Click here to subscribe today or Login.
If you’re in Scranton over Labor Day Weekend, you can immerse yourself in Italian music, culture and food at La Festa Italiana from Friday through Monday.
Or you can celebrate the past, present and future of railroading during Railfest, which the Steamtown National Historic Site hosts Saturday and Sunday.
But, why not fit both into your plans?
“This is a great opportunity for me to get to know people, said Cherie Shepherd who, two months into her new job as Steamtown superintendent, is enthusiastic about her first Railfest. “I’m partial to seeing all the young ones, the kids that love trains.”
But tarantella music and the aroma of, oh maybe a sizzling eggplant rollatini or gnocchi smothered in marinara, can be appealing, too.
“As soon as I’m done here I expect to head over to La Festa Italiana,” Shepherd said.
If you likewise plan to divide your time between La Festa Italiana, centered on Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton, and Steamtown, a few blocks away at 350 Cliff St., your options include driving, taking the pedestrian bridge you can access from the Mall at Steamtown’s second floor, near the food court, or catching a shuttle.
La Festa Italiana is set for 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, with more than 80 vendors, plus continuous entertainment on multiple stages. There is no admission fee. (More info, lafestaitaliana.org.)
“I see it as a beautiful event. I’m honored to be part of it,” said “Uncle Floyd” Vivino, a New Jersey comedian who expects to share stories about growing up Italian and play some “funny little ditties’ during his performance, 4:30 p.m. Sunday on the Main Stage at La Fiesta.
“Oh, the food!” he added. “I eat too much; I eat pasta, I eat pastry.”
Other entertainers include The Cameos, who will perform the sounds of the ’50s through ’70s at 7 p.m. Friday, with The Italian Continentals at noon Saturday; the Old Friends at 3 p.m. Saturday and Flaxy Morgan at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
Sunday’s entertainment includes Los Vega New York Italian Show Band at 11:30 a.m., with the Luongo Brothers at 1:30 p.m., Connie Francis tribute artist Nikki Rasmus at 3:30 p.m. and Dean Martin tribute artist Andy DMino and Frank Sinatra tribute artist Chris DiMattio at 6 p.m. Their act will include Kenny McGraw’s Brass & Ivory Band as well as an appearance by Nick Fradiani, who won season 14 of “American Idol.” Later, Daddy-O and the Sax Maniax will play at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, before the fireworks.
On Monday, the Gene Dempsey Orchestra will play at noon; Austin Giorgio, a contestant on NBC’s “The Voice,” will perform at 5 p.m. and the dance band Popstar Drive will perform at 6 p.m.
If you feel like taking part in a sport, the James R. Minicozzi Memorial 5K run/walk is set for 10 a.m. Saturday and a cannoli-eating contest is set for 3 p.m. Sunday, and there will be bocce lessons on Courthouse Square.
For the devout, Mass in Italian will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Sunday in St. Peter’s Cathedral.
Meanwhile, at Steamtown, activities set to coincide with Railfest include excursions between Scranton and Moscow as well as a bus and railway Railfest Flyer Rail Excursion on Saturday that includes a visit to the Wayne County Historical Society Museum in Honesdale, where visitors can see a replica of the Stourbridge Lion steam-powered engine.
Railfest is set for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Steamtown National Historic Site, where one-day admission is $10 for adults and $7 for ages 6 to 15. Two-day admission is $15 and $10. Children younger than 6 are admitted free, but must have a ticket. For more info about Railfest, see nps.gov/stea or call 570-340-5206.
