As La Festa Italiana celebrates its 40th year, the annual end-of-summer festival in downtown Scranton, Pa. is expanding by opening Friday evening for the first time. La Festa will be held Labor Day weekend (Friday through Monday, September 4-7, 2015) on Courthouse Square in the heart of the city. Hours are Friday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Monday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

As usual, more than 80 vendors will be offering great Italian food, and continuous live entertainment will be featured on multiple stages around the square. There is no admission charge. This year's event also coincides with First Friday in the city, giving visitors a full array of entertainment, culinary and cultural activities at nearby venues – all within walking distance. La Festa's inaugural Friday night will feature one of the festival's most popular acts – the famous Duprees will be on the main stage at 7 p.m.

The Duprees Featured Friday Night to Open Festival

The Duprees are known the world over for their romantic interpretations of the most beautiful love songs ever written. They have made a career out of giving new life to old hits. Starting out in the early '60s, in Jersey City, N.J., The Duprees were discovered by George Paxton of Coed Records and former big band leader. Impressed with their smooth vocal quality, he had them record Jo Stafford's 1950s ballad "You Belong To Me" with big band arrangements. It was an instant national hit and the group's first million seller.

The unmistakable sound was born and the hits kept coming: 1962 You Belong To Me; 1962 My Own True Love; 1963 Gone With The Wind; 1963 Take Me As I Am; 1963 Why Don't You Believe Me; 1963 Have You Heard; 1963 Love Eyes; 1963 It's No Sin; 1963 The Sand And The Sea; 1964 It Isn't Fair; 1966 Let Them Talk; 1966 Exodus.

Along with their unique sound and outstanding vocal harmonies, The Duprees perform with showmanship that is, individually and collectively, second to none. Thousands of fans around the globe are captivated with their wonderful mixture of romance, energy and fun. When The Duprees take the stage, be prepared to be thoroughly entertained.

Bronx Wanderers Make Festival Debut to Close Event
La Festa Italiana will conclude with a superb act that will be making its debut performance at the event.
The Bronx Wanderers will hit the stage on Monday, Sept. 7, at 6:30 p.m. This group consists of a father and his two sons who are living the American rock n' roll dream by performing '50s, '60s and '70s hits – including a tribute to Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.

With superlative vocals and musicianship, dynamic enthusiasm and a genuine love of the music they perform, The Bronx Wanderers recreate the magic of the era and build an energetic bond with their audience, guaranteeing an evening of toe-tapping, hand-clapping and dancing in the aisles all night long.
Their show tells the stories and plays the music that will take you as close as you can get to having lived the actual experience. The Wanderers arrive at every show with new material all the time but never leave out the favorites that their fans and audiences have come to love.

A variety of other continuous live entertainment for both young and older tastes is presented on the Mohegan Sun Main Stage, the ShopRite Picnic Tent Stage, the Spruce Street Stage and the Children's Stage throughout each day.

Among the many other acts that will perform are the famous Poets, Italian tenor Christopher Macchio, comedian Uncle Floyd, Ray Massa's "EuroRhythms" from Ohio, Chris DiMattio's tribute to Sinatra, a Connie Francis tribute featuring Nikki Rasmus, Deano Noto's tribute to Billy Joel, Los Vega New York Italian Show Band, the Italian Continentals, The Magics, Gene Dempsey Orchestra, Paul LaBelle's Exact Change, country recording artist Dani-Elle plus many others including jugglers, magicians, street acts, cooking demonstrations, favorite local bands and dance groups.

The annual Mass in Italian will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6, in St. Peter's Cathedral, located one block from the festival site. Reverend David Cappelloni, La Festa chaplain, will be the principal celebrant. The Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton, will preside and give the homily. The Mass will also be televised live by CTV: Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton.
Fireworks will be displayed on Sunday night.

A new tradition will also continue this year. While Coney Island has its hot dog eating contest, and Philadelphia is the site for Wing Bowl, La Festa will crown a Cannoli Eating Champion. The contest will take place on Monday, Sept. 7, at 3 p.m. in front of the main stage.

Yoga on the Square to Benefit Children's Advocacy Center
In celebration of La Festa Italiana's 40th year and the City of Scranton's 150th birthday, two local yoga studios are hosting special events to benefit the Children's Advocacy Center. On the festival's opening night, Friday, September 4, at 7 p.m., Jaya Yoga Studio is holding "Glowga On The Square," a one-hour event – taught with glow sticks – on the grass near the fountains on the North Washington Avenue side of the Square. Then on Saturday, September 5, Mind Body Spirit Co-op will lead a session at 11 a.m. on the grass. Participants are asked to meet in front of the stage on Linden Street on Courthouse Square.

