Moraine State Park Regatta highlights county treasure
MUDDY CREEK TWP — A winding line of cars stretched along Pleasant Valley Road on Friday, Aug. 5, anxiously queuing for the annual Moraine State Park Regatta.
Event director Amanda Becker said the festival was a means of promoting one of the county’s foremost treasures: the park itself.
“There’s a lot of people, whether it’s down in the city or here in Butler County, that have never been to Moraine State Park,” Becker said. “They get here and they say, ‘This is in our backyard? This is awesome.’”
The regatta ran from 10 a.m to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, with live music, vendors and water sports galore.
“It’s a chance for people to experience Moraine State Park and all of the things there are to do,” Becker said. “And, within that, I think one of the most exciting parts is all the recreation we have available.”
Holding the first catch of the day at the “Lake Arthur Lily Pad” kids area, 12-year-old Bowen Kwolek, of Oakdale Borough in Allegheny County, said the activities were “very, very fun.”
“That was my first fish ever,” he said, showing off the little bluegill swinging from his line.
Bowen said he was brought to the event by his grandfather, Brian Scheibel, who is a frequent visitor at the park.
“I didn’t really have a say in it, he kind of just dragged me out,” he said, laughing. “Now that I’m out here, I know that you can fish and I caught a fish, it’s fun.”
And while Bowen was excited for kayaking, rock-climbing and beef jerky, he said he was most impressed by the park’s natural beauty.
“I really like the view,” he said. “It’s really nice to look out and see all the trees on the water.”
Scheibel said it was only the second time his grandson had been at the park.
“I come up here a lot, I love this place,” Scheibel said. “I love the mountain bike trails up here. We kayak up here a lot too.”
But the fun didn’t stop at just fishing and kayaking, according to Becker, with the weekend-long event boasting a variety of both land- and water-based activities.
“The recreations that’s here is archery, fly fishing, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, ‘SUP with Your Pup’ — that’s stand-up paddleboarding with your dog — sailing, yoga, bocce, rock-climbing, and taekwondo,” she said.
Joining one of the many events was as simple as signing up, getting a wristband, and waiting in line, Becker said.
“The idea is to introduce people to all of these different kinds of recreation,” she said.
And Harvey Flowers, the regatta’s board president, emphasized that it was all free.
“With the exception of food and where people are selling stuff, the events you go to — parking — is free,” he said. “Thank goodness for our sponsors, and our recreation partners, and the park for allowing us to have our event here.”
The free, jam-packed weekend also featured live music, paddleboat races, axe throwing, a car cruise and a host of vendors.
One of the many vendors, Jerrod Seivers of Seivers Tents and Events, said the regatta was “a nice, local, small show.”
“It’s always good weather and they do a nice job here,” he said. “They have a couple nice car shows, a lot of activities for families and a lot of good water experiences.”
And while Friday’s show concluded with a colorful fireworks display, Flowers said the Regatta would hold its traditional closing ceremony for Sunday.
“On Sunday we have a closing-night butterfly release,” he said.
The Memorial Butterfly Release allowed individuals to sponsor a monarch butterfly in memory or in honor of someone. The butterflies are then released in an effort to repopulate the dwindling species.
“They come in this little envelope and they’re asleep, and you open that envelope and they fly out,” Beckers said. “It’s great for little kids to release the butterflies, and then there’s a box of about 100 that we open up also.”
Whether its butterflies, fireworks or fishing, the regatta proved Moraine State Park really does have something for everyone.
“If you can, get on down here,” Seivers said.
