PITTSTON – The 43rd Annual Tomato Festival is set with some of the familiar festival sights and a few new ones.
The Sabatelle family, of Sabatelle’s Market, a Downtown staple, has been named the 2026 grand marshal.
Kiddie carnival rides have been canceled due to a mix-up in scheduling, but city officials hope they will be back for 2027.
The James Zarra Building will host the opening ceremonies, spaghetti eating contest and the tomato contest. Check out this guide for all the schedules.
Tomato Festival hours for 2026 are: Thursday, Aug. 20: 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 21: 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 22: 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 23: 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Food, Food, more Food, and Vendors
For the 2026 Tomato Festival, there are over 60 food, drink, and merchant vendors to choose from, plenty of Italian foods, and plenty of desserts, including ice cream and rice pudding.
Vendors will be located at both the lower and middle Tomato Festival lots, so eat up!
Entertainment Line-up
This year’s lineup consists of some of the familiar sounds in past years as well as some new acts.
Day 1 lineup: The Chosen Few (smooth hits covers), Gracie Jane Sinclair Band (country, rock, folk, & originals).
Day 2 lineup: Banana Hammock (top hits with a twist), Arato Brothers (family band playing top hits), Mere Mortals (Luzerne Co. Hall of Fame band)
Day 3 lineup: Yacht This Way (soft rock from the ’70s and ’80s), The Taxmen (Beatles tribute), Flaxy Morgan (rock & pop covers), Sweet Little Lies (Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks Tribute). Encore presentation: NY State of Mind (Billy Joel Tribute).
Day 4 lineup: Paradigm (Beth Connors Band), Luongo Brothers (former members of the Poets), Fake 58, Tori V and the Karma (rock covers & originals).
Spaghetti-Eating Contest
The Spaghetti-Eating Contest has grown each year since it was introduced to the festival in 2023, and organizers believe this year will be even bigger. Look for the event at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22.
Each contestant will be given a plate of spaghetti (one pound) with sauce and 3 minutes on the clock to finish the plate using no utensils.
If no one finishes the entire dish, the winner will be decided by weighing the contestants’ remaining pasta.
The one who finishes the most will be declared the Prince or Princess of Pasta.
Only 20 entries will compete in the event. You need to be 18 and older to enter.
Proceeds of the Spaghetti-Eating Contest will benefit Pittston Meals on Wheels.
27th Annual Festival Run/Walk/Youth Race
The Pittston City Tomato Festival 5K Walk & Run will take place on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 10:00 a.m. There will be a packet pick-up for all pre-registered participants at Evolve Fitness, 67 S. Main St., from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18.
On race day, check-in and bib pick-up begin at 8 a.m. at Evolve Fitness.
Late-entry participants may register on the morning of the race for the 5K, walk, and youth race.
Participants may also form teams. The fastest overall team will get a trophy.
Awards will be: fastest team, top three male and female runners for the overall 5K race, plus the overall top three boys and girls for the Youth Run.
The top male and female from each age group will be awarded for 14 to 17 years of age, 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60+.
Note: All roadways leading into the city will close from 9:30 a.m. to approximately 12:00 p.m. on race/parade day. The Spc. Dale Kridlo Bridge will be opened to traffic leading into and out of the city via N. Main St.
Tomato Festival Parade
The 43rd Tomato Festival James Deice Memorial Parade will step off at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22.
Parade lineups are asked to line up at 9:30 a.m. at the south end of the city.
All area civic, social and school organizations, as well as public officials, have been encouraged to participate.
Kristina McDonnell and Jimmy Zarra will be coordinating this year’s parade lineup, taking over from longtime parade director Sarah Donahue Cianfichi.
McDonnell and Zarra are requesting that participants decorate their vehicles or create tomato-themed floats.
Parade participants are asked to make a banner for their vehicle and/or float.
Due to logistical constraints, we will not be allowing oversized vehicles such as 18-wheelers, oil or cement trucks, etc.
The parade route is approximately one mile long and will begin at the south end of Pittston on Main Street and process through downtown and around to Kennedy Blvd., ending on Dock Street.
There will be approximately 60 units in this year’s parade.
Please note: the Spc. Dale Kridlo Memorial Bridge will be open during the parade.
Tomato Contest
What would the Tomato Festival be without celebrating the fruit itself?
The Annual Tomato Contest is fun for everyone; all are welcome to enter their tomatoes at no charge.
Ribbons will be awarded in four categories: largest tomato, smallest tomato, ugliest tomato and most perfect tomato.
The contest will be held at Jimmy Zarra Building Stage on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 7:00 p.m. Drop off your tomato no later than Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
Little Miss & Mister Tomato Contest
The Little Miss & Mr. Tomato pageant is back again for contestants two years old to six years old. The pageant will take place at 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, at the bandshell at the lower lot.
Check-in/registration for participants will be no later than 10:30 a.m. The fee is $5.00 per child.
If you did not enter your child/children prior to the contest, feel free to do so by 10:30 a.m., the morning of the contest.
Children will be asked general questions about the festival and, of course, tomatoes! Contestants will receive a prize for entering.
Bike Helmet Giveaway
The HKQ Kids bike helmet giveaway is returning in 2026, when the Hourigan, Kluger, and Quinn law firm will donate bicycle helmets from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, in the lower lot.
Children 12 and under, accompanied by an adult, are eligible for the giveaway.
Parents are asked to know their child’s approximate helmet size.
If that is unknown, simply measure the circumference of their child’s head above eyebrow.
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