La Festa Italiana celebrates 40th year by opening on Friday for the first time, runs through Sept. 7
From a press release:
As La Festa Italiana celebrates its 40th year, the annual end-of-summer festival in downtown Scranton is expanding by opening on Friday evening for the first time.
La Festa will be held Labor Day weekend starting tonight through Monday, Sept. 4-7, on Courthouse Square in the heart of the city. Hours are Friday, 4 p.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Monday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
As usual, more than 80 vendors will be offering great Italian food, and continuous live entertainment will be featured on multiple stages around the square. There is no admission charge.
This year’s event also coincides with First Friday in the city, giving visitors a full array of entertainment and culinary and cultural activities at nearby venues – all within walking distance.
La Festa’s inaugural Friday night will feature one of the festival’s most popular acts – the famous Duprees will be on the main stage at 7 p.m. Continuous live entertainment for both young and older tastes is presented around the square.
La Festa Italiana will literally hit the ground running with the James R. Minicozzi Memorial 5K Run/Walk on Saturday at 10 a.m. It is sponsored by the Scranton Chapter of UNICO, the Italian-American service organization, and proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
The annual mass in Italian will be celebrated on Sunday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Cathedral (315 Wyoming Ave., Scranton), located one block from the festival site.
The Original Scala Pastry will host its 4th annual Cannoli Eating Contest on Monday at 3 p.m., and the main stage will feature The Bronx Wanderers at 7 p.m.
Festival patrons are also invited to Lackawanna Railfest ’15, hosted by the nearby Steamtown National Historic Site. Shuttle transportation will be provided between La Festa and Steamtown.
Friday, 4 p.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Monday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 4: Festival begins at 4 p.m., with a brief opening ceremony held at 6 p.m.
First Friday runs 6 p.m.-9 p.m. throughout downtown Scranton.
Jaya Yoga Studio is holding “Glowga On The Square,” a one-hour event – taught with glow sticks – on the grass near the fountains on the North Washington Avenue side of the Square at 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 5: James R. Minicozzi Memorial 5K Run begins at 10 a.m. at the corner of Lackawanna and Wyoming Avenues, where it continues to Green Ridge Street, then on to North Washington Avenue and ending at Scranton City Hall.
Mind Body Spirit Co-op will lead a session at 11 a.m. on the grass on the Linden Street side of the Square.
Sunday, Sept. 6: The mass in Italian is celebrated at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Cathedral (315 Wyoming Ave., Scranton), one block from festival site. This is a colorful and joyous worship service that always draws a standing-room-only congregation. The homilist is Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton.
Monday, Sept. 7: At 3 p.m in front of the main stage, a new tradition will also continue this year with the Cannoli Eating Contest. While Coney Island has its hot dog eating contest, and Philadelphia is the site for the Wing Bowl, La Festa will crown a Cannoli Eating Champion.
View or download a brochure listing events, entertainment, vendors, and supporters here. For more information, visit lafestaitaliana.org.
For photos from last year’s event, click here.
