La Festa Italiana welcomes all to Scranton's Courthouse Square

Peter Becker, Tri-County Independent
·7 min read

La Festa Italiana, a tradition in Lackawanna County since 1976, returns Friday through Monday, September 2-5, 2022 on Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton.

Anyone with Italian heritage or simply shares in the love of Italian food, lively entertainment and the Italian culture and spirit, are promised it here.

The festival, which spans Labor Day Weekend, will be held 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.

Various vendors will provide the food and other items. There will be continuous live entertainment on two stages. There is no admission charge.

There is a variety of ethnic foods available, as well as entertainment, La Festa President Chris DiMattio said, describing it as a "melting pot."

DiMattio announced that the presenting sponsor for 2022 is Lehigh Valley Hospital-Dickson City. Carmella Mataloni, who will serve as Annunciatore Ufficiale, the Official Announcer for the festival. represents the hospital.

Of interest:‘He always had a smile on his face,’ locals reflect on Paul Sorvino’s life in the Poconos, Scranton

Long heritage

Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania has a large and diverse Italian American population.

Italian families immigrated here in the late 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 Lackawanna County's coal mines, textile mills and other jobs.

According to The Italian American Heritage Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania (SIAMO), this region is statistically one of the most heavily-concentrated Italian-American regions in the United States.

Ethnic Italians in the area have fostered pride in their heritage and culture. They lent their artistic skills to the statues in Scranton's Courthouse Square.

Celebrating America while honoring roots

La Festa Italiana was started 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 at the time was a Lackawanna County Commissioner.

Pettinato brought together 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 plaza of a typical Italian town. For the first four years it was held over Columbus Day Weekend.

Some estimate that nearly 150,000 people fill the Square over the weekend.

"Rain or shine, they still come." DiMattio said.

DiMattio, who has played an active role with the festival since 1988, said that it takes a full year's commitment to plan this long-awaited event, emphasizing that they are all volunteers.

It has grown much over the years. He said the facts that the festival is family-friendly - no alcohol is sold, admission is free and the live entertainment all help make the festival a success.

“We get great satisfaction seeing all those people, young and old, from all over who keep coming back year after year,” said the late Patrick F. Guido, long-time Co-Chair of Vendor Committee. “That’s why we do it.”

“It is a tribute to the Italian American community that for so many years we have been able to have this festival for our friends and neighbors,” Pettinato said. “The committee works very hard and everybody associated with the festival is very proud to host it.”

For more information, the complete entertainment schedule and updates, visit the festival website at: lafestaitaliana.org.

Local personality:Poconos radio personality Jessica Delfino is a super mom

Live entertainment, Catholic Mass and a 5K run

In addition to multiple live acts such as music and folk dancers, and a car show (Mostra Automatica starts Friday night at 5 p.m.), fest goers can take in a dose of the spiritual.

The annual Mass in Italian at 10 a.m. Sunday will be 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.

Fireworks will dazzle the sky Sunday night, presented by Dickson City Hyundai.

Notable musical performances include T.J. Capobianco, La Festa’s premier tenor who is joining The New York City Metropolitan Opera as a full-time solo artist for the 2022/23 season; a Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin Tribute Show featuring Chris DiMattio and Las Vegas’ 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 is held Saturday, Sept. 4, 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 West Scranton High School Scholarship Program.

Pre-registration deadline is September 1 and can be done at runsignup.com/Minicozzi. Participants can also register on site the day of the race.

Read on for a schedule of events and performances.

What's on tap at La Festa on Friday, Sept. 2

Afredo's Main Stage

  • 4:30 p.m.: Opening Ceremonies

  • 5:00 p.m.: The Exact Change Band featuring Paul LaBelle

  • 6:30 p.m.: Electric City Steel Drum Band

  • 7:30 p.m.: The Brown Initiative Dancers

  • 8:30 p.m.: Billy Joel Tribute featuring Frank Provinzono

  • 5:00-10:00 p.m.: Mostra Automatica, Classic & Italian Sports Cars Display

Wayne Bank Stage at Caffe’ – Adams Avenue

  • 4:30 p.m.: Danny Argo & Friends

  • 7:00 p.m.: Big King Moose

What's on tap for Saturday, Sept. 3

Afredo's Main Stage

  • 10:00 a.m.: Captain James R. Minicozzi Memorial Race/Walk

  • 1:00 p.m.: Danny Argo & Friends

  • 2:00 p.m.: 5-Star Dance Academy

  • 2:30 p.m.: PacI Band

  • 3:00 p.m.: Old Friends

  • 4:30 p.m.: Arts in Movement Dance

  • 5:00 p.m.: The Luongo Brothers, with Gino Mercuri as Elvis

  • 7:30 p.m.: The Cameos, New Jersey’s Favorite Oldies Group presented in Memory of Patrick & Elaine Baress, with special guests, The Arminio’s

Italian specialties in the Poconos:Gary's Meat Market in Stroudsburg under new ownership

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 tap for Sunday, Sept. 4

Afredo's Main Stage

  • Noon: Danny Argo & Friends

  • 1:30 p.m.: Prima Elite Dance Academy

  • 2:00 p.m.: Erin Malloy with the Flaxy Morgan Band

  • 3:00 p.m.: Juggler Rob Smith

  • 4:00 p.m.: Ballet Theatre of Scranton

  • 4:30 p.m.: T.J. Capobianco from The Metropolitan Opera, La Festa’s Premier Tenor

  • 5:00 p.m.: “Uncle Floyd” Vivino, famous NJ Comedian

  • 6:00 p.m.: Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin Tribute Show featuring Chris DiMattio & Vegas’ Andy DiMino with Ken McGraw’s Brass & Ivory Big Band

  • 8:30 p.m.: Daddy-O & the Sax Maniax sponsored by T-Mobile

  • 10:00 p.m.: Fireworks presented by Dickson City Hyundai

Wayne Bank Stage at Caffe’ – Adams Avenue:

  • Noon: Tony Vergnetti

  • 2:30 p.m.: Jim Cullen, Jack Bordo & Sharon Ambrozia

  • 4:30 p.m.: East Coast

  • 7:00 p.m.: Paul Laquintano

What's on tap for Sept. 5

Afredo's Main Stage

  • Noon: The Gene Dempsey Orchestra

  • 1:30 p.m.: Juggler & Magician Al Grout

  • 2:00 p.m.: Gerard Mayer Band

  • 3:30 p.m.: Juggler & Magician Al Grout

  • 4:00 p.m.: Frankie Gervasi & Toby Naro

  • 6:00 p.m.: Popstar Drive, Premier Dance Band

Wayne Bank Stage at Caffe’ – Adams Avenue

  • Noon: The Wanabees

  • 2:00 p.m.: The Frost

  • 4:00 p.m.: The GoodFellows Band.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: La Festa: Celebrating Italian tradition in Scranton