La Festa Italiana a family affair in downtown Scranton

Robert Tomkavage, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
·3 min read

Sep. 4—SCRANTON — From the throngs of people strolling around Courthouse Square to those working inside the food tents, La Festa Italiana remains steeped in family tradition.

Anthony Scala of the Original Scala Pastry established a stand selling sweet treats in 1979, and the rest is history.

"A guy named Joe Perugino came to our store in Brooklyn looking for the best pasties in New York and that's how it all started," Anthony Scala said. "I started bringing them up here for UNICO and they started selling our pastries. They invited us up here and we've been here ever since."

More than four decades later, Anthony Scala continues attending the festival and his son, Michael, hustled around the tent Sunday afternoon, serving cannolis and other Italian pastries to a steady flow of customers.

"It's been nonstop — it's good money," Michael Scala said. "We like to bring our Brooklyn pastries. You can't really get them over here, so they love them."

Michael Scala enjoys all aspects of the annual event, including the crowd, customers and atmosphere.

"All the other vendors are very hospitable," he said.

The business began in Brooklyn, New York, as Scala Bros. Bakery and later moved to North Brunswick, New Jersey.

Old Forge restaurant Arcaro & Genell has participated in La Festa for more than 30 years, with Manager Amanda Krappa involved for about 20. She noted not much has changed over the past two decades.

"We always get a lot of the same familiar faces," Krappa said. "We're there to keep the customers happy and keep La Festa going."

While gnocchi and pizza tend to be the most popular sellers, Krappa believes people from around the area enjoy the quality time spent with loved ones as much as the food.

"It's just something you just do every year with your family," she said. "You grew up doing it every Labor Day weekend."

A Luzerne County staple, Sabatelle's Market in Pittston, has been a mainstay during La Festa for nearly 30 years.

"Every year it gets bigger and better," said Jason Sabatelle, who operates the business with his family. "The staff is fantastic ... they help us with anything we ever need."

Sabatelle cherishes the time working with relatives during the four-day festival.

"All of our family comes down and helps us on the counter," he said. "It's nice to get everybody together and every year, it's more and more busy."

While customers crave porketta and hot soppressata each year, they also covet a drink to quench their thirst, Sabatelle said.

"They come from miles around for my mother's homemade iced tea," he said. "Everybody has a smile on their face when they pass through."

Vincenzo Cicco, owner of Luigi's Pizza in Olyphant, grew up working in the family business and established a vendor tent at La Festa in 2009 after a lengthy wait.

"I was trying for a good five to eight years to get in," Cicco said. "It was real tight — they had no openings and then I got lucky."

Cicco thinks the festival shines a positive light on both the eateries and the region in general. "I feel it showcases not only the businesses, but the city and the county very well, and we owe it all to the volunteers," he said.

Contact the writer:

rtomkavage@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9131;

@rtomkavage on Twitter.