Scranton Tomorrow, Summer of Scranton is Here! Shopping, dining and outdoor fun: The Summer of Scranton is here! Rain or shine, every day is a good day to support local! With that in mind, the Business Development Committee at Scranton Tomorrow has been working diligently to plan a full lineup of special events and promotions in July as part of our Summer of Scranton campaign. From Independence Day festivities to downtown Block Parties, Restaurant Week and Christmas in July, it’s a heat wave of shopping, dining and outdoor fun for the whole family! 👉 We share a preview of what’s coming your way in our latest guest blog in DiscoverNEPA! Read the Full Story Here
The Scrantastic Spectacular Lights Up Scranton’s July 3rd Tradition The Scrantastic Spectacular has now been electrifying The City of Scranton each July 3rd for 13 years!Audacy Pennsylvania teams up with Lackawanna County, The City of Scranton, and Scranton Tomorrow for this wonderful Independence Day celebration. Courthouse Square comes alive in the afternoon with lots of family fun, food vendors, kids’ activities, local entertainment and a LIVE performance from The Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic beginning at 7PM. This all leads up to the LARGEST FIREWORKS DISPLAY IN NEPA commencing at Dusk. Fireworks set to music on all of our stations!Projected Attendance: 10,000+ Promotion Launch: May 25, 2025
The NEPA Philharmonic Kicks Off Summer with Independence Day Celebrations and Community Events The Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic kicks off its 2025-26 Season, Presented by PNC, with a lineup of summer festivities, Independence Day celebrations, and three nights of music under the stars on July 3-5, 2025. With full-orchestra fireworks performances, patriotic favorites, community education and wellness events, and chamber music in the great outdoors, the NEPA Philharmonic presents outdoor large-ensemble concerts in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre on July 3rd and 4th; an outdoor chamber music concert at Harmony in the Woods in Hawley on July 5th; and community programs in Scranton, Peckville, and Carbondale. On Thursday, July 3, 7:30 PM, the full NEPA Philharmonic returns to Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton for a free concert as part of the Lackawanna County Scrantastic Spectacular. The performance – led by guest conductor Jeffrey Spenner, Assistant Director of the U.S. Coast Guard Band – features the full orchestra for the first time since 2019, with an array of patriotic classics capped by a fireworks display. For more details, visit https://www.scrantasticspectacular.com/. “I’m thrilled to celebrate the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic’s performance at our annual Scrantastic Spectacular on July 3rd,” says Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak. “Their vibrant orchestra will bring patriotic spirit to Courthouse Square, uniting our community in a joyful Independence Day celebration. We’re proud to support their artistry and look forward to an unforgettable evening of music and fireworks.” Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan also notes, “The Scrantastic Spectacular always is a great event and it will be even more so this year, with the full Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic bringing its extraordinarily talented musicians to the perfect setting of Courthouse Square. I can’t think of a better way for the whole community to come together to celebrate the nation’s 249th anniversary.” The celebration continues Friday, July 4, 9:00 AM, with the 12th Annual Yoga on the Roof atop the Marketplace at Steamtown’s parking garage. The NEPA Philharmonic string trio joins Jaya Yoga Clarks Summit for a unique sunrise yoga session with live music, highlighting powerful connections between arts and wellness. Registration is $20, online at www.nepaphil.org/tickets or at the door; proceeds benefit NEPA Philharmonic community and education programs. Maximum Zen Bakery of Clarks Summit provides light breakfast. On July 4, 8:00 PM, the NEPA Philharmonic Brass and Percussion Ensemble return with guest conductor Paul Bryan to Wilkes-Barre’s Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration at Kirby Park. This free, festive event features music, food, games, and another evening of lighting up the sky with fireworks. The NEPA Philharmonic Brass also presents two all-ages educational events: Once Upon an Orchestra at Valley Community Library in Peckville on Thursday, July 3, 10:00 AM and Meet the Instruments outside at Memorial Park in Carbondale on Saturday, July 5, 11:00 AM. Once Upon an Orchestra blends music and storytelling, bringing to life Ben’s Trumpet by Rachel Isadora with a brass trio performing 1920s-style jazz, while Meet the Instruments features instrument demonstrations and short musical excerpts with brass quintet. Both events are free; registration for the July 3 library event is at https://lclshome.org/event/once-upon-an-orchestra/. The weekend concludes as the NEPA Philharmonic expands the Stoppini Chamber Series with a special concert in partnership with Harmony in the Woods, a premier outdoor performance venue in Hawley, PA. On Saturday, July 5, 6:00 PM, the NEPA Philharmonic Brass Quintet takes center stage with “Americana Brass in the Woods”. The performance will feature a dynamic mix of New Orleans jazz, lively ragtime, and classic film scores, alongside timeless works from Gershwin, Ellington, Bernstein, Irving Berlin, and more. Tickets ($50 for adults, $25 for children) are available at www.harmonyinthewoods.org. The Scrantastic Spectacular is sponsored in part by Lehigh Valley Health Network, Scranton Tomorrow, The Lackawanna County Commissioners, The City of Scranton, and Audacy Pennsylvania. Additional support for the NEPA Philharmonic at Scrantastic Spectacular is provided by PNC, Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC, Fidelity, Geisinger, and Xfinity. Once Upon an Orchestra is presented by the Lackawanna County Library System. The NEPA Philharmonic Brass at Wilkes-Barre’s Old Fashioned Fourth of July is presented by the City of Wilkes-Barre. Americana Brass is presented by Harmony in the Woods, with additional support for the Philharmonic from PNC and the Stoppini Foundation. In case of inclement weather, the July 3rd, 7:30PM Scrantastic Spectacular concert will go on as scheduled, with a rain location at Scranton High School; rain location announcements will be provided by Lackawanna County on the event website. The rain location for the July 5th, 11AM Meet the Instruments event in Carbondale will be at the Greater Carbondale Chamber of Commerce. For more information about the NEPA Philharmonic’s summer programs and the upcoming 2025–2026 Season, Presented by PNC, visit nepaphil.org, or call (570) 270-4444.
