Boats are docked on the Allegheny River at Kittanning Riverfront Park at last year's Rockin' for Lockin.' The event helps fund operations of the locks that were closed near Kittanning several years ago.

KITTANNING, Armstrong County — Music enthusiasts can enjoy the area's most popular band this weekend while supporting recreational boaters.

The fourth annual Rockin' for Lockin' will be Friday night and Saturday night at Kittanning Riverfront Park on South Water Street.

The event supports the Allegheny River Development Corp., which was started in 2012 by a group of citizens after several locks were closed on a rural stretch of the Allegheny River, said Linda Hemmes, the ARDC president.

Locks lower or raise boats using the water in the river or canal so the vessels can get past dams that are across the river.

The locks were closed because they are funded through commercial tonnage that goes through the locks, and the five rural locks have no commercial tonnage.

Last year the group raised a total of $160,000 to keep the locks open on the weekends for recreational boaters. Each lock cost $93.50 per hour to run, and the Army Corps of Engineers charges for 10 hours at each lock when they are open, Hemmes said.

She said the locks are available for use from Memorial Day to sometime in October each year so the recreational boaters can safely move past the many dams on the river.

Last year's Rockin' for Lockin' raised $20,000 for the ARDC's efforts, Hemmes said.

This year The Clarks will headline the concert at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday night. The Vagrants will open the concert at 5 p.m. Raffle items include a pallet of beer, a paddleboard and lessons and a 50/50 drawing.

Boats can dock at Riverfront Park for $30 per night, or $50 for the weekend, presale only.

Saturday's festivities will begin at noon, when a local pastor will bless the boats. A DJ will play music until 5 p.m., when the concert begins.

The event will kick off on Friday night, when a disc jockey will spin records from 6 to 11 p.m.

Food trucks will also be available at both events, Hemmes said.

There is no charge for the event, but participation in the raffles is encouraged, she said.

More information and dock reservations are available at www.alleghenyriverdevelopmentcorporation.org.