For both events, all levels and children are welcome. Recommended donation is $10 per person. All proceeds will go to the Children's Advocacy Center. Checks should be made out to La Festa Italiana; credit cards also accepted. Participants for both events are asked to register at the merchandise tent on North Washington Avenue.

For more information and the complete entertainment schedule, visit the festival Web site at: www.lafestaitaliana.org.

La Festa Italiana will literally hit the ground running with the James R. Minicozzi Memorial 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, Sept. 5. The race is being sponsored by the Scranton Chapter of UNICO, the Italian-American service organization, and proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Pre-registration for the race must be received by Aug. 27 by calling Jack Trapani at 570-878-3780 or [email protected], or sending the $20 entrance fee by check made out to UNICO National-Scranton Chapter, P.O. Box 278, Dunmore, PA 18512. Registration will also be accepted the day of the race from 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Festival patrons are also invited to Lackawanna Railfest '15, hosted by the nearby Steamtown National Historic Site Sept. 5-6. Shuttle transportation will be provided between La Festa and Steamtown. For details on Railfest, visit www.nps.gov/stea.

Entertainment

Mohegan Sun Pocono

MAIN STAGE

FRIDAY Sept 4th

6:00 OPENING CEREMONIES
6:30 BALLET THEATRE of SCRANTON Festive Italian Folk Dance
7:00 The DUPREES, La Festa's PREMIER ACT
9:00 Se Acabo, Santana Tribute Band

SATURDAY Sept 5th

10:00 AM James R. Minicozzi Memorial Race/Walk
11:30 RON LEAS ORCHESTRA
12:30 Turi Dance Studio
1:00 ITALIAN CONTINENTALS with Mike Lanza
2:00 Arts in Movement Dance Academy
2:30 RAY MASSA's EURORHYTHMS, Ohio, La Festa's Premier Italian Band
4:30 DANI-ELLE, Country Music Recording Artist
6:00 RAY MASSA's EURORHYTHMS
7:30 CHRIS MACCHIO, from NYC, La Festa's Featured Italian Tenor
9:00 DEANO NOTO's Tribute to BILLY JOEL

SUNDAY Sept 6th
10 am MASS in Italian language at St. Peter's Cathedral
11:30 KING HENRY and the Original SHOWMEN
12:30 & 1:45 AL GROUT, Juggler and Magician
2:15 MAGICS
4:00 OLD FRIENDS
5:30 "UNCLE FLOYD" Vivino, famous Comedian
6:30 BALLET THEATRE of SCRANTON
7:00 CHRIS DiMATTIO's Tribute to Frank Sinatra 100th!

8:30 The POETS, La Festa's Own Show Band
10:00 FIREWORKS

MONDAY Sept 7th

Noon The GENE DEMPSEY Orchestra
1:30 The EXACT CHANGE BAND
3:30 LOS VEGA, New York Italian Show Band
5:00 CONNIE FRANCIS Tribute featuring Nikki Rasmus
6:00 DAMIAN the Magician
6:30 The BRONX WANDERERS, The Ultimate Tribute to Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, Dion and Styx – High Octane Rock N' Roll Experience
– a La Festa PREMIER LIVE from the Bronx!

ShopRite Picnic Tent Stage

Center of North Washington Ave.

FRIDAY
7:00 Jaya Yoga Studio "Glowga on the Square"

SATURDAY
NOON Jim Cullen and Hippie Pizza Pie

2:30 Janice Gambo

5:00 SARAH MARIE and JOSEPH, Italian Folk Tribute

SUNDAY
1:00 The FORTUNES
3:00 Bill and Donna Arnold
5:00 The PARAMOUNTS

MONDAY
1:00 Danny Argo & Friends, Italian American Music

3:00 GERARD MAYER SHOW BAND

5:00 East Coast Trio

Wayne Bank Stage

Adams Avenue at Spruce Street

FRIDAY
4:30 Nothing Yet
9:00 ROGUE CHIMP

SATURDAY
Noon Two for the Road

3:00 TAKE THREE

6:00 The WANABEES

SUNDAY
Noon Danny Rosato and Katrina
3:00 The THIRD NUT
6:00 Blush

MONDAY
Noon BINKY and JACK
3:00 The FAB III

CHILDREN's STAGE

Linden Street

SATURDAY
11:00 AM Mind Body Spirit Co-Op "Yoga on the Grass"
1:00, 2:30 Mock Turtle, Marionette Theatre
& 4 PM Amazing Puppetry Arts from Mother Goose to Monteverdi

SUNDAY
1:00, 2:30 Mock Turtle, Marionette Theatre
& 4 PM Amazing Puppetry Arts from Mother Goose to Monteverdi

MONDAY
2 & 4 PM From Earth to Moon, Commedie dell'arte – Italian style
Performed by Scranton Fringe
Various JUGGLER Robert J. Smith