Photo by Abbey Reighard

By Abbey Reighard

Northsider’s of all ages celebrated in the sun at the 8th Annual Riverview Park Heritage Day Festival in Riverview Park on Saturday, June 7.

The event, which last from 12 to 4 p.m., was hosted by Citiparks and Observatory Hill Inc.

According to Jimmy Kline, program coordinator from the City of Pittsburgh Office of Special Events, 50 groups from the Northside came out to the festival and worked stands where attendees could learn about the organizations.

Kline said that the number of organizations participating in Heritage Day increased by 12 from last year’s festival numbers.

The different groups set up stands and gave out informational packets, treats and crafts. Some of the stands had live animals to show to festival-goers.

The Department of Public Safety Police Bureau brought McGruff the crime dog. Debbie Gaus, owner of Party Ponies & Farm Friends, created a petting zoo in the park for the festival. The petting zoo included donkeys, lambs and goats. The Animal Rescue League had an opossum at their stand.

Kline said this year’s festival was bicycle themed. At 1 p.m. a bike parade was held at the Chapel green space. Festival-goers were invited to decorate their own bikes and helmets and participate in the parade. There were other bicycle-themed activities, hosted by Venture Outdoors, such as bike rodeos and bike bowling.

The Carnegie Science Center gave out ‘make and take’ science crafts and the Mattress Factory passed out art project for kids to take home. Children could also stop by the RIF story mobile and listen to the story tellers from the Woods Run Branch of the Carnegie Library.

At 2 p.m., festival-goers received a complimentary lunch of hotdogs and chips. After lunch, at about 2:45 p.m. adults and children clapped and danced to a jazz performance by the Lee Robinson Quartet.

Kline said in an email prior to the festival that he was thankful for the organizations’ support and “all that [they] do to boost and invigorate the Pittsburgh region.”

Photo by Abbey Reighard