Explore the Annual Events That Bring Northeastern PA Together
In Northeastern Pennsylvania, there’s always something on the calendar. Throughout the year, communities across our 10-county region host annual fairs and festivals, races and walks, and seasonal celebrations that bring people together and keep local traditions going.
Many of these events have been happening for decades. Parades, heritage festivals, county fairs and major races return each year with the same familiar lineup, drawing longtime attendees, families who make it a tradition and visitors who plan their trips around them. Others are newer but have quickly become part of the yearly rotation. Either way, these are the events locals count on and look forward to every year.
Explore some of Northeastern PA’s signature annual events below, then head to our NEPA events calendar to see what’s happening this weekend.
Major Events & Festivals in NEPA Throughout the Year
Spring Summer Fall Winter Holidays
Spring Festivals & Annual Events in NEPA
As winter fades, Northeastern Pennsylvania starts to feel busy again. St. Patrick’s Day celebrations fill downtown streets in March, followed by Easter events, egg hunts and family traditions that carry into early spring. Warmer weekends bring food and drink festivals back outdoors, along with arts celebrations, live music and community fairs that mark the start of the festival season.
Spring is also prime time for races and walks across the region, with runners and spectators turning out for longtime favorites and new additions alike. Baseball returns, touring productions and concerts pick up, and local venues shift into a full calendar after the quieter winter months. By the time May rolls around, the pace has clearly changed — and the stretch of back-to-back festival weekends is officially underway.
St. Patrick’s Day in NEPA
St. Patrick’s Day in NEPA is a proper grand time, full of craic, a fair bit of Guinness and plenty of NEPA events to keep the celebration going! From Scranton’s legendary parade—second largest in the country—to lively celebrations in Wilkes-Barre and Stroudsburg, there’s no shortage of Irish pride. Feast on corned beef and cabbage at local irish pubs, raise a pint at a rollicking pub crawl and tap your toes to live Celtic tunes. Whether you’re looking for things to do in NEPA this weekend or just along for the shenanigans, NEPA is the place to be for the luck o’ the Irish!
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Summer Festivals & Annual Events in NEPA
Summer is peak festival season in Northeastern Pennsylvania. From June through August, the calendar fills quickly with food festivals, county fairs, cultural celebrations and outdoor concert series happening nearly every weekend. Fourth of July fireworks light up communities across the region, while long-running summer traditions like La Festa Italiana, Railfest and local heritage festivals draw big crowds year after year.
County fairs return with rides, livestock shows and live entertainment, and signature food festivals — from pierogies and kielbasa to tomatoes and more, celebrating NEPA’s roots in a big way. Outdoor music takes center stage with free concert series, major touring acts and destination events like Briggs Farm Blues Festival. Summer is also prime season for races and endurance events, from local 5Ks and runs to a triathlon and the iconic NASCAR weekend at Pocono Raceway. It’s the stretch of the year when there’s something happening almost every Friday, Saturday and Sunday — and sometimes all three.
Rockin’ the River in Summer Concert Series
Nothing says summer in NEPA like live music along the Susquehanna River. Rockin’ the River brings free Friday night concerts to the Wilkes-Barre River Common each July, where crowds gather for tribute bands, local opening acts and plenty of space to dance under the open sky. Grab dinner from food trucks, sip local beer and wine and settle in with a lawn chair or blanket for a night of live music by the water. With a scenic riverfront setting, family-friendly atmosphere and a lineup that keeps the energy high all evening, this favorite summer concert series is a downtown Wilkes-Barre tradition.
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Fall Festivals & Annual Events in NEPA
Fall in Northeastern Pennsylvania fills the calendar quickly. County fairs and harvest festivals headline the early part of the season, with traditions like the Bloomsburg Fair and Luzerne County Fair drawing big crowds for food, rides and agricultural showcases. As foliage season peaks, events in places like Jim Thorpe spotlight the region’s fall color, while local farms welcome visitors for corn mazes, pumpkin patches and family festivals.
