Kenny Chesney concert, festivals will make for a busy weekend in Pittsburgh

Louie Wall of Monongahela was among the boaters who arrived at the North Shore river walk near Acrisure Stadium earlier this week to get a prime spot for the Kenny Chesney concert today. Wall snapped this photo Friday as the crowds began to fill the city.

Pittsburgh Regional Transit spokesman Adam Brandolph said people looking to travel to, through and around the festivities should be prepared for some delays.

By RYAN DETO, JULIA FELTON AND JOANNE KLIMOVICH HARROP Trib Total Media

Call it the trifecta, the triple whammy or, like Pittsburgh parking magnate Merrill Stabile, the perfect storm.

However it’s described, today is shaping up to be epic 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 by the crowds at the Three Rivers Arts Fest at the Allegheny Riverfront. Not far from there, Kenny Chesney fans will be singing their hearts out during the country performer’s show at Acrisure Stadium.

“This is as close to the perfect storm as far as we can see,” said Stabile, president of ALCO Parking, which manages spaces on the North Side and in Downtown Pittsburgh. “It is going to be the busiest week of the summer because there is so much going on.”

Jerad Bachar, president and CEO of VisitPittsburgh, said the convergence of the three big events means “summer is officially underway in Pittsburgh.” Bachar, fresh off the triumph of hooking the 2026 NFL Draft, said the events allow the city to show itself off as a “must-visit travel destination” as well as generate money for local hotels, restaurants and other businesses.

The city’s tourism authority could not provide attendance numbers regarding these events last year because they do not receive that data from the organizers of the Chesney concert and cannot accurately count people attending non-ticketed events.

However, Saturday will likely see hundreds of thousands of visitors. Chesney’s last concert in Pittsburgh in 2022 attracted more than 50,000 fans and last year’s Pride parade saw 200,000 marchers. The Arts Festival in 2023 had more than 500,000 attendees over 10 days.

Parking, boating and public transit will all be at high capacity Saturday as hundreds of thousands of revelers are expected to descend upon Downtown and the city’s North Shore.

Pittsburgh Regional Transit spokesman Adam Brandolph said people looking to travel to, through and around the festivities should be prepared for some delays.

“It is not going to be a regular Saturday, that’s for sure,” he said.

Three Rivers Arts Festival opens at noon and runs until 9 p.m. The annual event includes booths, activities and performances across 10 days.

The Kenny Chesney show at Acrisure Stadium starts at 5 p.m. on Saturday, with gates opening at 4 p.m.

Parking lots on the North Shore surrounding the stadium open at noon.

Potential parking problems

Parking could get jammed on Saturday with the large events overlapping.

Stabile suggests that drivers who haven’t yet reserved a parking spot through apps like parkwhiz and ParkMobile will probably be better off using mass transit. Parking prices will be at a premium, he said, because they will be in demand.

There are nearly 10,000 spots on the North Shore and about one-third are surface spaces that can be used for tailgating, Stabile said. No tailgating is permitted in parking garages.

He said ride-share services are another option for getting to Downtown and the North Shore because people arrive at different times — but that can present challenges when everyone is trying to leave all at once.

Parking rates change based on events. Downtown lot prices will range from $15-$40, with the higher amount on Saturday. On the North Shore, parking spots at most lots and garages will be $60.

Most of the surface lots and garages take credit cards only.

“We are bracing for a huge onslaught of cars,” Stabile said. “I know I am in the parking lot business but I have to be realistic. There are only so many spaces.”

Normally, visitors to the Arts Festival are encouraged to park on the North Shore and walk across one of the three sister bridges.

David Onorato, director of Pittsburgh Parking Authority, advised visitors to get to their parking spots early.

He suggested visitors for any of the Saturday events use the parking authority’s First Avenue Garage on the edge 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 light-rail ride to Wood Street Station for the Arts Festival or to Allegheny or North Side stations for the Chesney show.

“Plan your day to get there early,” he said. “Make sure you give yourself enough time to navigate the traffic.”

All nine public parking garages will be open Downtown, Onorato said, in addition to all the private lots and garages. He expects the day to be busy, given the convergence of the two large events, but anticipates parking will remain available.

Concertgoers can also park in Station Square and ride the Gateway Clipper riverboat over to the show for $30, according to Acrisure Stadium’s website.

Bus and rail

Visitors are encouraged to avoid driving altogether.

Brandolph said Pittsburgh Regional Transit expects a lot of public transit riders on Saturday.

“There is definitely going to be high use of transit this weekend, and we are prepared for it,” he said.

But he also cautions that some riders might run into unexpected hurdles.

Brandolph said the events will close down some streets and create several bus detours, so riders should check ahead of time on the Pittsburgh Regional Transit website or call the agency’s customer service at 412-4422000.

Light-rail service through Downtown and to the North Shore is currently disrupted by construction, but will be fully restored by Saturday, Brandolph said.

He said Pittsburgh Regional Transit made it a priority to complete a Downtown reconstruction project by June 1 to accommodate the day’s events.

However, construction work on the T is still ongoing in the South Hills near Overbook Junction in Castle Shannon, so light-rail riders coming from there should factor in some extra time if traveling to Downtown and the North Shore, Brandolph said.

Busy waters

Chesney’s concerts always bring a bevy of boaters to the banks of the Allegheny River outside of Acrisure, and this year appears 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, a grill and a bar.

He said by early Saturday there will be several boats attached to his awaiting the Kenny Chesney concert.

“This place will be nuts 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 this — dock your boat right next to a stadium and listen to a concert.”

Miller said not having to fight vehicle traffic will make for an enjoyable weekend for the 12th stadium show for Chesney in Pittsburgh.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard said that boaters should prioritize safety, wear a lifejacket and boat sober.

The Coast Guard added that boaters also must follow the rules of the river, specifically that vessels cannot anchor or loiter more than 100 feet from any riverbank when in waters between the Fort Pitt Bridge, the West End Bridge and the Rachel Carson Bridge unless they have permission from the Coast Guard.

Are officials 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-oftown 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 staffing Friday through Sunday in anticipation of larger crowds.

Sukitch said there will be a steady stream of people this weekend and into next week with the Los Angeles Dodgers coming to town to play the Pittsburgh Pirates. He said having the Clemente Bridge open for the first time in two years has also brought in more business from people walking from Downtown.

“Usually on weekends like this we see that the lunch business goes straight into dinner without any letup that would be more typical on a weekend,” Sukitch said. “In addition to the events themselves, there are those that just come to the North Shore to be part of the action and people watch.”

He said it is always a plus when so many things are going on because it’s an opportunity to showcase his business to many who might not otherwise spend much time on the North Shore.

“Repeat business is our lifeblood,” he said. “Of course, we have to manage that in an environment that is typically hectic and more stressful to the staff than on an ordinary day, but we’re used to it here. “

Montaño said the city is ready to handle the influx of visitors that 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’re well prepared for everything that’s going on,” she said. “We’ve proven time and time again we can handle these types of events that celebrate our diversity.”

When asked about preparations for the weekend, Pittsburgh Public Safety officials said Pittsburgh Police Chief Larry Scirotto will provide more details on Friday.