SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — Thousands gathered in downtown Scranton this Labor Day weekend to celebrate a milestone for La Festa Italiana, drawing what organizers called the event’s largest crowd yet.

The four-day festival marked its 50th anniversary with more than 70 food vendors, live entertainment, and plenty of Italian tradition.

Festival Vice President Joe Guido said that great weather and the spirit of the celebration helped draw crowds.

“This week has been incredible. It marks our 50th anniversary of the La Festa Italiana, started in 1976. We have an absolutely gorgeous weekend, weather-wise. We have had record crowds, Saturday and Sunday, and we’re expecting today. We haven’t seen numbers like this since the festival has been going on,” said Guido.

A new addition this year was a La Festa 2026 sign, which Guido said quickly became a popular spot for photos and memories. He said it’s also heartwarming to see familiar faces return to the festival year after year.

“That makes it special too, because we know we’re providing a nice service for them, a great festival that they want to come back to year after year and make it a tradition. And it’s fun. We have a new sign in the middle of North Washington Avenue that says La Festa 2026. That has become like the unofficial photo spot of La Festa. Thousands of people have taken pictures by that sign. I think that’s going to become an annual tradition every year as well,” said Guido.

For local vendor Dan Figura of Figura Concessions, serving sausage and peppers at La Festa has been a tradition for more than 25 years. He said the festival brings people together like few other events can.

“This is probably one of the most premier festivals that you will find on the East Coast, maybe in the country,” said Figura.

“We see the same people over and over and over. They just keep coming back. Everyday we hear, ‘This is the first place we come to. This is why we come here.’ We’re not the only food here, there’s so much good food at this festival, the entertainment, the committee here is spectacular. It’s just the best festival you could go to,” said Figura.

La Festa Italiana wrapped up on Labor Day at 8 p.m., marking a record-breaking 50th anniversary celebration.