Race season returns in full force with major events like the Steamtown Marathon and the historic Run for the Diamonds, bringing runners and spectators out on crisp fall mornings. Hockey season gets underway with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and fall concert schedules keep venues busy across the region. By October, Halloween events, including haunted houses and attractions like Reaper’s Revenge, take over our weekend plans. It’s one of the busiest stretches of the year, with popular traditions stacked back-to-back through November.
Halloween in NEPA
Halloween in NEPA means crisp nights, glowing jack-o’-lanterns and plenty of spooky fun across the region. Haunted houses and ghost tours bring the scares, while pumpkin patches, fall festivals and family events keep the season festive for all ages. From nationally known haunts like Reaper’s Revenge to pumpkin trails, spooky hayrides and Halloween events there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate. Grab a cider donut, sip a pumpkin beer and enjoy a full month of thrills, chills and classic autumn traditions.
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Winter Festivals & Annual Events in NEPA
Winter in Northeastern Pennsylvania settles in after the holidays, but the calendar doesn’t slow down completely. Ice festivals and winter fairs bring crowds out for sculpture displays, live carvings and cold-weather celebrations. Events like Jim Thorpe Winterfest and Scranton’s Downtown on Ice Festival keep seasonal traditions going well into January and February.
Ski season is in full swing across the region, with mountain resorts hosting themed weekends, races and special events throughout the winter months. Cold-weather races and trail runs challenge runners willing to bundle up, while indoor concerts and touring performances keep venues busy when temperatures drop. From winter walks and 5Ks to live music and seasonal festivals, the season offers plenty of reasons to get out, even when it’s cold.
Scranton Downtown on Ice Festival
Winter in NEPA gets a frosty twist when Scranton’s Downtown On Ice Festival takes over the Electric City each January. Downtown streets fill with intricate ice sculptures, live carving demonstrations and family-friendly activities across more than 30 blocks. From music and performances to scavenger hunts and festive downtown fun, the free weekend festival brings thousands out to celebrate the season. Bundle up, explore the sculptures and warm up at nearby restaurants, cafés and pubs.
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Holiday Festivals & Annual Events in NEPA
The holiday season in Northeastern Pennsylvania fills the calendar from Thanksgiving through the New Year. Santa parades, tree lightings and community celebrations kick things off, followed by weeks of holiday markets, live Christmas shows and seasonal performances across the region. Light displays take center stage, from large-scale drive-through attractions and walk-through experiences to neighborhood traditions that return year after year.
Families line up for Santa train rides and trolley excursions, while local theaters and venues host annual productions that have become part of many December routines. Holiday races, including longtime events like Run for the Diamonds, keep the tradition of winter competition alive even as temperatures drop. From shopping local at holiday markets to bundling up for the Festival of Lights display, December weekends fill up quickly. The season closes out the year with a full schedule of celebrations before the calendar turns to January.
Festival of Lights at Stone Hedge Golf Course
The Festival of Lights at Stone Hedge Golf Course in Tunkhannock is one of NEPA’s most beloved holiday traditions. Each winter, millions of twinkling lights transform the golf course into a glowing 2.5-mile drive-through display filled with festive scenes, holiday music and classic Christmas magic. Families bundle up, tune the radio to seasonal songs and cruise through dazzling light displays before warming up with s’mores and visits with Santa. It’s a sparkling holiday outing that has become a must-see stop on NEPA’s Christmas calendar.
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Explore More NEPA Events
Looking for something happening soon? Browse our full NEPA events calendar for daily happenings across the region, from festivals and concerts to races, farmers’ markets and community gatherings. You can search by date, category or location to find exactly what fits your plans.
Planning something of your own? Submit an event to be featured on DiscoverNEPA and share it with readers across the region. And if you’re deciding what to do next, check out our weekend guide for a curated roundup of events happening right now.
