The heat wave didn’t stop patrons from dancing the night away at RiverFest, a two-day, family-friendly event packed with great music, food, vendors, and a beautiful view of the Monongahela River.
A new festival in Washington County kicked off summer at the Monongahela Aquatorium. The Rockin' on the Mon RiverFest, presented by the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency, is a two-day, family-friendly festival that happened June 21-22 and launched the summer-long music series, Rockin’ on the Mon.
Since 2013, the Monongahela Aquatorium has hosted live music every Saturday night from mid-June until late August. Every year the venue hosts a variety of bands from all over Southwestern Pennsylvania. With river views and live music, RiverFest was a perfect way to kick off summertime in the Mon Valley.
The heat wave didn’t stop patrons from dancing the night away at RiverFest. The music festival, which is in its inaugural year, was packed with live music and a beautiful view of the Monongahela River. Gates opened at 4 pm on Friday, which kickstarted the epic lineup, which included Stampede, Buckwild Live, and Bon Journey.
Gates opened at 2:30 pm on Saturday, which allowed for more bands to rock out on the river all day long. Saturday’s lineup included Day One, Broom, Gene The Werewolf, and The Commonheart. As the night went on, guests were encouraged to dance along to classic songs and new hits alike. DJ AJ Fresh played tunes in between each band to keep the music alive.
After the Monongahela Aquatorium's restoration in 2012, the Rockin’ on the Mon summer music series quickly became a summer tradition for locals and guests alike in the Mon Valley region. The Aquatorium boasts bleachers that host up to 3,700 patrons, a flat platform for additional seating or dancing and several boat docks. Guests from surrounding counties came together to experience a new way to enjoy the Aquatorium.
Whether floating on the river or dancing in the stands, the Monongahela Aquatorium has plenty of space to enjoy Rockin’ on the Mon all summer long.
The Wooden Peel served up freshly made wood-fired pizza with toppings like hot honey, sausage, and mushrooms. Other food and beverage stands served lemonade, boba tea, snow cones, and loaded fries. Alcoholic beverages were also available to purchase. Wristbands were required for all patrons consuming alcohol and will continue to be required at every Rockin’ on the Mon event.
Free T-shirts were given to the first hundred guests each day during RiverFest upon entry courtesy of the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency. In between shows, guests were encouraged to play cornhole or browse local vendors, like Paparazzi and Debbie’s Crafted Creations.
Even though RiverFest is over, you can still enjoy other local bands throughout the summer during the rest of the Rockin’ on the Mon summer concert series. Additional bands set to perform at Rockin’ on the Mon this summer include Highwaymen Live and Hollywood Nights, with special guest The Clarks closing out the season with a grand finale. All bands are based out of the Greater Pittsburgh area.
The Rockin’ on the Mon summer concert series will take place every Saturday now through August. Gates will open at 6 pm and bands will go on starting at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $10 and are available to purchase at the gate or online through Eventbrite. Concerts will go on, rain or shine. Food vendors may change. Additional information such as band line-ups can be found online.
Parking for RiverFest and all future Rockin’ on the Mon events are located on both sides of Railroad Street near the Monongahela Aquatorium. No outside food or drink is permitted. Patrons must have their ID to consume alcohol on the premises. Cash payments are encouraged for admission and vendors. What are you waiting for? Get on down to the Mon for a rockin' good time!