The Frolic: UNC Celebrates 20 Years of a Scranton Fundraising Tradition

What began on a freezing February night at the historic Lackawanna Train Station in 2005 has grown into a Scranton fundraising tradition that continues more than two decades later.

This fall, United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC) will celebrate 20 years since the first Chocoholic Frolic when it presents The Frolic: Harvest at the Hilton presented by PNC on Thursday, October 1, from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Hilton Scranton & Conference Center.

The story of The Frolic begins with SCOLA (Scranton Council for Literacy Advance) and Nancy Dressel, the organization’s development director who was charged with developing a fundraiser. The result was the first Chocoholic Frolic in 2006.

Dressel recently recalled an inaugural event that was memorable for more than the food. Freezing rain made for terrible weather, but the community still turned out. Inside the former Lackawanna Train Station, vendors lined the room as guests sampled creations from area restaurants, bakeries and other food businesses.

The response was greater than organizers anticipated. Dressel remembers a huge circular line of guests winding through the event to taste the many locally made chocolate creations. The event quickly became a success and eventually outgrew the Train Station, moving to the Hilton as attendance continued to grow.

Despite its name, Dressel said the vision for the Chocoholic Frolic was never limited to chocolate desserts. Restaurants were encouraged to experiment, incorporating chocolate into unexpected dishes and savory foods like cocoa-rubbed meats and other creative combinations. That spirit of culinary experimentation helped turn the Frolic into an anticipated community event.

When SCOLA later became part of United Neighborhood Centers, UNC continued the fundraiser and the tradition that came with it. Over the years, the event evolved beyond its chocolate theme into a broader celebration of the region’s food and beverage community.

“The Frolic continues to honor the spirit of the original event SCOLA created; bringing people together for a great experience while supporting important work in our community,” said Lisa Durkin, President and CEO of United Neighborhood Centers. “The adult literacy and English language programs that SCOLA championed not only continue at UNC but have grown to serve an increasingly diverse community. It’s meaningful that, more than 20 years later, The Frolic is still bringing people together and helping make that work possible.”

This year’s participating restaurants include Abbiocco, A’tera 519, Alter Bar Scranton, B&G Winery, Barbour’s Bakery, Café Rinaldi, Coffee Inclusive, Colarusso’s Coal Fired Pizza & Colarusso’s Pasta Fresca, Cooper’s Seafood House, Gertrude Hawk Chocolates, Groove Brewing, Harvest Seasonal Grill, Hilton Scranton & Conference Center, Lucchi Family Wine Cellars, Lynn Sandy’s Bakery, Maximum Zen, Peanut Bar & Cashew Lounge, Stirna’s Restaurant, Sweet Tooth by Chocolate Creations, Warney Cellar and Tap, and more.

Guests can move throughout the event sampling food, desserts, wine, beer and other beverages while enjoying live

music, raffles and an evening designed for mingling and discovering local favorites.

Jeremy Lewan of WNEP will serve as emcee for the evening, with live music by Michelle McGrath and Eric Dixon.

The event is presented by PNC, with additional support from Gold Sponsors Knowles Insurance, the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund and Geisinger; Silver Sponsor Alliance Wealth Advisors; Bronze Sponsors Comcast, Fastenal, Highmark, the Honesdale National Bank, and more.

Proceeds benefit United Neighborhood Centers, which serves more than 11,000 individuals and families throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania each year. UNC programs include food and housing assistance, childcare and youth programming, adult education and English language learning, workforce development, services for older adults, community health initiatives and neighborhood revitalization.

The connection to the original SCOLA fundraiser also remains. Adult education and English language learning—the programs the original Chocoholic Frolic was created to support—continue today as part of UNC’s work.

From a packed Train Station on a freezing night in 2005 to more than 20 food and beverage partners gathering at the Hilton in 2026, The Frolic has continued to evolve while maintaining the idea at its heart: bringing the community together around great food while supporting its neighbors.

UNC’s 18th Annual Frolic: Harvest at the Hilton presented by PNC will be held Thursday, October 1, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Hilton Scranton & Conference Center. Tickets are $50 and include tastings from participating food and beverage partners.

Tickets and additional information are available through United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania.