The Last Splash
On October 18th, the Pittsburgh community came together at Allegheny Landing to celebrate the overwhelming success of Shore Thing’s first season with one last splash. The Last Splash, a new programmatic initiative from Riverlife, brought together artists, musicians, vendors, and people from near and far to put a bow on this inaugural summer on the water.
From live music and food trucks to art activations, the afternoon was filled with creativity and connection. Visitors gathered to enjoy the sunshine, make new memories, and reflect on a season that transformed Pittsburgh’s riverfront into a hub of imagination, sustainability, and joy.
Among the highlights were interactive art experiences from the visionary creators who helped shape Shore Thing’s debut season. Fran Flaherty, a first-generation immigrant from the Philippines, brought new life to her piece, The Pittsburgh Chandelier. As part of The Last Splash, Fran reimagined and repurposed parts of the installation, gifting miniature versions of the Chandelier back to the community as a symbol of shared care and connection. Janel Young, the Pittsburgh-born painter and muralist behind A New Wave, led a hands-on activation that invited visitors of all ages to create their own art inspired by her mural. Celeta Hickman added movement and emotion to the celebration through a community flower release, and Tye Clarke created an immersive sculpture on board titled Honor Thy Mother, creating a multi-sensory celebration that truly embodied the spirit of Shore Thing.
Shore Thing’s First Season
When Riverlife first launched Shore Thing earlier this summer, we didn’t quite know what to expect. We had ten steel barges, one shipping container, and a big idea to bring art, music, and life to Pittsburgh’s rivers. What began as an experiment quickly became a movement, drawing over 50,000 people to the water to connect, to celebrate, and to experience something new together.
From sunrise yoga to sunset concerts, from art installations to ice cream on the deck, Shore Thing reminded us that our rivers connect us to each other, to nature, and to the heart of the city. Riverlife extends deepest gratitude to the artists, musicians, vendors, volunteers, and everyone who stopped by this summer to make Shore Thing their own. We especially thank Braddock-based BG Brewing, who was on board all season, serving bites and brews.Together, we’ve built something truly special and are living out Riverlife’s mission of creating vibrant, inclusive riverfronts alive with possibilities.
The Last Splash served as both a finale and a promise, demonstrating what’s possible when artists, neighbors, and organizations collaborate to transform public space. Though the season has ended, the current is still flowing. This was just the beginning of what’s in store for Shore Thing.
See more photos from The Last Splash here.
Funders
Shore Thing is made possible through the generous support of The Allegheny Regional Asset District. Riverlife is supported in part by the taxpayers of Allegheny County through a public grant from the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD). RAD works here.
Riverlife also acknowledges support through the PA Waterfront Development Tax Credit Program by:
Duquesne Light Company
First National Bank
The Gateway Clipper
HM Insurance Group
United Concordia Dental
UPMC Health Plan
Programming for Riverlife’s Shore Thing is made possible through the generous support of The Charity Randall Foundation.
Shore Thing also received support from Giant Eagle and The Fine Foundation.
