Volunteer Workday – Swissvale Hill Rain Garden
Swissvale Hill Rain Garden, 1301 E Swissvale Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15221
Music festivals have long been a powerful way to build community, celebrate creativity, and connect people to something larger than themselves.
Set beneath the trees of Frick Park at the confluence of Tranquil Trail and Falls Ravine Trail, the Turn It Upstream Music Festival brings that spirit to life in a uniquely Pittsburgh setting. Every element of the festival is curated to reflect UpstreamPgh’s work at the intersection of art, environmental advocacy, and community.
Part fundraiser and part love letter to our region’s deep connection to nature and the arts, this first-ever celebration serves as UpstreamPgh’s marquee 25th anniversary event. Local artists, food vendors, and community partners will transform the park hollow for an evening of music, creativity, and connection at the meeting point of Fern Hollow Creek and Nine Mile Run.
Environmental activities, demonstrations, and guided walks will highlight the history and future of watershed restoration, while festival-goers gather to celebrate UpstreamPgh’s impact by activating one of Frick Park’s hidden spaces for a vibrant community celebration.
Guests are encouraged to embrace their favorite festival style when planning their attire and decorating their personal “chill space” on the lawn. This Sustainable, zero waste event– powered by Zero Fossil– will set the tone with environmentally conscious staging and atmosphere—ensuring the festival is as green as it is unforgettable.
Join us for the inaugural Turn it Upstream Music Festival, Friday evening June 26, 2026, beginning at 5pm in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Frick Park.
Rick Sebak makes unusual television programs.
His slightly wacky documentaries now celebrate various aspects of modern American life and the unexpected charms of Pittsburgh. Audiences have learned to recognize his friendly narrative style and the unusual topics that he obviously loves.
Since 1987 when he began work at WQED, he has produced more than 25 documentaries about the history, the neighborhoods, the buildings, the people, and the food of western Pennsylvania. His programs include Kennywood Memories, Things That Aren’t There Anymore, Pennsylvania Diners, The Strip Show, What Makes Pittsburgh ittsburgh?, 25 Things I Like About Pittsburgh, and Happy Holidays in Pittsburgh, among others.
From 2010 through 2013, he also produced a regular weekly program titled It’s Pittsburgh & a Lot of Other Stuff, which covered many topics including Pittsburgh’s annual Dirty Dozen Bike Ride in a program that won the Mid-Atlantic Emmy® for Best Sports Special.
Sebak has also put together more than a dozen national programs for PBS that celebrate various aspects of modern American culture from sandwiches to cemeteries. His 1999 documentary titled A Hot Dog Program has become a perennial summertime favorite on PBS stations across the country.
Sebak was nominated for two prime-time Emmy Awards for his work on Fred Rogers: America’s Favorite Neighbor. He has received numerous local awards and recognitions, including 10 regional Emmy Awards and an honorary doctorate from Seton Hill University. He lives in Regent Square and is an avid fan of Frick Park.
Thunderously funky screams of brass meet the mischievously playful grooves of modern dance music. Beauty Slap uses horns, keys, and electronics to deliver their self-described genre, future-brass-thunder-funk direct to audience’s brains. The result is an irresistible urge to dance.
From performing as featured soloists in front of the Pittsburgh Symphony orchestra to providing race day music on the track of the Indy 500, Beauty Slap’s infectiously fun live show is optimized for dissemination of good vibes on a global scale.
NASH.V.ILL is ‘…a hard-rockin’ funk and soul band fronted by singer Jacquea Mae and guitarist Byron Nash, who describes their vibe as “P-Funk meets Aretha Franklin at a Jimi Hendrix concert while listening to Black Sabbath on the way to the show.” ‘
– Excerpt from Joey Spehar’s WYEP Pittsburgh Artist of the Week Feature published October 26, 2023
Colatura makes music that balances shimmer and distortion–dreamy one moment, blown-out the next, anchored by sharp hooks and unfiltered storytelling. Long a fixture of Brooklyn’s indie scene, the band relocated to Pittsburgh in 2024, bringing their fuzz-soaked melodies and emotionally candid songwriting with them. Their most recent EP, If I’m Being Honest (Easy Does It Records) plays like a series of late-night confessionals–introspective, nostalgic, and cathartic.
The band has appeared at festivals including SXSW, Capitol Hill Block Party, NXNE, NewColossus, WYEP’s Summer Music Festival, and Pittsburgh’s Millvale and Northside Music Festivals. Following the release of If I’m Being Honest, Colatura toured extensively across the US, UK, and Europe, continuing to carve out their place in the modern indie rock landscape
the anonymous chronicles is the moniker used by Pittsburgh musician Paul Rouse. Drifting from melodic folk soul to fuzzed out indie rock, it’s a project that takes a ride wherever the winds blow. The latest recording, I Am Everything, is a nostalgic take on mid-90s indie fuzz.
