La Festa Italiana, the celebration of Italian culture and food that fills Lackawanna County Courthouse Square in Scranton, returns Friday with some new faces and tweaks to tradition.
The hours are Friday, 4 to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Monday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
There will be about 60 food vendors. There is a charity race and a car show Saturday and Mass will be celebrated in Italian on Sunday.
Entertainment is pretty much continuous on two stages.
Scranton native Lorenzo Pugliese will perform a tribute to Frankie Valli on Saturday at 8 p.m. at La Festa Italiana.
(Auston James)
Danielle Spano and Stefani Antonova, both of Scranton, during La Festa Italiana in downtown Scranton on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. STAFF
Arcaro and Genell of Old Forge started selling jars of three kinds of sauce this week, in time to unveil them at La Festa Italiana. (Arcaro and Genell)
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Scranton native Lorenzo Pugliese will perform a tribute to Frankie Valli on Saturday at 8 p.m. at La Festa Italiana.
(Auston James)
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The Alfredo’s Main Stage opening act Friday will feature a tribute to Paul LaBelle, leader of the band Exact Change, who died recently.
Scranton native Lorenzo Pugliese is new to the lineup, with a Frankie Valli tribute Saturday at 8 p.m.
“It’s a huge deal,” said La Festa President Chris DiMattio.
Pugliese recently played the Four Seasons’ singer in a Seattle production of “Jersey Boys.” Pugliese toured nationally with the musicals “The Cher Show” and “The SpongeBob Musical.” Last year, he played Sonny Bono in Scranton as part of the “Cher Show” tour. He’s been in several Scranton Shakespeare Festival productions, including playing Ren in “Footloose” and Roger in “Rent.” He produces his own music under the stage name Valerian.
Also performing Saturday night are the Cameos, a New Jersey oldies group; and a Billy Joel tribute.
Another returning Scranton native, Metropolitan Opera tenor Thomas J. Capobianco, performs Sunday. Also performing are a Connie Francis tribute, and a Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin tribute show featuring DiMattio and Las Vegas’ Andy DiMino with Ken McGraw’s Brass & Ivory Big Band and several guests.
On Monday at noon, there will be a 100th birthday celebration for World War II veteran and orchestra leader Gene Passarella.
Other events include:
The 13th annual Capt. James R. Minicozzi Memorial 5K Run and One Mile Fun Walk is Saturday at 10 a.m. The race is sponsored by the Scranton Chapter of UNICO, the national Italian-American service organization, and proceeds will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeastern Pennsylvania Christmas party and college scholarships for students at West Scranton High School.
Registering in advance is $25 at runsignup.com/Minicozzi. It is $35 on race day, from 8 to 9:30 a.m., at North Washington Avenue and Linden Street.
A car show for European and Italian sports cars, Vespas, motorcycles and new and vintage Corvettes is 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Mass will be celebrated in the Italian language Sunday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Cathedral, one block from the festival site. The Mass will be televised live by CTV, Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton.
After Mass, a statue of St. Lucy will be carried in procession to the Heritage Park display. The area was expanded last year.
“People really enjoyed it,” DiMattio said. “It’s an area where you can just hang out and learn about the Italian heritage and just feel proud that you are from Scranton.”
There won’t be a dedicated Christmas marketplace, but Christmas items will be on sale.
There will be no fireworks, following two minor injuries at last year’s festival. Following new city guidelines would take up too much space, DiMattio said. He hopes that a special fireworks or drone show can be prepared for next year’s 50th anniversary.
La Festa’s overlap with Railfest at Steamtown National Historic Site, Friday through Sunday, is serendipitous, DiMattio said. A trolley will connect the two events.
“We are trying to tell the story of how much the Italian immigrants at the time played a role in anthracite coal and railways,” DiMattio said.
The presenting sponsor is Lehigh Valley Hospital-Dickson City.
For information, go to lafestaitaliana.org and social media.
Originally Published: August 27, 2025 at 12:00 AM EDT
Dining and Cooking