Rochester Riverfront Park stage returns to action with Jaggerz concert & Oktoberfest event

ROCHESTER ― Closed for 13 years, the Rochester Riverfront Park concert stage makes its long-awaited return in October.

Located under the Rochester-Monaca Bridge, the stage will host an Oct. 29 Oktoberfest concert starring Beaver Valley chart-toppers The Jaggerz from 5-7 p.m., with in-demand country band Tony Barge's Honky Tonk Heroes as support act from 2-4 p.m.

The free concert is part of the borough's all-ages Oktoberfest event that also will include kids' activities like face painting, plus crafts and food vendors such as Buzzi's Pizza and Ambridge Italian Villa. Information tents will be there also, representing local organizations, according to Rochester Councilwoman Renee Simmons, president of the borough's Recreation Board.

The canvas-roofed stage does not have an official name presently. It briefly bore the name The Times Riverfront Stage, though people mainly referred to it as the Rochester Riverfront Stage when it hosted the popular Rockin' The Suburbs music festival in 2005-09. Popular Pittsburgh rockers Joe Grushecky and Norman Nardini both headlined shows there before Rochester officials ordered the site closed in 2010, citing structural concerns.

"The current from the river had undermined the stage," Rochester Borough Manager John Barrett said.

In the past year or so, "The stage has been getting repairs and been fixed up for holding events there again," he said.

Workers replaced the decking, fixed fabric tears to the stage's roof, upgraded electricity and resurfaced the entire stage and spectator area, Barrett said.

"We're still going to put a fence up to make sure people don't fall in the river," he said.

When a 10-year ownership lease of the property to Marion Hill Associates of New Brighton expired, the borough could commence with converting the site back to a public recreation area, Barrett said.

For years, construction equipment had been stored there.

But now it's back to entertainment.

The Jaggerz frontman, Jimmie Ross, said he can't wait to perform there.

"Should be fun," he said. "This is great for Beaver County."

Rochester's newly appointed recreation board chief Simmons said she is "gung-ho" to hold events there, including a possible regatta.

"We plan to start using it to its full potential from now on," she said.

Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@timesonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Rochester Riverfront Park stage returns to action with Jaggerz concert