A musician, DJ and producer, Buscrates has been making music in some form since practically before he could walk and started rocking parties behind the decks since he was in single digits. His journey, initially inspired early on by the music emanating from his father’s sound system, has grown to encompass many experiences as he has honed the two major poles of his musical inspiration: classic boom-bap hip-hop and the endlessly colorful world of synth-crazy post-disco boogie-funk. Both of these strains are heavily informed by his notorious record collection. Crates’ new material is a natural progression from the sounds he has devised over the years, achieving a new level of ready-for-prime-time sophistication that manages to surpass even his previous efforts. It reflects the increasingly global perspective that has come with the increased time on the road he has experienced as demand for his unique and distinctive approach to sound and groove construction grows, not to mention the confidence that has come as a result of his interactions and collaborations with such notable figures as home-state hero DJ Jazzy Jeff, Dâm-Funk, Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y.
3 Rivers Outdoor Co.
412 Justice
Angie Benson Pottery
Communitopia
Community Forge
East Hills Consensus Group
Environmental Justice Table
Grow Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Bureau of Environmental Services
Pittsburgh Park Rangers
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
Wild Ones Western PA Chapter
WorkshopPGH
Interested in becoming a sponsor of this year’s festival?
Contact Ryan Ferrebee, Development Director.
Questions about the festival? You’re in the right place! Whether you’re planning your visit, looking to get involved, or just curious what to expect, we’ve got some quick answers below. This is a locally devised, community powered, environmentally focused event—so you’ll see that spirit reflected in everything from how to get here to how to pitch in.
We’ll keep this page updated as more details come together—check back often, and get ready to Turn it Upstream!
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Email us at in**@*********gh.org
Our 2026 lineup is officially set. If this festival hits the way we think it will, we’d love to open things up to more artists in future years—stay tuned.
Kinda?! For our first year, we’re prioritizing space for longtime partners and environmentally focused nonprofits. Once we know how many spots are left, we’ll reach out to additional potential vendors. Want to be considered? Sign up for updates here and sure to check ‘Becoming a Festival Vendor.’
Yes—and we’d love your help! Volunteers will play a big role in making the festival run smoothly, from guiding guests to supporting recycling efforts. Interested? Fill out this form. We’ll be in touch soon with details.
This is our first year, so we’re starting small and dreaming big. We’re planning for a few hundred attendees. If demand grows, we may need to cap attendance to ensure a sustainable event. Once tickets are available, we recommend grabbing yours early so you don’t miss out—and so we can plan accordingly.
Yes. Even though it’s one of the longest days of the year, we’ll be going past sundown, and lighting will be kept mostly within the festival area to minimize light pollution and disturbances to wildlife.
If you’re planning to stay until the end (we hope you do!), we recommend bringing a flashlight, headlamp, or a fully charged phone to help guide your way out of the park. Frick Park closes at 11:00 PM, and the festival will wrap up with plenty of time for a safe exit.
We’re all about reducing our impact and being good neighbors, so we encourage low-impact ways to get here. A full “Getting There” guide is on the way, but here’s the quick version:
1. Walk or Bike
If you’re nearby, this is the best way to arrive. You’ll enjoy the park and avoid traffic—and we’ll have bike racks on site for you.
2. Public transit
Frick Park Hollow is a short walk from several PRT bus stops. It’s an easy, eco-friendly option. A more robust guide is coming soon.
3. Rideshare
Coming from farther out? Grab a friend (or two) and share a ride. Preferred drop-off/pick-up location details are coming soon.
4. Carpool (if you must drive)
Please avoid driving solo. There will be no festival parking in the Lower Frick Park lot. If you drive, plan to park in nearby neighborhoods like Regent Square or Squirrel Hill, visit some local businesses, and enjoy a short walk through the park to the venue. Please be respectful of our neighbors— illegally parked cars may be towed.
We’re committed to making the festival accessible. We’re currently finalizing drop-off and pickup logistics—if you have specific needs, please reach out to in**@*********gh.org so we can support you.
Then you might get wet…but the show goes on! This is a rain-or-shine event, and we’re planning to keep the music going through anything short of severe weather (like high winds or lightning).
If it looks like rain, bring a rain jacket or poncho, embrace the vibes, and get ready to dance either way.
We will have multiple portable restrooms (including accessible models) for your comfort.
Nope—and honestly, you won’t miss it. Like most large outdoor events, cell service can get spotty once we hit critical mass, so sending texts or loading apps might be a challenge.
Take it as an opportunity to unplug, be present, and enjoy the moment. The photos and videos will still be there to post when you get home.
Absolutely. We’re right at the crossroads of several Lower Frick Park trails, so feel free to come and go as you please. In fact, we encourage you to explore—try taking one of our walking tours along Nine Mile Run or Fern Hollow Creek while you’re here.
Just make sure to keep your wristband on, and we’ll welcome you back anytime.
Yes! Some ticket tiers include food and drink vouchers, and you’ll also be able to purchase food and beverages on-site. We’ll have free drinking water available, so feel free to bring an empty water bottle to refill throughout the night.
Swissvale Hill Rain Garden, 1301 E Swissvale Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15221
Rosedale Hill Rain Garden, 401 Rosedale St, Pittsburgh, PA 15221
UpstreamPgh Office, 321 Pennwood Ave, Suite 202, Pittsburgh, PA 15221
UpstreamPgh Office, 321 Pennwood Ave, Suite 202, Pittsburgh, PA 15221
Lower Frick Park Play Area, Pittsburgh, PA
Harold Young Sr. Parklet, 739 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15221
East Hills Rain Garden, Bricelyn Street at Dornbush Street
Wilkinsburg Public Library, 605 Ross Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15221