La Festa Italiana 2023

Italian Flag Raised in Anticipation of La Festa Italiana

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 Labor Day Weekend Sept. 1-4. Richard Suraci, Francene Dudziec, Diane Alberigi, Tony Nicosia, Debra Meila, Karen Clifford, Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak, Joe Castrogiovanni, Matt McGloin, La Festa President Chris DiMattio, Frank T. Blasi, Louis DiMattio, Mark Dougher, Frank Castellano, Frank Ruggiero and Bill Genello.

La Festa Italiana Set for Labor Day Weekend in Scranton, PA

Labor Day Weekend, September 1-4

La Festa 2023, the annual celebration of food, culture and music, will be held Labor Day weekend (Friday through Monday, September 1-4 on Courthouse Square in the heart of downtown Scranton, Pa. Hours are Friday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Monday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

The presenting sponsor is Lehigh Valley Hospital-Dickson City.

A variety of vendors will offer great Italian food and other items, and continuous live entertainment will be featured. There is no admission charge. 

Just a few of many highlights:

Friday night: Lights Out, a Tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

Saturday night: The Cameos, New Jersey’s Favorite Oldies Group

Mass in Italian will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 3, in the Cathedral of Saint Peter, located one block from the festival site. The Mass will also be televised live by CTV: Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton.

Appearing Sunday p.m. will be Vanessa Racci, the Jazzy Italian, with Marko Marcinko & the Scranton Jazz Festival All Stars.

Sunday night: a Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin Tribute Show featuring Chris DiMattio and Las Vegas’ Andy DiMino. And Fireworks!

Monday night:  the festival finishes with a performance by the dance band Popstar Drive.

Try a mouth-watering porketta sandwich (or two!) at the UNICO Scranton Chapter tent. Always a festival favorite… come Monday they’ll be sold out!

Take home a memento from the La Festa novelties stand.

La Festa Italiana will literally hit the ground running with the 11th Annual Captain James R. Minicozzi Memorial 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk on Saturday, Sept. 2, at 10 a.m.

The race is being sponsored by the Scranton Chapter of UNICO, the Italian-American service organization, and proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Northeastern Pennsylvania Christmas Party and college scholarships for West Scranton High School students. To register in advance ($25) go to: runsignup.com/Minicozzi or on race day ($35) from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at corner of North Washington Avenue and Linden Street.

CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE SCHEDULE

Note: This year’s festival also coincides with First Friday in the city, which offers a variety of art exhibits and events throughout the downtown.

2023 Entertainment Acts