhol Bridge and ends at Allegheny Commons Park West on the north side at 1 p.m.
The park opens at 11 a.m. for Pride revelers, and performances from dozens of artists continue throughout the day, culminating in a concert by singer and television personality Tamar Braxton. The Pride celebration will run until 8 p.m. Saturday.
The Trois-Rivières Arts Festival opens its doors at noon and continues until 9 p.m. The annual event includes stalls, activities and performances over 10 days.
Kenny Chesney’s show at Acrisure Stadium starts at 5pm on Saturday and doors open at 4pm.
The North Shore parking lots surrounding the stadium open at noon.
Potential parking issues
Parking may be congested on Saturday due to overlapping major events.
Stabile suggests that drivers who haven’t yet reserved a parking spot through apps like parkwhiz and ParkMobile will likely be better off using public transportation. Parking prices will be higher, he said, because they will be in high demand.
There are nearly 10,000 locations on the North Shore and about a third are surface spaces that can be used for tailgating, Stabile said. No tailgating is permitted in parking garages.
He said rideshare services are another option for getting downtown and to the North Shore because people arrive at different times — but it can present challenges when everyone is trying to leave at the same time. time.
Parking rates change depending on events. Prices for downtown lots will range from $15 to $40, with the highest amount being Saturday. On the North Shore, parking spaces in most lots and garages will cost $60.
Most surface lots and garages only accept credit cards.
“We’re preparing for a huge onslaught of cars,” Stabile said. “I know I work in the parking industry, but I have to be realistic. There are only a limited number of spaces.
Normally, Arts Festival visitors are encouraged to park on the North Shore and cross one of the three sister bridges.
David Onorato, director of the Pittsburgh Parking Authority, advised visitors to pull into their parking spots early.
He suggested visitors to all Saturday events use the parking authority’s First Avenue garage on the outskirts of downtown.
There are 1,200 spaces at the First Avenue garage, and Onorato said its location helps avoid traffic. Those who park there can take a free trolley to the Wood Street station for the arts festival or to the Allegheny or North Side stations for the Chesney show.
“Plan your day to arrive early,” he said. “Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to navigate traffic.”
All nine public parking lots will be open downtown, Onorato said, in addition to all private lots and garages. He expects the day to be busy, given the convergence of the two major events, but anticipates parking will remain available.
Spectators can also park at Station Square and take the Gateway Clipper riverboat to the show for $30, according to the Acrisure Stadium website.
Bus and train
Visitors are encouraged to avoid driving altogether.
Brandolph said Pittsburgh Regional Transit expects many transit riders Saturday.
“There will definitely be a high use of public transportation this weekend, and we are prepared for that,” he said.
But he also warns that some runners might encounter unexpected obstacles.
Brandolph said the events would close some streets and create several bus detours. Riders should therefore check in advance on the Pittsburgh Regional Transit website or call the agency’s customer service at 412-442-2000.
Light rail service through downtown and to the North Shore is currently disrupted by the work, but will be fully restored by Saturday, Brandolph said.
He said Pittsburgh Regional Transit has made it a priority to complete a downtown rebuilding project by June 1 to accommodate the day’s events.
However, construction on the T is still underway in the South Hills near Overbook Junction in Castle Shannon, so light rail riders from there should factor in a little extra time. they go downtown and to the North Shore, Brandolph said.
Busy waters
Chesney’s concerts always draw crowds of boaters to the banks of the Allegheny River outside Acrisure, and this year seems no different.
Jordon Miller of Burgettstown was the first boat in line on the North Shore near Acrisure Stadium on Wednesday. The 44-foot boat has a hot tub, grill and bar.
He said that by Saturday morning, several boats would be tied up to his waiting for the Kenny Chesney concert.
“This place will be crazy on Saturday,” Miller said. “But that’s what makes it fun.” It’s an experience. Pittsburgh is one of the few cities where you can do just that: dock your boat right next to a stadium and listen to a concert.
Miller said not having to battle car traffic will ensure a pleasant weekend for the 12th show at Chesney Stadium in Pittsburgh.
A U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson said boaters should prioritize safety, wear a life jacket and boat soberly.
The Coast Guard added that boaters must also follow river rules, specifically that vessels cannot anchor or loiter more than 100 feet from any bank while in waters between the Fort Pitt Bridge, West End Bridge and Rachel Carson Bridge, unless authorized by the Coast Guard.
Are those responsible ready?
The large-scale events will have a “huge impact” on the city this weekend, said Maria Montaño, a spokeswoman for Mayor Ed Gainey. Events that draw large crowds and out-of-town visitors, she said, benefit businesses, restaurants and hotels.
Mike Sukitch, owner of Mike’s Beer Bar and North Shore Tavern on the North Shore, said he will increase his staff Friday through Sunday in anticipation of larger crowds.
Sukitch said there will be a steady stream of people this weekend and next week with the Los Angeles Dodgers coming to town to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates. He said the opening of the Clemente Bridge for the first time in two years also brought more business from downtown pedestrians.
“Usually on weekends like this we find that lunch transitions straight into dinner, without any interruption, which would be more typical on a weekend,” Sukitch said. “In addition to the events themselves, there are those who simply come to the North Shore to take part in the action and watch the people. »
He added that it’s always a plus when there’s so much going on, because it’s an opportunity to introduce his business to many people who otherwise wouldn’t spend much time on the North Shore.
“Recurring business is our lifeblood,” he said. “Of course we have to deal with this in a typically hectic environment and more stressful for staff than on a regular day, but we’re used to it here. ”
Montaño said the city is prepared to handle the influx of visitors who will come for the concert, parade and arts festival, not to mention the 3 Rivers Comicon at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center and Jeff Goldblum’s evening performance at the Benedum Center.
“We are well prepared for whatever happens,” she said. “We have proven time and time again that we can handle these types of events that celebrate our diversity. »
Asked about preparations for the weekend, Pittsburgh public safety officials said Pittsburgh Police Chief Larry Scirotto would provide more details Friday.
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