Pittsburgh Celebrates 250, Imagine Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh 250, Imagine What You Can Do Here - America's Most Livable City - CELEBRATE

Thanks to the generosity of numerous organizations, Saturday, October 4th is shaping up to be a fitting kick-off to Pittsburgh’s two-month birthday party. Please encourage your friends, family and colleagues to check them out and join us on the 4th.

The day includes the Port of Pittsburgh commission Three Rivers 250th Flotilla Cruise; a fun morning and afternoon of 18th Century historic experiences provided by the Fort Pitt Museum, an Eagle Scout Flag Ceremony organized by the Boy Scouts of America, a community trail ride and the closing ceremonies for the PNC Legacy Trail Ride from Washington, DC; the unveiling of a permanent marker commemorating Pennsylvania’s Forbes Trail; "Imagine Ending Hunger," a 14-county food drive to make sure no one goes hungry in our region this winter; an innovation showcase featuring performances, game shows and Pittsburgh robots for kids of all ages; a salute to our military, including a flyover; a French and Indian War encampment in Boyce Park, a house tour in Lawrenceville, Community Connections events; a series of concerts by artists Born and Bred in Pittsburgh and, to top it all off, Imagine Pittsburgh Fireworks, the largest fireworks show in Pittsburgh history.

Please encourage your friends and family to check out the events and join us on the 4th.

See you on the trail to Pittsburgh.
James E. Rohr
Jim Rohr

Downloads:

Schedule of event activities & attractions (PDF file)
Best places to view Imagine Pittsburgh fireworks spectacular (PDF file)
Road closures for the Fireworks Spectacular (PDF file)
Road closures for the PNC Legacy Ride (PDF file)

100 years ago, a single Indian canoe led a massive array of vessels to recognize Pittsburgh’s treasured three rivers as the region’s strategic gateway to success. Pittsburgh Celebrates 250 will kick-off the festivities on the North Shore by re-creating the flotilla, including:

A spectacular prelude of docked vessels lit the night before setting sail;
Delta Queen salute commemorating its final historic voyage to Pittsburgh;
Rides on the ships of Pittsburgh’s famous Gateway Clipper Fleet;
Enjoy dramatic Dragon boats and other non-motorized crafts on the river;
The premier of RiverQuest’s new state-of-the-art educational vessel and boats;
Witness the work of the US Coast Guard and power of the Army Corps of Engineers water cranes, and industry barges and tugs;
The opportunity for recreational boaters to join in the largest anniversary flotilla seen on the three rivers in the last 100 years. Register for the flotilla.

The day’s program will take you through time to honor the region’s rich history, sterling present, and promising future. The festivities will include:

Historic Flag Ceremony at the Point conducted by Eagle Scouts;
Point State Park's trail marker ceremony commemorating General Forbes Campaign of 1758;
Step back in time in and around the Fort Pitt Museum and Block House with historic re-enactors, games and music;
CLO Stage performance of the “Naming of Pittsburgh” featuring General Forbes and George Washington;
Ceremony honoring the military including dramatic flyovers;
"Pittsburgh's Incredibly Innovative Innovators" by the CLO
CMU’s ROBOT 250 “thinking machines” featuring Quasi creating the technology playground of the future.

Read more: Fort Pitt Museum and Block House Events for Oct. 4 (PDF file)

Join in the closing ceremony of The PNC Legacy Trail Ride, celebrating the Great Allegheny Passage. Take part in a community ride that will commemorate the historic march of 6,000 soldiers to Pittsburgh. Accompany an overnight relay team of cyclists delivering proclamations from Washington, D.C. to recognize the importance and value of the Passage. The Finish Line Honors will:

Celebrate the 335-mile bicycle and hiking trail that restores the historic link between Washington DC and Pittsburgh;
Draw attention to “the most accessible great trail experience in the world;” and
Reinforce the health and wellness platform of Pittsburgh 250 & Fit.

Read More: Pittsburgh 250 Celebration Ready for Fast Finish (PDF file)

For Pittsburgh’s 250th anniversary, we will celebrate firsts that have made the region famous, celebrate little-known facts that give the region its character, and celebrate the unique qualities that make the region fun. WQED Host Rick Sebak, Pittsburgh’s most prolific film documentarian, will get the crowd jumping with pride and lighthearted laughter.

The Imagine That! program, developed for kids, will transform Point State Park into a virtual interactive game show set. Participants will be quizzed on their knowledge of the Pittsburgh area both past and present – and encouraged to Imag!ne a bright future here.

The region’s own national music talent will take the stage in historic Point State Park for a 250th birthday concert. Celebrating Pittsburgh's impressive contribution to America's music and entertainment, tributes via live performances to video clips and soundtracks will honor the stars that have called our region home.

Music and video will capture the classics to Broadway, jazz to pop, and Doo-Wop to rock, and highlight Pittsburgh's movie and television stars;
The "Imagine Pittsburgh" fireworks soundtrack will continue the celebration by featuring our region's inspiring performers and leaders.

The grand finale to our 250TH anniversary kick-off party will light up the "fireworks capital of the world" like never before with the largest display in the region's history and the most produced launch sites ever in the USA. Choreographed to an inspiring soundtrack celebrating Pittsburgh, our own world-renowned Zambelli Internationale will create Pittsburgh as the theater, illuminate the city as the birthday cake, light skyscrapers as candles, and close by setting the West End Bridge on fire in a Niagara Falls effect. The message to Pittsburgh: "Imagine what you can do here."

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