SCRANTON — Tens of thousands of people once again will descend on the downtown to devour pizza, porketta, cannoli and more during the 49th annual La Festa Italiana this weekend.
The Labor Day weekend celebration of Italian cuisine and culture held each year on Lackawanna County Courthouse Square kicks off Friday afternoon and ends Monday night.
Some of the board members, committee volunteers and civic officials associated with La Festa Italiana raise the Italian flag on Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton, site of the festival to be held this weekend, beginning Friday. From left: Ann DiMattio, Tony Nicosia, Louis DiMattio, Marc Pane, Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak, Joe Guido, La Festa President Chris DiMattio, Francene Pisano, Scranton Mayor Paige Gephardt Cognetti, Debra Meila, Frank Gervasi, Leslie Minicozzi Galacci, Alex Strubeck, attorney Frank T. Blasi, Robert W. Pettinato, Karen Clifford, Bill Genello, Diane Alberigi, and attorney Frank Castellano. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
Organizers and vendors were busy this week setting up all of the tents, tables, chairs and impromptu street kitchen facilities (ovens, coolers, etc.) needed to feed the masses.
Entertainment is another big draw at the family-friendly festival that has free admission.
A crowd of anywhere from 100,000 to 150,000 or more is expected — depending on the weather — and the forecasts for Scranton look great, said La Festa President Chris DiMattio.
Friday night has a slight chance of showers, but Saturday, Sunday and Monday all are forecast to be mostly clear and sunny with high temperatures in the 70s, according to the National Weather Service.
The event began in 1976 to coincide with the nation’s bicentennial celebration, said DiMattio, who has been La Festa president for over 30 years.
The festival started in the 200 block of North Washington Avenue and expanded over time, he said. Today, the event wraps around all four sides of the square on its blocks of Biden and Linden streets and Adams and North Washington avenues; and extending west on Linden Street.
Mangia: Food
The event features about 60 vendors, many of whom are longtime local Italian family restaurants.
The old-world-flavor porketta sandwich from the UNICO National Scranton Chapter stand is perennially popular, as is pizza of all kinds — red and white, plain and with toppings, round slices and tray cuts, with thin, thick and double crusts. Vendors also dish out all sorts of Italian delicacies, such as pasta, meatballs, sausage and peppers, stromboli, lasagna, gnocchi, rigatoni, ziti, calzone, calamari, tortellini, pasta fagioli, sfogliatelle, cannoli, eggplant parmigiana, chicken parm, meatball parm, zeppoli and pizza fritta.
Some vendors also offer other ethnic varieties of foods.
“There’s something for everyone,” DiMattio said.
Bravo: Entertainment
The entertainment area occupies part of Linden Street between North Washington and Wyoming avenues.
• Friday: The Alfredo’s Main Stage opening act will feature a tribute to recently deceased Paul LaBelle, leader of the band Exact Change.
• Saturday: Scranton native Lorenzo Pugliese performs a Frankie Valli tribute Saturday at 8 p.m. The Cameos, a New Jersey oldies group, and a Billy Joel tribute, also perform Saturday.
• Sunday: Metropolitan Opera tenor Thomas J. Capobianco, a native of Scranton, performs; there also will be 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.
• Monday: A 100th birthday celebration at noon for World War II veteran and orchestra leader Gene Passarella.
• Bocce: Bocce ball court also will be available throughout the weekend on part of the courthouse square lawn along North Washington Avenue.
If You Go: Informazioni
• Hours: La Festa’s 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.
• Street closures: The blocks around the square will be closed to traffic.
• Parking: Street parking is free downtown on Saturdays, Sundays and Labor Day. Regular weekday rates apply Friday for street parking spaces, with ticket enforcement until 7 p.m. The city parking garages downtown will have a special-events rate of a flat fee of $6 per day throughout the weekend.
Other events
• Minicozzi race: The 13th annual Capt. James R. Minicozzi Memorial 5K Run and One Mile Fun Walk is Saturday at 10 a.m. Advance registration is $25 at runsignup.com/Minicozzi; or $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 will take place Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m.
• 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.
For a complete schedule, see La Festa Italiana’s website at lafestaitaliana.org or social media.
Staff Writer Melissa Janoski contributed to this report.
Volunteer Joe Mazur puts the sign up for Old Forge’s Cusumano Italian restaurant to prepare for La Festa Italiania on Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
A pedestrian walks on the Biden St. side of Courthouse Square as workers set up for La Festa Italiana this weekend in Scranton Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Workers set up equipment for Revello’s to prepare for La Festa Italiania on Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
A display is set up to welcome visitors to La Festa Italiana this weekend on Courthouse Square in Scranton Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Rainstopperz’s crews put up tents in preparation of La Festa outside of the Lackawanna County Courthouse in Scranton on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
La Festa Italiana President Chris DiMattio working on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025 to set up the festival in Scranton for the upcoming Labor Day weekend. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
La Festa Italiana President Chris DiMattio working on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025 to set up the festival in Scranton for the upcoming Labor Day weekend. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
A decoration on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025 for La Festa Italiana during the upcoming Labor Day weekend. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
That’s amore: A pizza slice photo prop on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025 for La Festa Italiana during the upcoming Labor Day weekend. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
A decoration on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025 for La Festa Italiana during the upcoming Labor Day weekend. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
A poster decoration on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025 for La Festa Italiana during the upcoming Labor Day weekend. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
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Volunteer Joe Mazur puts the sign up for Old Forge’s Cusumano Italian restaurant to prepare for La Festa Italiania on Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Originally Published: August 28, 2025 at 5:09 PM EDT
Dining and Cooking