Riverfest promises fun for the entire family
RICES LANDING – A tale has it that George Washington and a small entourage of men camped in the area around Rices Landing in 1775. Later, a man by the name of John Rice arrived in the area in 1786 and purchased land on the east side of Enoch Run, now called Pumpkin Run. The town named after Rice and located on a picturesque section of the Monogahela River was incorporated in 1909.
Whether the account mentioned on Wikipedia about Washington is true or not, visitors to town this weekend will find themselves enjoying a two-day festival that celebrates the town’s river heritage.
While many people have enjoyed the river through the years, Riverfest, a two-day celebration with entertainment by popular local bands, food and craft vendors, activities for children and a big fireworks display first got off the ground in 1976. The festival had been staged every year since except for 1985 when Rices Landing was inundated by a large flood. The festival ended in 2005 when festival organizer, Remo Bertugli, passed away.
Last year, after Rices Landing Borough applied for a grant from Alpha Natural Resources and received a $11,700 grant to bring Riverfest back, approximately 3,000 visitors made the festival a success. This year, the Riverfest committee comprised of Rices Landing mayor Ryan Belski, Bill and Pat Ginsberg and Jean Jourinic managed to enlist the financial backing by more than 30 sponsors and hopes to make Riverfest better than ever.
On Friday, June 13, the gates will open at 4 p.m. in Rices Landing with more than 30 vendors, kids games and a Chinese auction organized by the Nemacolin Fire Department followed by an opening flag raising ceremony by Boy Scout Troop 1168 and remarks by State Rep. Pam Snyder and State Sen. Tim Solobay. At 6 p.m. rock band The Hamptons will take the stage followed by EQT-sponsored fireworks at 9:45 p.m.
“Our food vendors this year will include beef brisket, hot sausage and cheese steak sandwiches and ribs by the Hungarian Smokehouse, in addition to regular festival fare,” Belski said.
Admission to Friday’s events is $5 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under. Parking is free at the Rices Landing Fire Hall, the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Hewitt Presbyterian Church, and a free shuttle will take patrons from the parking lots to the festival and back on both days.
Saturday, June 14, features four country bands from the Pittsburgh area. The gates will open at 11:45 a.m., and the Michael Christopher Band will kick off the day’s entertainment at 12:30 p.m. From 2 to 4 p.m. Froggy 94.9 FM will broadcast country music live from Riverfest.
At 3 p.m. the Justin Fabus Band will take to the stage in a performance sponsored by First Energy, the Christian Beck Band will follow at 6 p.m. in a performance sponsored by Greene County Tourism and The Hillbilly Way will close out the entertainment at 9 p.m. in a concert sponsored by the Rices Landing Fire Department. Alcohol will be served under the supervision of the local police department.
“Kids activities will include games, face painting, magic by Chuck Riggle of Rices Landing and spin, airbrush tattoo and balloon artists,” Belski said.
Both days, the Petite Miss Riverfest, Junior Miss Riverfest, Teen Miss Riverfest and Miss Riverfest will mingle with the crowd wearing their tiaras and sashes. Kayaks will also be available for renting and Pumpkin Run Park will be open as will the W. A Young and Sons Foundry and Machine Shop. The Green River Trail will also be open both days for hiking and biking.
“The festival will be a rain or shine event, and we’ll have tents and tables and chairs for people to sit on,” Ryan Belski said. “People are also welcome to bring along their own chairs, if they want.”
Advance tickets are $10 and are available at the Rices Landing Giant Eagle and online at showclix.com. Tickets at the gate on Saturday are $15 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under.
“We invite everyone to come in and enjoy a day on the river and see what Rices Landing has to offer at our Riverfest 2014,” Belski said.
To help kick off the 2014 Riverfest, the Miss Riverfest Pageant was held Saturday, June 7, in the Jefferson Morgan High School auditorium.
The age divisions were: Petite Miss Riverfest, 5-7, Junior Miss Riverfest, 8-10, Teen Miss Riverfest, 11-14, Miss Riverfest, 15- Jr. in high school.
Crowned were: Petite Miss Riverfest, Jersey Gianna Smith, 7, of Carmichaels; Junior Miss Riverfest, Hannah Giles, 10, of Carmichaels; Teen Miss Riverfest, Caitlyn Ricco, 14, of Carmichaels; and Miss Riverfest, Erin Kline, 16, of Rices Landing. Each of the Queens received a crown, sash, trophy, flowers, and cash award.
First runner-ups were: Petite Miss, Bailey Smith, 6, of Carmichaels; Junior Miss, Ainsley Grace Chadwick, 10, of Carmichaels; Teen Miss, Payden Policz, 13, of Waynesburg; and Miss Riverfest, Baylee Ann Wydo, 16, of Carmichaels. Each received a trophy and flowers.
Erin Kline was theTop Seller of ads and sponsorship. She received a plaque and $100 cash award.
The Photogenic winners were: Petite Miss, Jersey Gianna Smith; Junior Miss, Hannah Giles; Teen Miss, Payden Policz; and Miss Riverfest, Baylee Ann Wydo. Each winner received a plaque.
Judges for the pageant were: Kathy Smartnick, Melanie Jo Smartnick and Mary Ann Braden.
Kathy Smartnick is the executive director of the Miss Laurel Highlands Scholarship Organization (www.MissLaurelHighlandsPageant.com), which is a franchise to Miss America. She has judged pageants in Ohio and Maryland at the state and local levels. She was a Judge’s Chairman for Miss America before becoming an executive director.
Melanie Jo Smartnick has competed for the title of Miss Pennsylvania America three times, holding the titles of Miss Keystone, Miss Greater Cranberry and Miss Steel Valley. She has been a contestant in the Miss Pennsylvania USA Pageant, and was second runner-up for Miss Pennsylvania International.
Along with her mother, Melanie is executive director for the Miss Laurel Highlands Pageant which is a preliminary for Miss Pennsylvania. Each has coached a former Miss Pennsylvania, former Miss America’s Outstanding Teen and former runner-ups to Miss Pennsylvania.
Mary Ann Braden is a former board member for the Miss Ohio Program, and has served as an Ohio and Pennsylvania delegate to the Miss America Pageant, as a member of Miss Ohio Prep Committee and as chair of the Miss Ohio Spring Forum. Mary Ann was first runner-up and named Mrs. Personality in the Mrs. Ohio Pageant. She was the executive director of the Miss Greater Cranberry Pageant and has judged pageants in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia and Arkansas.