PHOTO BY DAVE DICELLO

The locations and layouts of Pittsburgh Pride 2024 and Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival — two big events that are both kicking off May 31 — will be experiencing some changes this year.

Pittsburgh Pride, which had planned to hold its festivities in Point State Park on May 31-June 1, announced on Instagram this week that its access to the park had been denied by the state, which owns the park, and has had to move the event to Allegheny Commons Park West on the North Side.

But Wesley Robinson, press secretary for the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which operates the 36-acre park, said Pride never submitted a completed application to use the park, which is required. He issued this statement Wednesday:

“DCNR has not denied access to Point State Park to Pittsburgh Pride. The Department attempted to work with the organizers of Pittsburgh Pride to help them apply for the proper permitting, but at this time, Pittsburgh Pride has not submitted a completed application. The Department has made multiple attempts to contact event organizers, but they have not been responsive.

“There are guidelines in place at Point State Park for all events to ensure visitors attending them are safe and to help the park manage large events. DCNR applies these guidelines in the same way to all organizers. DCNR is supportive of the Pride event being held at Point State Park. If the organizers are interested in using the park in the future, we hope to work with them well in advance to make that happen. DCNR is committed to making the lands that we manage safe and welcoming to all Pennsylvanians.”

Pride officials could not be reached for comment.

The Instagram statement read: “Dena Stanley, co-founder of the Pittsburgh Pride Group, expressed both disappointment and determination regarding the venue change. ‘It is with a heavy heart that we face the denial from Point State Park this year,’ Stanley remarked. ‘However, we are excited to return to Allegheny Commons Park West, a venue that has long embraced our community and provided a vibrant backdrop for our celebrations.’ “

The last day of the Pride festival on June 2 had already been planned as a closing block party in Bloomfield near Trace Brewery and COBRA. 

The Three Rivers Arts Festival lost that park access in 2022 – a location it had used for decades — after the state imposed new guidelines that limited the number of days to seven that big events could use the park. The 10-day free arts and music event moved to the Downtown Cultural District.

This year — its 65th year — the event scheduled for May 31-June 9, will be expanding its audience viewing area for concerts to half of the Rachel Carson (Ninth Street) Bridge. The Green Mountain Energy Stage will be placed at the center of the bridge. The festival’s main stage will continue at the intersection of Fort Duquesne Boulevard and Ninth Street. Artist Market booths will be lined up connecting the two performance locations. 

You can see the new layout on this map. The expected 300 artists will change over multiple times throughout the festival’s 10-day run.

You can find more details on added entertainment line-ups and events here.