Annual Oakmont Yacht Club Regatta takes to the Allegheny

Oakmont Yacht Club will welcome boating enthusiasts and land lubbers to celebrate summer at its “OYC Regatta Tiki Hut” along the banks of the Allegheny River.

The yacht club’s 117th Regatta on July 27 offers members and guests a full day of fun family activities capped off by a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.

Regatta weekend also includes a Commodore’s Punch Bowl hosted by Commodore Gino Gattone and his first lady, Valerie, starting at 6 p.m. on July 26, and a Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 28 with musical duo Dale and Mocha.

“We are keeping mostly the same events as years’ past with a few new additions,” said Regatta Chairman Steve Myers. New events on Saturday will feature a Tarot card reader and Ace Axe Throwing of Homestead with its mobile stage.

“We start off the day with our traditional kids’ fishing contest from 8 to 10 a.m.,” he said. “We welcome any children and their families to join us in the morning to keep the tradition of fishing alive, with the biggest fish taking home the prize. Children must have their own fishing rod and life jacket and we will provide the bait.”

After the fishing tournament, the fun will continue for kids with a craft tent from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and face painting from 2 to 4 p.m. Other games and activities will include a dunk tank, corn hole tournament and canoe chug, where a team of two has to race out around a buoy and return to the docks, with the quickest team taking the win.

Myers said the yacht club is bringing back an old staple from the past for boaters during the weekend with a scavenger hunt just for boats.

“It’s been a few years since we last had this event, so I’m excited to reintroduce it to our boaters and guests,” he said. The boaters will be searching for everyday items – boating and non-boating items that they should or might have on their boat or someone else’s boat at the marina.

A “Meatball Madness” event will challenge guests to successfully drive a frozen meatball onto an “island green” in the river. The Chinese auction will offer chances to win prize baskets.

Other Saturday events include breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Outdoor Bar and Grille, a flag raising and national anthem at noon, and a Chinese auction from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Live musical entertainment will start at 11 a.m. with DJ Jazzy GC, followed by Terrance Vaughn Duo from 3 to 6 p.m., Sweet Judys from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Mojo: The Band and Friends from 7:45 to 9:30 p.m. The finale to the day’s festivities will be the fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.

“We welcome all boaters to join us for the weekend’s festivities, but we just ask that they let us know ahead of time so we can prepare a spot for them to dock,” Myers said. Boaters can call the Yacht Club office at 412-828-9847.

“If you’ve never been down to the Oakmont Yacht Club, stop by and see what we’re all about,” he added. “It’s a great event and we welcome you to come down and join us for one of the oldest community events in our area.”