Downtown Scranton Celebrates Italian Food, Music & Culture

On Labor Day Weekend, Courthouse Square turns into Scranton’s very own piazza. The smell of homemade pasta sauce and savory porketta drift on the late summer breeze, and the familiar melodies of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin fill the streets. It’s La Festa Italiana once again, and after a year’s hiatus, visitors are more eager than ever to celebrate (and, you know, eat their fill of cannoli).

La Festa Italiana has been a Scranton tradition since 1976 and attracts about 150,000 people to the Electric City each year. The festival has a way of bringing the whole city together to celebrate the region’s rich Italian heritage.

Of course, the food is always one of the biggest draws. Over 70 vendors are at this year’s festival, and dozens of them are dishing out Italian specialties like cheesy slices of pizza, home-cooked pastas and frothy cappuccinos. And it just wouldn’t be a NEPA festival without classic fair foods like pierogis and potato pancakes.

Come for the food and stick around for the entertainment. La Festa Italiana hosts live music and dance performances each day. There are also kids’ activities, craft vendors and bocce on the courthouse lawn. Check online for a full schedule of events.

La Festa Italiana kicked off on Friday, September 3, and will continue through Monday, September 6. Check out our photos from this year’s festival. Just be warned: these pictures will make you hungry.