A colorful laser show over Point State Park marked the culmination of two decades of splash-filled fun... the Three Rivers Regatta. According to Bruce Brindza, executive president of the Regatta, the attendance during the six-day event set a record, perhaps even more than the 1.5 million record set in 1995 -- which was only four days long.

Sail forward in time to 1997, where the weather was comparable but the event was longer -- six days of events spread over two weekends. Brindza estimated that daily attendance at the Regatta was about 200,000 or more each day. Nevertheless, the biggest crowd of the event (an estimated 500,000 watchers) was for the 30-minute fireworks display on August 9th, Saturday night.

Advertised on local television and radio as the third largest in the world, the promotional statement was made based on the length of the show, the size of the shells used to create the prismatic pryotechnic explosions, the speed with which they burst and the production coordination. Making these determinations was George Zambelli, of the famed Zambelli Internationale Fireworks firm based in New Castle.

While many came to see such traditional events as the Regatta's Anything That Floats Race or the Three Rivers Regatta Formula 1 Race, others went to watch the free concerts at The Point. OnTV caught up with Regatta-goer Jason Pajo, from Monroeville.

"I came here to see [the once defunct late eighties R&B group] Cameo for free," he replied, "if they play a funkier, updated version of [their late eighties mainstream pop hit] 'Word Up', then I won't be disappointed."

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