Events

AIDS activist Cleve Jones will give a free talk at Keystone College on Thursday. Related events include an exhibit of the AIDS Memorial Quilt from Wednesday through Friday and a screening of ‘Milk,’ starring Sean Penn, on Tuesday.

THIS WEEK: SEPT. 4 to 10, 2009

Kiwanis Wyoming County Fair, with amusement rides, carnival midway, Hanson’s Spectacular Circus Thrills Show, strolling acts, free hayrides, rodeos and horse shows, agricultural exhibits, truck and tractor pulls, lawnmower races and demolition derby. Fairgrounds, Route 6, Meshoppen. Today through Labor Day from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. $10. 836-7287.

Labor Day Weekend Carnival, with amusement rides, food vendors and games. Wachovia Arena parking lot, 255 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Township. Tonight at 6; Saturday through Labor Day, beginning at 2 p.m. Information at sandsamusementspa.com.

Back Mountain Farmers Market, with seasonal fruits and vegetables, baked goods, plants, gardening tips by Penn State Master Gardeners, homemade soups, gourmet salads and more. Back Mountain Memorial Library, 96 Huntsville Road, Dallas. Saturdays through Sept. 26 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 675-1182.

Rail Fest, a 1940s-themed celebration with Union Pacific “Big Boy” locomotive tours, railway post-office presentations, steam-powered rail excursions to Moscow, trolley rides, behind-the-scenes tours, big-band performances, rail photography and art exhibits, model-train displays and old-time radio comedy sketches by the Dietrich Theater Radio Players. Steamtown National Historic Site, 300 Cliff St., Scranton. Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 340-5200 or nps.gov/stea.

Pocono Garlic Festival. Indulge in aromatic foods liberally laced with Pocono-grown garlic along with two stages of entertainment, children’s activities, strolling acts, cooking demonstrations, animal presentations by the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and lectures on garlic. Performers include Pearls Before Swine, the Juggernaut String Band, the Lost Ramblers, Zydeco-a-Go-Go, Burning Bridget Cleary and the Blue Emerald Band. Shawnee Mountain Ski Area, 61 Hollow Road, Shawnee-on-Delaware. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. $7.50 advance, $10 at the gate. 421-7231 or shawneemt.com.

Salt Springs Celebration, the 7th annual event with music, old-time games, races, crafts, treats and a silent auction. Salt Springs State Park, Silver Creek Road, off Route 29, Franklin Forks. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 967-7275.

The Historic Swetland Homestead, tours of the 19th-century structure including the 1803 home of Belding and Sally Swetland, William Swetland’s office circa 1835 and archaeological finds from a recent excavation of the ice house. 885 Wyoming Ave., Wyoming. Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m. through Sept. 27. $4, $2 children. 822-1727 or 693-2740.

La Festa Italiana, the annual end-of-summer Italian festival with an array of food, an Italian Mass, music, culture and fireworks. Performers include the Duprees, the Ringold Pops, King Henry & the Original Showmen, the Paramounts, Strolling Paci Band, the United Sports Academy of Gymnastics, the Ballet Theatre of Scranton, a Frank Sinatra Tribute with Chris DiMattio, the Poets, Los Vega and the Italian Continentals. Courthouse Square, Scranton. Saturday and Sunday, noon to 11 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 9 p.m. 344-6798.

Train Excursion, a two-hour round trip from Scranton to Moscow along the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad pulled by a steam-powered locomotive built in 1917. Steamtown National Historic Site, 300 Cliff St., Scranton. Saturday, 1 to 3 p.m. $21, $19 seniors, $15 children. 340-5200 or nps.gov/stea.

St. Mary’s Homecoming Picnic, with ethnic foods, Chinese auction, games and prizes, a Saturday polka Mass and entertainment by John Stevens & Doubleshot (Saturday) and Joe Stanky and the Cadets (Sunday). St. Mary’s Church, 150 Main St., Mocanaqua. Saturday, 4 to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, 12:30 to 9:30 p.m. 542-4157.

St. Martha’s Festival, with homemade ethnic and American food, Chinese auction, games for all ages, flea market, Sunday ham and chicken dinners and entertainment by the Tim Johnson Band (Saturday) and Burn’n Sky with Al White (Sunday). St. Martha’s Church, Bonnieville Road, Fairmount Springs. Saturday, 5 to 11 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 11 p.m. 864-3780.

Reunion of Old Friends Car Show. All vehicles welcome. Nay Aug Park, Scranton. Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sponsored by the Villa Capri Cruisers. 842-2736.

Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show, the second annual event sponsored by the Hunlock Creek Volunteer Fire Company. With a chicken barbecue, flea market and music. Hunlock Township Ball Field, behind the Hunlock Creek Elementary School, Hunlock Creek Road, Muhlenburg. Sunday with registration at 9 a.m. ($10). 256-7616.

Charity Steam Train Ride, a scenic ride from Duryea to Jim Thorpe aboard the newly remodeled Engine 425 with a 3.5-hour layover to shop and dine. Leaves from Mr. Z’s parking lot in Duryea Sunday at 9 a.m. $75 benefits the Greater Pittston YMCA, the Pittston Memorial Library and the Care & Concern Free Health Clinic. Reservations: 457-6558.

Avondale Mine Disaster Commemoration, a memorial program with speakers, reflection, the dedication of refurbished gravestones and the unveiling of a historical marker. Washburn Street Cemetery, Hyde Park, Scranton where 110 victims are buried, all of Welsh descent. Sponsored by the Washburn-Avondale Restoration Committee. Sunday at 10:30 a.m. 371-3522.

Avondale Mine Disaster Commemoration of the 140th anniversary of the coal-mining tragedy that took the lives of 110 men and boys. With a musical tribute by singer/instrumentalist Jay Smar and a talk by Robert P. Wolensky, author of “Tragedy at Avondale: The Causes, Consequences and Legacy of the Pennsylvania Anthracite Coal Industry’s Most Deadly Mining Disaster.” Anthracite Heritage Museum, McDade Park, off Keyser Avenue, Scranton. Sunday, 1 to 3 p.m. 963-4804.

Fire Company Pig Roast, with games of chance, raffles, an all-you-can-eat pig roast and live entertainment by Fender Bender, the Fabulous Jimmy Band, Flaxy Morgan and Nutz. Hughestown Hose Company, 30 Center St., Hughestown. Sunday, 2 to 9 p.m. $20. 654-4188.

Avondale Mine Disaster Commemoration, a tribute to the 110 victims of the mining disaster with memorial reflections and speakers. Avondale Disaster Site, Route 11, Plymouth Township. Followed by refreshments at the Plymouth Township Municipal Building. Sunday at 6:30 p.m. 371-3522.

AIDS activist Cleve Jones, a talk by the founder of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and historical consultant to the 2008 film “Milk.” Theatre in Brooks, Keystone College, 1 College Green, off Route 6, La Plume. Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Related events include a screening of “Milk” starring Sean Penn Tuesday at 9 p.m. and an exhibit of the AIDS Memorial Quilt Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday, 12:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Friday (Sept. 11), 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free and open to the public. 945-8170.

Luzerne County Fair, the annual agricultural event with Barnyard Olympics, Tractor Obstacle Rodeo, Dog Agility Demonstration, Donkey Basketball, 4-H Fun Horse Show, contests, amusement rides, bountiful harvests and closing-day fireworks. Musical performers include M-80, 3rd Degree, Sug’r Beat, the Star Fires, Joe Stanky & the Cadets, Bat out of Hell (a Meat Loaf tribute) and Ryan Pelton as Elvis Presley. Luzerne County Fairgrounds, Route 118, Dallas. Wednesday and Thursday, 4 to 11 p.m. Continues Sept. 11, 4 to 11:30 p.m.; Sept. 12, 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.; Sept. 13, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. 675-3247.

Farmer’s Market, with locally grown produce, plants, baked goods, treats and a lunchtime concert by Somethin’ Else. Public Square, Wilkes-Barre. Thursday, 10:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. 208-4292.

Civil War Roundtable, with guest speaker Susan Rosenvold on “Dispelling the Myths: Lt. General James Longstreet.” Daddow-Isaacs American Legion, 730 Memorial Highway, Dallas. Thursday at 7 p.m. 675-1783.
FUTURE

9-11 Memorial Ride, the eighth annual Day of Remembrance to support firefighters, police and the troops fighting the war on terror. Memorial Park, Fourth Street, Williamsport. Sept. 11 with motorcycle registration 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., a Memorial Service at 5:30 p.m. and a 37-mile ride at 6 p.m. Followed by a party at the Duboistown VFW with food and music by Almost Country. 244-6153.

Dallas Days Dance, with music by southern-rock band Abilene & Friends and Just Us along with surprise guests. Checkerboard Inn, 385 Carverton Road, Trucksville. Sept. 11, 6 to 11 p.m. $25 includes food and beer. 675-1950.