WILKES-BARRE — Lorelei Young and a friend drove 175 miles from Altoona to be among the first people in line outside Kirby Park for Saturday’s free concert featuring Lady A and En Vogue.
She made fast friends with a group from Scranton, who also arrived around 1 p.m.
“I wanted to be close to the stage. I like Lady A and I listened to En Vogue growing up,” Young, 43, said while waiting in front of the security entrance on Market Street. “I love this. It gives people who don’t have the money the opportunity to go to a concert.”
Within the next few hours, thousands filled the park to catch the free show, which also included a performance by Northeast Pennsylvania’s own Eddie Day Pashinski and T.N.T.
Concertgoers, including Lorelei Young of Altoona, right, and Sarah Walsh of Scranton, wait in line for the America 250 celebration at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre. BOB KALINOWSKI / STAFF PHOTO
The concert is the fourth installment of the Commonwealth Concert Series organized by the America250PA committee as part of the nation’s 250th birthday.celebration. The finale concert featuring Nelly and Third Eye Blind is June 27 in Pittsburgh.
Market Street between River Street in Wilkes-Barre and Dawes Avenue in Kingston were closed to vehicle traffic except for authorized transportation.
Hundreds of people were in line waiting to get in when doors were set to open at 5 p.m., but entry to the concert ground was delayed due to a rainstorm and lightning in the area, which delayed sound checks by the performers.
After WBRE television host Chris Bohinski sang the National Anthem and a flyover by Army helicopters, Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown welcomed the crowd.
Wilkes-Barre mayor George Brown talks on stage at the America250PA concert at Kirby Park on Saturday, June 20, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
“Today, we’re here to celebrate the community’s role in Pennsylvania’s story – honoring the generations of workers, families, veterans, educators and innovators who helped build the Commonwealth,” Brown said. “It is an honor to be chosen as one of the five hosts of the American250PA Commonwealth Concert series. Our community has embraced this opportunity to showcase all Northeast Pennsylvania has to offer.”
Brown gave a ceremonial key to the city to Exeter resident Cassandra Coleman, who has served as executive director American250PA for eight years
Cassandra Coleman, CEO of America250PA, speaks at the America250PA concert at Kirby Park on Saturday, June 20, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
“Seeing Kirby Park filled with families, friends, neighbors, and visitors from across the region was a special moment,” Coleman said “Luzerne County has supported America250PA from the very beginning, and bringing the Commonwealth Concert Series here was our chance to say thank you. I’ve spent eight years exploring Pennsylvania, but NEPA will always have my heart. Saturday night was a beautiful reminder of why.”
Coleman noted that some worried the 30-minute rainstorm would deter people from coming out.
“I said Northeast Pennsylvania was not going to let a little rain stop us from having a party,” Coleman said.
Some city police officers pegged the crowd at about 15,000, but no officials numbers were immediately released.
Trisha Wildey, 50, of Luzerne, attended with her friends, Mary Wenger, 51, of Swoyersville, and Ed Marchessault, 56, of Lehighton.
A group of friends, Mary Wenger, 51, of Swoyersville, left, Ed Marchessault, 56, of Lehighton, center, and Trisha Wildey, 50, of Luzerne, right, dressed in patriotic attire for the America250PA concert featuring Lady A and En Vogue. (Bob Kalinowski / Staff Photographer)
All were decked out in red, white and blue.
“This is right in out backyard. We could not miss these bands,” Wildey said. “This is fabulous.”
Marchessault said the event was a blast.
“It’s a patriotic party for America’s 250th birthday,” Marchessault said.
The night ended with Lady A performing a rendition of the song “America the Beautiful” followed by a fireworks show.
A fireworks show followed the Lady A concert in Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre. (Bob Kalinowski / Staff Photographer)
‘En Vogue’ performs at the America250PA concert at Kirby Park on Saturday, June 20, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
A line forms off the Market Street Bridge outside the America250PA concert at Kirby Park on Saturday, June 20, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The crowd enters Kirby Park at the America250PA concert at Kirby Park on Saturday, June 20, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Members of the crowd dance at the America250PA concert at Kirby Park on Saturday, June 20, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Molly Mainiero, right, of Sugarloaf, waves her flashlight at the America250PA concert at Kirby Park on Saturday, June 20, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
En Vogue performs at the America250PA concert at Kirby Park on Saturday, June 20, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Concertgoers, including Lorelei Young of Altoona, right, and Sarah Walsh of Scranton, wait in line for the America 250 celebration at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre. BOB KALINOWSKI / STAFF PHOTO
Concertgoers wait in line for the America 250 celebration at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre. BOB KALINOWSKI / STAFF PHOTO
Members of the crowd dance at the America250PA concert at Kirby Park on Saturday, June 20, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Concertgoers wait in line for the America 250 celebration at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre. BOB KALINOWSKI / STAFF PHOTO
The stage setup in Kirby Park. BOB KALINOWSKI / STAFF PHOTO
A sign for the America 250 celebration. BOB KALINOWSKI / STAFF PHOTO
The crowd packs the food vendors at the America250PA concert at Kirby Park on Saturday, June 20, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Members of the crowd dance at the America250PA concert at Kirby Park on Saturday, June 20, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
A shuttle heads over the Market Street Bridge to Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre, ferrying concertgoers. BOB KALINOWSKI / STAFF PHOTO
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‘En Vogue’ performs at the America250PA concert at Kirby Park on Saturday, June 20, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)