Committee Begins Planning for 2017 Riverbration
Kittanning Fourth Ward Councilman Wilbur Stitt brushes bar-be-que sauce on the chicken that was cooked on the outdoor portable grill.
by David Croyle
Even as the last speed boat was making it final turn yesterday, the Riverbration Committee had already started comparing notes in preparation of next year’s event.
Racers came from Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Maryland, and various parts of Pennsylvania to participate in the first regatta to be held in 20 years in Kittanning.
The event was a joint effort between Kittanning Hose Company #1 and the Alle-Kiski Strong Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber Executive Director Lynda Pozutto was eating chicken under the tent and overwhelmed by the success of the weekend.
“It was a great first year! When I walked around, people were actually stopping me and thanking me and the fire department for bringing these races back! Some of the food vendors sold out of food (Sunday afternoon). People in the community keep telling me they want it back next year.”
Riverbration Entertainment Director Kevin Kline mixes sound for Sunday’s band: “Joe Patrick & Four on the Floor” at Kittanning Riverfront Park amphitheater
Applewold resident Chuck Niceley said crowds gathered on both sides of the Allegheny River to watch the water sport.
“I thought it was excellent! It was great! I enjoyed it! Everybody on the other side (Applewold) enjoyed it. We had a wonderful time! It was like two days of partying! It was fun to watch! Almost every deck was filled up with people. It was wonderful.”
Although rain cancelled the Sunday church services scheduled in Kittanning Riverfront Park, things were dry by noon as the races continued. The local business association held “Movie in the Park” on Friday night and various bands played each evening.
Pozutto could not estimate the crowd that stretched from the Citizen’s Bridge to the boat launch area, but acknowledged it was in the thousands. An older unidentified gentleman, who said he attended the races back in the 1990s, was convinced this year’s crowd exceeded the 5,000 reported back in that era.
“To have everyone pitching in together, to have the vendors here, to have the entertainment in the park, the racers were just in awe of Kittanning!”
The boat races will return on August 18-20, 2017.
Local News | David Croyle August 22, 2016
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By ktown_kid, August 22, 2016 @ 1:03 PM
I will agree it was very nice to see the boat races are back but to say there were thousands of people watching is alittle far fetched. I would saw the crowds were down to other events going on as well. Hopefully this is something that can grow again with the right people organizing it. Maybe they can throw in a water ski competition or something into it as well.