Marching Into a Lot of Fun in the Electric City

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Celebrate Spring in Downtown Scranton

Spring will be here before we know it (the equinox is March 20!) and businesses and event venues in Downtown Scranton are ready. From concerts to March Madness specials and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, there’s always something fun to do in the heart of the Electric City!

‘West Point On the March’

Saxophone soloist performing during a West Point Band concert.

Here’s the perfect way to kick off the month of March: The Scranton Cultural Center (SCC) at the Masonic Temple, 420 N. Washington Avenue, will host the West Point Band in concert on March 1 at 7 p.m. “West Point On the March” features some of Sousa’s best-known works and lively selections such as “Americans We” and Ethel Smyth’s anthem of women’s suffrage, “March of the Women.” Admission is free. For more information, visit the SCC’s website or call (570) 344-1111.

Parade Day Weekend

A group of bagpipers in traditional Scottish attire, including kilts and feathered bonnets, are playing during Scranton's St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Of course, Scranton is famous for its St. Patrick’s Parade, which steps off at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, March 8. Thousands of people will enjoy festivities along the parade route and in the many bars and restaurants in the business district.

Bartari, a retro-inspired restaurant, bar, and arcade at 101 Adams Avenue, is sure to be among the parade day hot spots. Bartari will be open all day as a 21+ restaurant with plenty of seating to enjoy a meal along with those pints. The Kerry Kenny Band will perform from noon to 2 p.m.

Don’t sleep the day away on Sunday because the place to be is Ale Mary’s at 126 Franklin Avenue. Manager Zachary Russo said the bar started a new tradition a few years ago, opting to stay closed during the Scranton St. Patrick’s Parade and offering a Hangover Brunch the following day instead.

The 7th Annual Hangover Brunch at Ale Mary’s will be held Sunday, March 9, from noon to 4 p.m. The event features food and drink specials with a Happy Hour from 1 to 3 p.m. and a free jukebox until 4 p.m. The menu includes $4 mimosas, $5 Bloody Marys, $10 Bud Light buckets (available all day), and $2 off all draft beers. Be sure to follow Ale Mary’s on social media for more information.

These are just a few highlights of what’s to come on parade day weekend. To start mapping out your plan, visit Scranton Tomorrow’s online Downtown Dining Guide for a complete list of restaurants, pubs and cafes and check out the links to their social media for hours, entertainment, and specials.

Let the March Madness begin!

When we caught up with Russo, he also gave us a preview of what the Ale Mary’s crew has planned during March Madness. On Thursdays and Fridays, March 20 & 21 and 27 & 28, the bar will open early at noon. Drink specials include $3 Miller Lite drafts (all day) on Thursdays and $5 Electric City Cider drafts on Fridays (all day). There will also be merchandise giveaways on those nights, too. For updates, be sure to follow Ale Mary’s on social media.

Trivia Tuesdays. So Fetch!

Mean Girls - "Hilarious, splashy and unmistakably by Tina Fey!" -The New Yorker

Have you been to a trivia night at Bartari yet? All year around, they host themed trivia nights on Tuesdays. In March, it’s all about Mean Girls. The date for trivia night will be announced on Bartari’s Facebook page soon. Through a partnership between Broadway Theatre League of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Bartari, the winner of trivia night will win 4 tickets to Mean Girls at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple. The show runs May 16 to 18. As our favorite mean girl Gretchen Wieners would say, we think this is all “so fetch!” (That’s Mean Girl speak to express how much we love it).

Parking & Pinball

Vintage arcade games lined up against the wall at Bartari in Scranton, PA.

“Downtown has a great city vibe and energy,” said J.P. Heim, owner of Bartari. “Everything is condensed into a 20-block radius and it’s walkable. You can start at Bar Pazzo for a nice dinner and then come over to Bartari for cocktails and pinball.”

Speaking of pinball, Bartari hosts 8-week pinball leagues throughout the year, and the next one will start at the end of March or early April. A tournament with Electric City Pinball is in the works, too. Look for date announcements on Bartari’s Facebook page.

To help you make plans to enjoy all that Downtown Scranton businesses offer this spring, here’s what you need to know about parking:

On parade day (March 8): Park all day in one of six downtown garages for a special rate of $6.
All year: On-street parking is free all day on Saturdays and Sundays. Garage parking is available for $1/hour up to 10 hours. After 10 hours, pay a flat rate of $15 for 10 to 24 hours.
More info: www.scrantonpaparking.com