Recreation

Located in Northeast Pennsylvania just west of the Poconos, Lackawanna County fully enjoys four seasons. With a rich and diverse culture derived from its past as a 20th-century mining town, Lackawanna County celebrates its heritage through numerous cultural events. Blessed with natural beauty, Lackawanna County is also an outdoor paradise, offering diverse recreation from outstanding trout fishing to kayaking and camping.
 

Also steeped in history, Lackawanna County features several museums and historic landmarks dedicated to its heritage of transportation and industrialization. Top sits include:

 

  • Lackawanna County Coal Mine: Open April through November, this historic site allows visitors to venture down 300 feet into an anthracite coal mine that dates back to the 1860s.
  • Steamtown National Historic Site: This museum celebrates steam and diesel railroad history and its contribution to America’s economy in the 19th and 20th centuries.
  • Electric City Trolley Station & Museum: Through interactive exhibits and displays, this museum tells the story of the electric traction systems and their significant impact on the development of Northeast Pennsylvania.
  • Everhart Museum: Scranton’s fine arts museum holds regular collections of visual art, ethnography (including an outstanding African collection) and natural history, and also hosts revolving exhibitions in addition to hosting regular events and programs.

 

Events and Activities

Throughout the year, Lackawanna County hosts a number of events, including culinary and cultural festivals, sporting games and parades. These events take advantage of the county’s true four-season locale, with relatively mild springs, temperately warm summers and cold winters with ample measurable snowfall. Some of the premier seasonal events include:

                                               

Spring/Summer

  • St. Patrick’s Day Parade: Scranton's large Irish population is represented in the annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade in March. First held in 1862, the parade is the nation’s fourth largest of its kind.
  • St. Ubaldo Day – La Festa dei Ceri: In May for more than a century, the borough of Jessup’s large Italian community has celebrated its Umbrian roots on the feast of the patron saint of Gubbio. 
  • Arts on Fire Festival:  Scranton blends it industrial heritage with its creative side as the circa-1840 iron foundry hosts an iron. The two-day event features food, music and children’s activities, as well as blacksmithing, pottery, and glass making demonstrations, along with a community iron pour.   
  • La Festa Italiana of Lackawanna County: This Labor Day Weekend tradition on Courthouse Square usually brings over 100,000 people to downtown Scranton for a variety of Italian foods and music.
  • The Peach Music Festival: For five days in mid-August, Montage Mountain in Scranton hosts a huge outdoor music festival featuring major acts such as the Allman Brothers Band, the Trey Anastasio Band and Bob Weir. Onsite camping lends the event a Woodstock feel.
  • Scranton Jazz Festival at the Radisson Hotel: This three-day event in downtown Scranton takes place in August and features more than 100 musicians and artisans.

 

Fall/Winter

  • Scranton Fringe Festival: Downtown becomes the epicenter for uncensored, thought-provoking visual, recorded and live performance art in early fall, open by application to regional and touring artists.
  • PA Oktoberfest: One of the nation’s top ten Oktoberfest celebrations, this annual festival celebrates Scranton’s German heritage with beer, food and live music.
  • Bonfire at the Iron Furnaces: Lackawanna County celebrates its cultural diversity driven by the iron industry by holding and annual bonfire at the old iron furnace. Recently added to the cultural offerings is a celebration of the Mexican Feast of the Dead, including an ofrenda alter.
  • Steamtown Marathon: This annual event takes place in October and benefits the children and residents of St. Joseph's Center in Scranton. It’s also an official qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

 

General Attractions

  • Montage Mountain Water Park: With features suitable for all ages, the park includes a wave pool, a long-course waterslide, a small slide for small children, a lazy river, a rapids float ride and an eight-lane luge-style slide.
  • Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders: The AAA affiliate of the New York Yankees plays in the 10 thousand-plus-seat PCA stadium.

 

Accessibility

Daily commercial air service is provided through the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, which located in Avoca, Pennsylvania.  As the fifth largest airport in the state, the airport offers daily flights to New York/Newark, Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Tampa/St. Pete-Clearwater and Orlando-Sanford. Rental cars are available from Avis, Budget, Hertz, National and Enterprise at the main terminal.

 

Accolades

 

Address

Lackawanna County Convention & Visitors Bureau

99 Glenmaura National Boulevard

Moosic, PA 18507

 

Phone

1.800.22.WELCOME (229-3562)

 

Digital 

www.visitnepa.org

Instagram: @Visit NEPA

Facebook: www.facebook.com/VisitNortheastPennsylvania

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/VisitNEPA