A busy 'Burgh weekend: Pride, arts fest, and comicon
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — It's looking like a busy weekend in the 'Burgh.
Things will be bustling and there will be a little bit of something for everyone.
At noon on Friday, the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival kicks off in the Cultural District. It's the first of 10 days of free art, music, and of course, dozens of vendors showing off and selling their work.
Headline performers will take the main stage every night at 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of Fort Duquesne Boulevard and Stanwix Street.
Meanwhile, the Pirates are back in town, hosting the Cardinals for a three-game series at PNC Park. Friday is a "Free Shirt Friday" for the first 20,000 fans. Saturday, the first 20,000 get an O'Neil Cruz bobblehead.
Sunday is Kids Day and a Sesame Street Day. Kids 14 years and under will get a Cookie Monster plush toy and get to meet some of their favorite characters.
As you may have seen, buildings all over the city are proudly showing rainbow colors to mark the start of Pride Month. The city is celebrating its 50th Pride Month this year.
Events began at 1 p.m. on Friday in Allegheny Commons Park on the North Side. On Saturday, the parade steps off at noon in Downtown and ends in Allegheny Commons Park.
Finally, 3 Rivers Comicon is back at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, and you can meet comic book creators who've worked with Marvel and DC comics.
There will be panels on a variety of topics, cosplay contests, and try out some custom brews. Doors open at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are required but kids 8 and under get in for free.
"Due to the number of events taking place simultaneously on the North Shore, particularly on Saturday, June 3, visitors should plan accordingly, as both foot and vehicle traffic is expected to be heavy," Pittsburgh Public Safety said in a release Friday.
Also, officials encourage everyone coming to the area to hydrate properly due to the expected high temperatures.
"We want to make sure everybody's staying well-hydrated," Director of Public Safety Lee Schmidt said. "So bring water, stay cool. Stay out of the sun as much as you can, wear sunscreen."
Schmidt added that medical professionals will be out just in case anyone needs assistance.
Residents said they are excited about the busy weekend.
"We're mainly here for Pride tomorrow, too," South Hills resident Faith Muse said. "But since it always coincides with the Arts Festival, we always have to look at the art, whether we buy or not. It's always fun to look at it, especially since we both like painting."