La Festa Italiana, a Lackawanna County tradition since 1976, returns Friday through Monday, September 2-5, 2022 at Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton.
Anyone with Italian heritage or simply sharing a love of Italian food, live entertainment and Italian culture and spirit is promised here.
The festival, which spans the Labor Day weekend, will be held on Friday, 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 11 am until 10 p.m. Monday 11 am to 8 p.m
Various vendors will provide food and other items. There will be continuous live entertainment on two stages. There is no entrance fee.
There's a variety of ethnic foods available, as well as entertainment, said La Festa President Chris DiMatteo, describing it as a “melting pot.”
DiMattio announced that the 2022 presenting sponsor is Lehigh Valley Hospital-Dickson City. Carmella Mataloni, who will serve as Annunciatore Ufficiale, Official Announcer of the festival. represents the hospital.
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Long legacy
Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania has a large and diverse Italian American population.
Italian families immigrated here in the last decades of the 19th century. Some came to make money to return to Italy and buy land. others stayed in America to build a better life. Many found work in the coal mines, textile mills, and other businesses of Lackawanna County.
According to The Italian American Heritage Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania (SIAMO), this area is statistically one of the most concentrated Italian American areas in the United States.
Ethnic Italians in the region have cultivated pride in their heritage and culture. They lent their artistic skills to the statues in Scranton's Courthouse Square.
Celebrating America by honoring the roots
La Festa Italiana began in 1976 in honor of the nation's bicentennial.
“Our Italian-American community wanted to do something to contribute to the celebration. We thought of a festival as a gift that could keep on giving,” recalled Robert W. Pettinato, who was then a Lackawanna County Commissioner.
Pettinato rallied colleagues, friends and community leaders to help organize the event. Local Italian parishes, businesses and fraternal organizations were invited to take part.
Courthouse Square was chosen for the festival because it is the city's equivalent of a 'piazza', the square of a typical Italian town. For the first four years it was held on Columbus Day weekend.
Some estimate that nearly 150,000 people fill the square on the weekend.
“Rain or shine, they're still coming.” DiMattio said.
DiMattio, who has been active in the festival since 1988, said it takes a full year of commitment to plan this much-anticipated event, stressing that everyone is a volunteer.
It has grown a lot over the years. He said the fact that the festival is family-friendly – no alcohol is sold, admission is free and live entertainment all contribute to the festival's success.
“It gives us great satisfaction to see all these people, young and old, from everywhere who come back year after year,” said the late Patrick F. Guido, longtime Co-Chairman of the Vendors Committee. “That's why we do it.”
“It's a tribute to the Italian-American community that for so many years we've been able to do this festival for our friends and neighbors,” Pettinato said. “The committee is working very hard and everyone associated with the festival is very proud to host it.”
For more information, the full entertainment program and updates, visit the festival website at: lafestaitaliana.org.
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Live entertainment, universal function and 5K run
In addition to several live events, including music and folk dancers, and a car show (Mostra Automatica starts Friday night at 5 p.m.), festival-goers can get a dose of the spiritual.
The annual Mass in Italian at 10 a.m. Sunday will be held at St. Peter's Cathedral, located one block from the festival site. The Mass will also be broadcast live on CTV: Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton.
Fireworks will dazzle the sky Sunday night, presented by Dickson City Hyundai.
Notable musical performances include TJ Capobianco, the leading tenor of La Festa who joins New York's Metropolitan Opera as a full-time solo artist for the 2022/23 season. A Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin tribute show featuring Las Vegas' Chris DiMattio and Andy DiMino with Ken McGraw's Brass & Ivory Big Band. Daddy-O and the Sax Maniax sponsored by T-Mobile.
The Ninth Annual Captain James R. Minicozzi Memorial 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk takes place on Saturday, September 4th at 10am.
The race 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 Christmas Party and West Scranton High School Scholarship Program.
The pre-registration deadline is September 1 and can be done at runsignup.com/Minicozzi. Participants can also register on-site on race day.
Read the program of events and performances.
What's on at La Festa on Friday 2nd September
Afredo's Main Stage
- 4:30 pm: Commencement Ceremonies
- 5:00 pm: The Exact Change Band with Paul LaBelle
- 6:30 am: Electric City Steel Drum Band
- 19:30: The Brown Initiative Dancers
- 8:30 pm: Billy Joel tribute with Frank Provinzono
- 5:00-10:00 pm: Mostra Automatica, Classic & Italian Sports Cars Display
Wayne Bank Stage at Caffe' – Adams Avenue
- 4:30 pm: Danny Argo & Friends
- 7:00 pm: Big King Moose
What's on for Saturday September 3rd
Afredo's Main Stage
- 10:00 am: Captain James R. Minicozzi Memorial Race/Walk
- 1:00 pm: Danny Argo & Friends
- 2:00 pm: 5 Star Dance Academy
- 2:30 pm: PacI Band
- 3:00 p.m.: Old friends
- 4:30 pm: Arts in Movement Dance
- 5:00 pm: The Luongo Brothers, with Gino Mercuri as Elvis
- 7:30 pm: The Cameos, New Jersey's Favorite Oldies Group Presents in Memory of Patrick & Elaine Baress, with Special Guests, The Arminio's
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Wayne Bank Stage at Caffe' – Adams Avenue
- Noon Janice Gambo-Chesna
- 2:00 Fuzzy Park Band
- 4:30 Sarah Marie & Joseph Italian Folk Tribute Group
- 7:00 Meet Me on Marcie
What's on for Sunday September 4th
Afredo's Main Stage
- Noon: Danny Argo & Friends
- 1:30 p.m.: Prima Elite Dance Academy
- 2:00 pm: Erin Malloy with the Flaxy Morgan Band
- 3:00 p.m.: Juggler Rob Smith
- 4:00 pm: Ballet Theater of Scranton
- 4:30 pm: TJ Capobianco from The Metropolitan Opera, Premier Tenor of La Festa
- 5:00 pm: “Uncle Floyd” Vivino, famous NJ comedian
- 6:00 PM: Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin Tribute Show with Vegas' Chris DiMattio and Andy DiMino with Ken McGraw's Brass & Ivory Big Band
- 20:30: Daddy-O & the Sax Maniax sponsored by T-Mobile
- 10:00 pm: Fireworks were presented by Dickson City Hyundai
Wayne Bank Stage at Caffe' – Adams Avenue:
- Noon: Tony Vergnetti
- 2:30 pm: Jim Cullen, Jack Bordo & Sharon Ambrozia
- 4:30 pm: East coast
- 7:00 after noon: Paul Laquitano
What's up for September 5th?
Afredo's Main Stage
- Noon: The Gene Dempsey Orchestra
- 1:30 p.m.: Juggler & Magician Al Grout
- 2:00 pm: Gerard Mayer Band
- 15:30: Juggler & Magician Al Grout
- 4:00 pm: Frankie Gervasi & Toby Naro
- 6:00 PM: Popstar Drive, Premier Dance Band
Wayne Bank Stage at Caffe' – Adams Avenue
- Noon: The Wanabees
- 2:00 pm: The frost
- 4:00 pm: The GoodFellows Band.
