It is going to be a beautiful weekend of weather, perfect for any outdoor plans you have this Labor Day Weekend, especially if you are headed to downtown Scranton for La Festa Italiana.
“The weather is so important; we have so many visitors that come from surrounding states that come to La Festa. If you drove here from Delaware, or New York, or Maryland, and you experienced rain, it probably would not make your day,” said Chris DiMattio, La Festa Italiana.
La Festa Italiana has been taking over downtown Scranton for 50 years. The first festival was held in October 1976 as a celebration for America’s bicentennial. But five decades later, the cherished Italian tradition is still happening, but not on the same weekend. The reason, of course, has everything to do with the weather.
“One of the things I can remember is the planners moved this event in 1981, because in 1980 it was 13 degrees and snowing. It was always on Columbus Day. So they had some meteorologists like yourself look into this, and they said, ‘Well, one of the best weekends of the year is Labor Day Weekend, where the weather is usually pretty nice to have an outdoor event.’ So in 1981 they changed it to Labor Day Weekend,” DiMattio said.
And since then, La Festa has become summer’s grand finale, the unofficial end of the season for so many who come here every year. But even though, historically, the weather is really nice for Labor Day Weekend, with an outdoor event that is four days long, the weather is always at least somewhat of a concern.
Chris DiMattio has been volunteering for La Festa almost as long as it’s been around. Now he is the festival’s President and Chairman of the Board, so he remembers a lot.
“Definitely some hurricanes. Some of them have missed us; certainly, some thunderstorms have hit us. We’ve had some drizzle from time to time, but the great thing about La Festa is the vendors are under a tent; they’re cooking and preparing their food under a tent. We have a show stage that is covered, and I’ve never seen more umbrellas. People will come to La Festa rain or shine with their umbrellas because they enjoy the food, they enjoy the entertainment, and they know the show is still going to go on,” DiMattio said.
And for 50 years, the show has gone on. The weather won’t ever cancel La Festa per se, but if the rain is heavy enough or there is lightning in the area, committee members will put a pause on things until conditions improve.
La Festa Italiana is on Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton this Labor Day Weekend from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Labor Day Monday.