Scranton Tomorrow, Voting Closing for Downtown Floral Competition Submissions to judge Scranton Tomorrow’s Downtown Scranton Business Class Floral Competition closes tonight! Join in, support local, and vote! Take a self guided tour of the floral display locations! QR codes linking to our Facebook voting gallery will be posted next to displays throughout the business district. Be sure to visit, N. Washington Avenue Over the Moon 123 N. Washington Avenue Tachi Hill 127 N. Washington Avenue Pizza By Pappas 303 N. Washington Avenue Abe’s Delicatessen 326 N. Washington Avenue Wyoming Avenue Picciocchi’s Pasta 114 Wyoming Avenue Biden Street Northern Light Espresso Bar & Cafe 536 Biden Street Penn Avenue RD Blow Dry Bar & The Daisy Collective (together) 324, 328 Penn Avenue AV Restaurant 320 Penn Avenue Adams Avenue Lavish Scranton 200 Adams Avenue Thai Rak Thai 349 Adams Avenue Spice Asian Market 343 Adams Avenue Lackawanna Avenue Scranton Art Haus 301 Lackawanna Avenue Vote for your favorite displays through Facebook. Each photo “like” counts as a vote! P.S. You are not required to take the self guided tour prior to voting (although we think you should – it’s fun!). In partnership with the Everhart Museum, Scranton Tomorrow will honor first, second and third place winners on Friday, June 20, at the at the Flower Power Happy Hour at the Everhart Museum in Nay Aug Park, 1901 Mulberry Street, Scranton, from 5 to 8 p.m. Winning arrangements will be on display at the Electric City Flower Show at Nay Aug Park on Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This competition is part of Scranton City Pride, a project of Scranton Tomorrow, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania, and United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC), and a Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful program.
Scranton Tomorrow, Floral Displays Downtown Join us! Celebrate the upcoming Electric City Flower Show during Scranton City Pride (May 27 to June 7) with a self-guided tour of floral displays in Downtown Scranton at First Friday in June, and a chance to vote for your favorite displays! Here’s How it Works: While you’re enjoying the festivities in Downtown Scranton on June 6 between 5 and 9 p.m., take a self-guided tour of businesses displaying floral container arrangements (click here to find the locations). Note which designs really catch your eye. Then, visit our Facebook page and vote for your favorite. QR Codes linking to our page will be posted at each site on the tour! The displays are part of the Downtown Business Class category of the show presented by Scranton Tomorrow. The contest celebrates the upcoming Electric City Flower Show on Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Nay Aug Park in Scranton. In partnership with the Everhart Museum, Scranton Tomorrow will honor first, second and third place winners on Friday, June 20, at the Flower Power Happy Hour at the Everhart Museum from 5 to 8 p.m. Winning arrangements will be on display at the Electric City Flower Show at Nay Aug Park on Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. We can’t wait to see you there!
Scranton Tomorrow Celebrates New Mural Downtown As we celebrate the completion ofThe Big Band mural by Eric Bussart, we invite you to join Host Geoffrey Pizzuto as he shares the story of Scranton’s legacy of Jazz in this short video produced by Jason Arden Photography. It’s a must-see if you’re curious about the famous faces featured in the mural, including Billy Lustig, leader of the Scranton Sirens, the Dorsey Brothers, and Duke Ellington. Mural Dedication & Meet the Artist Friday, October 4 @ 5:30 p.m. 217 Wyoming Avenue Downtown Scranton Following a brief program, enjoy live music with Marko Marcinko and the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band playing the tunes of the Scranton Sirens, the Dorsey Brothers and Duke Ellington. The evening also includes performances by Vince Brust Studios with Big Band Dancers. Guests will have an opportunity to meet local artist Eric Bussart, and enjoy goodies provided by the Fidelity Bank Sweets & Treats Van. The Big Band mural is made possible with generous support from the following: Lackawanna County, Lackawanna Heritage Valley (LHV), City of Scranton, Fancy Parsley Architecture & Design, The Perry Law Firm, Multiscape, Inc., The Ritz Theater, ATR Properties, Ferrario Real Estate Development, Faye Mittelman Mertz, Marilyn Kaufmann Wolk, Kenneth Michael Klein, Samuel J. Pizzuto (1937-2006), and DuPont Monument Shop, Inc.
