The cancellation of Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Regatta didn’t sink plans for all of the weekend’s events.

Squonk Opera still will premiere its newest show “Hand to Hand” as planned Saturday in PPG Plaza, Downtown.

The American Cancer Society’s Paddlesport Championship, scheduled for Sunday, will happen as well. It will be the second year for the 6-mile event, where people race their kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. at the Heinz Quay behind Heinz Field on the Allegheny River. The race will start at 11 a.m. and covers all three rivers.

To learn more about the Paddlesport Championship, contact Emma Craven at emma.craven@cancer.org or 724-859-5231. Online registration is available at main.acsevents.org/pghpaddle2019.

The Squonk premiere will be part of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s Saturday Night Market and Downtown Sound Music Series, which occurs weekly in Market Square.

“We are always thrilled to see the mettle and charm of our hometown — Squonk has had people all over town offering to help make this show happen right here, at home, before heading out to Chicago and Kennedy Center, and the world,” said Jackie Dempsey, composer for Squonk in a statement.

“And it will happen, thanks to Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and Highwoods Properties, for a slew of shows downtown, surrounded by Pittsburgh artists and bands, just as we had hoped. The world’s biggest puppetteered hands belong here, in Pittsburgh! We are hands on, handy, we make things happen! Hand to Hand.”

Squonk Opera’s performances will add to the lineup of entertainment for the Night Market.

All performances are free.

Here’s the schedule: 5, 6:30, 8 and 9:30 p.m. –Squonk Opera’s “Hand to Hand,” PPG Plaza

5:30 to 6:30 p.m. — Kevin Finn on City Paper Stage, Market Square

7 to 8 p.m. – Amy Melissen, Market Square

8:30 to 9:30 p.m. – Zachary Lee, Market Square

The fact that Squonk Opera still will be seen in Pittsburgh is incredible, said Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership in a statement.

Squonk’s first show was performed in a Pittsburgh junkyard, with choreographed cranes, roaring earthmovers, and screaming machine shears over 25 years ago.

Billy Strings, who was scheduled to headline the regatta’s music acts, now will play at the Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks.

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