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Three Rivers Arts Festival 2012

By , About.com Guide

Three Rivers Arts Festival in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Three Rivers Arts Festival

© 2003 Pittsburgh Regional Alliance
The popular Three Rivers Arts Festival celebrates 53 years of art, music, performance and community from June 1-10, 2012, at Point State Park, Gateway Center, and numerous Cultural District locations. The 10 days of the Three Rivers Arts Festival promise to be packed with a mix of free art, live music, fine food, and festival fun. The most popular parts of the Three Rivers Arts Festival are the program of free outdoor concerts and the vibrant artist market where artists from all over the country display and sell their wares.

When:

June 1-10, 2012
Artists Market: 12 noon - 8:00 p.m. daily
Galleries: 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Mon-Sat and 12:00 - 6:00 p.m. Sun
Creativity Zone: 12 noon - 6:00 p.m. daily
Food Court: 12 noon - 9:00 p.m. (or later) daily

Most programs are free and open to the public.

Where:

The downtown Pittsburgh location is very walkable, concentrated around the central hub of Point State Park and Gateway Center. Other Three Rivers Arts Festival locations can be found in plazas, galleries and theaters throughout the Cultural District.

Admission:

Admission to the festival and activities are FREE. There are a few events in the Cultural District, not directly related to the Three Rivers Arts Festival, which require paid tickets.

Venue Locations:

Festival Mainstage: Point State Park
Children's Area: Point State Park
Artists Market: Gateway Center Plaza
Plazas, galleries and theaters throughout the Cultural District

Looking For Something?

  • Restrooms - Portable restrooms are located on the opposite side of the Portal Bridge in Point State Park. Most Cultural District galleries provide indoor restroom facilities.
  • A Specific Artist - Check out the Artists Market page on the Three Rivers Arts Festival website to browse artists by date and medium. You can also search for a specific artist by name in the search box in the upper right hand section of the page.

  • Lost & Found - Visit the information booth closest to where you lost your item. If you’ve already left the festival, email a description of the item you lost to operations[at]3riversartsfest[dot]org.

  • Lobster Burgers - The popular lobster burger stand is located in Hertz Gateway Center Plaza, near the Gateway Towers building.

Artists Market:

A popular part of the Three Rivers Arts Festival, the Artists Market offers unique handmade pieces of art from over 300 artists around the country and demonstrations by local artists. Held throughout the 10 days of the Three Rivers Arts Festival. From jewelry to ceramics, fiber to sculpture, new artists arrive on June 1, 6 and 8. The 2012 Market is located at booths in Point State Park and along Penn Avenue extension near Gateway Center.

Creativity Zone:

Located near the main entrance to Point State Park, just west of the Portal Bridge, the expanded Creativity Zone entertains kids of all ages with activities such as craft projects and its own stage with three children-friendly performances daily. All activities are free.

Schedule of Major Events & Concerts:

There's always a concert or performance going on at the Three Rivers Arts Festival, showcasing new and emerging talents, as well as singer-songwriter and performance legends. Pittsburgh JazzLive International, will enrich opening weekend of the Three Rivers Arts Festival with performances on four outdoor stages. Pittsburgh native Squonk Opera returns to perform an all new multimedia show on June 8, 9, and 10, 2012. And a new Bluegrass Day will premier at the festival on June 9, 2012.

All evening headline concerts for 2012 are presented on the Dollar Bank Main Stage at Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh:

Friday, June 1st, 8:00 - 9:15 p.m. - The Wailers
Together with Bob Marley, the Wailers have sold in excess of 250 million albums. As the greatest living exponents of Jamaica’s reggae tradition, the Wailers have played to an estimated 24 million people worldwide.
Additional performance: Wizdom, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 2nd, 7:45 - 9:30 p.m. - Kathleen Edwards
On tour supporting her album, Voyageur, Kathleen Edwards continues to receive critical praise for her music. The New York Times says her work "…embodies an evolving idea about what roots music can be."
Additional performance: Paul Luc, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 3rd, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. - Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra provides musical experiences at the highest level of expression to enrich the community and to satisfy the needs and preferences of its audiences. Additional performance: Big With Seed, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Monday, June 4th, 8:00 - 9:15 p.m. - The Boogie Hustlers
After nearly a decade of performing and recording together, the Boogie Hustlers are recognized as a staple of the region’s music scene. Set to release their fourth album in late summer 2012, the band continues to meld original songs firmly anchored in the groove, yet garnished with numerous stylistic influences.
Additional performances: Silencio (7-7:45 p.m.) and Pete Bush and the Hoi Palloi (6-6:45 p.m.)

Tuesday, June 5th, 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. - Dawes
The Los Angeles-based band offers a blend of singer/songwriter reflection with folk, country, ringing guitars, soaring harmonies, and heartfelt melodies. Constant touring and collaboration with some of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest artists has translated to staggering growth and evolution while still manifesting a distinctive, unforgettable voice.
Additional performances: Sara Watkins (7-7:45 p.m.) and Caleb Pogyor & The Talkers (12-1:00 p.m.)

Wednesday, June 6th, 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. – Timothy B. Schmit
Groundbreaking vocalist, songwriter, and bass player Timothy B. Schmit – well-known for his work as a member of The Eagles and Poco – performs with his band songs from his fifth solo album, Expando, as well as gems by The Eagles and Poco.
Additional performance: City Dwelling Nature Seekers, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Thursday, June 7th, 8:10 - 9:30 p.m. – LP
Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter-artist LP is a gripping performer with a powerful, graceful voice, a rockin' ukulele, and a dynamic, versatile band. Supporting act is Jonathan Richman, an internationally-revered singer/songwriter famous for his guileless honesty and playfully catchy compositions.
Additional performance: The Red Western, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Friday, June 8th, 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. – Carolina Chocolate Drops
The GRAMMY Award winning trio has proven that the old-time, fiddle and banjo-based music they have so scrupulously researched and passionately perform can be a living, breathing, ever-evolving sound.
Additional performance: Boulevard of the Allies, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Saturday, June 9th – Bluegrass Day
Featuring the Del McCoury Band (8-9:30 p.m.), Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band (6:30-7:30 p.m.), and Greensky Bluegrass (5-6:00 p.m.), along with music from Mon River Ramblers (2-3:30 p.m.) and Midnight Drive.

Sunday, June 10th, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. – Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers
Twenty five years after winning a Best New Artist GRAMMY Award and launching one of contemporary music’s most diverse and collaborative careers, Bruce Hornsby is still, blissfully, making joyful noise—and finding clever, expansive ways to chronicle the dynamic musical snapshots along the journey.
Additional performance: Van Ghost, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.


View the full schedule of 2012 Three Rivers Arts Festival concerts and performances.

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