Labor Day weekend in Pittsburgh will feature football, baseball and ribs
TribLive
If you are heading to the North Shore this Labor Day weekend it is best to have a game plan, especially on Saturday.
The University of Pittsburgh football opens its season hosting cross-town rival Duquesne University at noon Saturday at Acrisure Stadium.
The Banana Ball World Tour, featuring the entertaining Savannah Bananas, are playing at 7 p.m. at PNC Park on Friday and Saturday. Activities around the ballpark begin at 2 p.m. each day. Federal Street from General Robinson Street, through the Roberto Clemente Bridge, will close to vehicular traffic beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday and will reopen at 6 a.m. Sunday.
And the annual Acrisure Stadium Kickoff and Rib Fest presented by I.C. Light will take place Thursday through Monday.
The Kickoff and Rib Festival started in 1990 at Three Rivers Stadium. It features concerts by national artists, a dozen rib vendors and games.
There will be a post-game street party from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
Hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, noon to 11 p.m. Sunday and noon to 9 p.m. Monday.
Details: acrisurestadium. com Just across the river, the Soul Food Festival is happening Friday through Sunday in Downtown Pittsburgh.
Going bananas
The popular barnstorming baseball event originally from Savannah, Ga., is in town for two exhibition games featuring the Savannah Bananas and the Texas Tailgaters on Friday and Saturday. Crowds of more than 30,000 guests are expected at each event.
Pedestrian traffic on Federal Street outside PNC Park will be available only on the east side of the walkway. A plaza on Federal Street will be open for ticketed guests only. Gates to PNC Park will open at 4:30 p.m. each day. On-street parking is prohibited on the North Shore during events.
From 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Saturday there will be limited access to the North Shore, as roads will be blocked off to exit football fans. The only access to the North Shore during this time will be from Interstate 279.
After 4:45 p.m. Saturday, the remainder of the North Shore parking lots and garages will become available. Fans can utilize Pittsburgh Regional Transit and park Downtown and ride to the North Shore. The Gateway Clipper Fleet will have boats bringing fans from Station Square on Pittsburgh’s South Side to PNC Park.
Parking
Because multiple events are happening at the same time, parking will be challenging, said Ralph Reetz, general manager for Alco Parking.
He said they have been told to expect 35,000 to 40,000 for the football game, and some of the traffic from that game and the Savannah Bananas will overlap. There are two games Friday and Saturday, with more than 30,000 fans expected at each game.
Parking lots will open at 7 a.m. Saturday. Most of the lots for the Pitt and Duquesne game have been pre-sold, Reetz said.
