Col. Eagleburger’s High Stepping Good Time Band of Pittsburgh plays to a packed Vietnam Veterans Pavilion at Pittonkatonk on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Michael Pound/Pittsburgh Union Progress)
One of the stated goals of Pittonkatonk is to break the barrier between performer and audience. And that’s what happened Saturday when a break in the rain allowed the performers to lead the audience on a short parade from inside the Vietnam Veterans Pavilion in Oakland’s Schenley Park out into the burgeoning sunshine.
There would be more rain later in the day, but that didn’t faze the performers, the organizers or the audience members at Pittonkatonk, the annual May Day community festival at Schenley Park. This year’s edition, the 11th, attracted performers from Africa, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Puerto Rico and, of course, Pittsburgh.
Yamoussa Camara, of Pittsburgh’s Balafon West African Dance Ensemble, helps drive the dancers outside Schenley Park’s Vietnam Veterans Pavilion during Pittonkatonk Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Michael Pound/Pittsburgh Union Progress)
Col. Eagleburger’s High Stepping Good Time Band of Pittsburgh started the Pittonkatonk party inside the Vietnam Veterans Pavilion in Schenley Park Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Michael Pound/Pittsburgh Union Progress)Nicole Sinwell, left, helps bring the thunder with Pittsburgh’s Timbeleza inside Schenley Park’s Vietnam Veterans Pavilion during Pittonkatonk Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Michael Pound/Pittsburgh Union Progress)When the rain let up, Pittsburgh’s Timbeleza led the crowd outside Schenley Park’s Vietnam Veterans Pavilion during Pittonkatonk Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Michael Pound/Pittsburgh Union Progress)
Jamie Moore dances and plays with Pittsburgh’s Timbeleza outside Schenley Park’s Vietnam Veterans Pavilion during Pittonkatonk Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Michael Pound/Pittsburgh Union Progress)A Pittonkatonk sign hangs from the Vietnam Veterans Pavilion in Schenley Park Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Michael Pound/Pittsburgh Union Progress)
