Downtown Scranton comes alive this weekend, full of history and culture and a lot of food.
Labor Day weekend in Scranton means two things: Lackawanna Railfest 2009 and the 34th annual La Festa Italiana.
The sights and sounds of a train yard drew hundreds of people to the Steamtown National Historic Site for Lackawanna Railfest.
"It's a lot of fun, exciting. A bit of the past still going," said Richard Senft of Connecticut.
"Our mission is to celebrate the history of steam railroading and to do that in an event like this is gratifying because it brings people in who wouldn't normally be here," said Mark Brennan with Steamtown.
The theme this year is Celebrating the 1940s. It is a flashback in time and a chance for many to take a present-day train ride.
Rusty Youst and his son have been coming here for the past few years.
"Just spending time with my son. We both like to ride the trains so we're here to have a good time," said Rusty Youst of Reading.
After checking out all that Steamtown National Historic Site has to offer, just a few blocks away is La Festa Italiana where you can find all things Italian.
Many people said the food is what brings them to Courthouse Square.
"Sopasada. I had the tripe, which I come for and look forward to and the sopasada," said Frank Navarra of New York.
"Right now it's the lasagna. That's my favorite part, the food," said Sharon Bender of Scranton.
Dozens of vendors have been busy making all the tasty Italian food like cannolis and of course, pizza.
"Making pies all day today. Making round and square pizza that's about it. Hopefully I'll make around 500," said Matt Basile of Grande Pizza.
Besides the food, good music and a good time are what draws thousands of people to La Festa every year.
"It brings the community together. It's nice to see old people and young people getting together and just enjoying the city," added Bender.
Railfest at the Steamtown National Historic Site continues Sunday while La Festa runs through Labor Day in downtown Scranton. A COLTS trolley will be shuttling people between the two events.
Labor Day weekend in Scranton means two things: Lackawanna Railfest 2009 and the 34th annual La Festa Italiana.
The sights and sounds of a train yard drew hundreds of people to the Steamtown National Historic Site for Lackawanna Railfest.
"It's a lot of fun, exciting. A bit of the past still going," said Richard Senft of Connecticut.
"Our mission is to celebrate the history of steam railroading and to do that in an event like this is gratifying because it brings people in who wouldn't normally be here," said Mark Brennan with Steamtown.
The theme this year is Celebrating the 1940s. It is a flashback in time and a chance for many to take a present-day train ride.
Rusty Youst and his son have been coming here for the past few years.
"Just spending time with my son. We both like to ride the trains so we're here to have a good time," said Rusty Youst of Reading.
After checking out all that Steamtown National Historic Site has to offer, just a few blocks away is La Festa Italiana where you can find all things Italian.
Many people said the food is what brings them to Courthouse Square.
"Sopasada. I had the tripe, which I come for and look forward to and the sopasada," said Frank Navarra of New York.
"Right now it's the lasagna. That's my favorite part, the food," said Sharon Bender of Scranton.
Dozens of vendors have been busy making all the tasty Italian food like cannolis and of course, pizza.
"Making pies all day today. Making round and square pizza that's about it. Hopefully I'll make around 500," said Matt Basile of Grande Pizza.
Besides the food, good music and a good time are what draws thousands of people to La Festa every year.
"It brings the community together. It's nice to see old people and young people getting together and just enjoying the city," added Bender.
Railfest at the Steamtown National Historic Site continues Sunday while La Festa runs through Labor Day in downtown Scranton. A COLTS trolley will be shuttling people between the two events.
