SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Lighting up La Festa, volunteers continue to work diligently to get downtown Scranton ready for the annual event.
Courthouse Square is looking just about ready for everyone to begin the celebration on Friday.
Volunteers and visitors alike can feel the excitement in the air as we are two days away from the 49th annual Italian festival.
Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton is getting powered up for the weekend thanks to local students. La Festa Italiana kicks off Friday, and everyone is working together to get ready.
"We'll have about fifty electrical apprentices from the IBEW local 80 coming in to energize the whole square, give all these vendors power so that they're ready to roll," said Joe Guido, vice president and co-chair of La Festa Italiana.
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Students expect to make quick work of this job, using it as a learning experience as they go.
"I've been told it usually takes about 45 minutes with everybody. I mean, you figure you have a year at each corner all doing their own thing, and it takes 45 minutes, tops, an hour," said Garrett Sespico, a first-year apprentice, IBEW Local 81.
They're proud to lend a helping hand in pulling off such a big event.
"I know I don't look it, but I am part Italian, and I do love that. I love Italian food, Italian people, if that makes sense, so I'm all for it. I love it," shared Sespico.
Courthouse Square will see a flurry of activity as the work continues tomorrow. Local vendors will officially begin setting up underneath their tents.
"They're very excited because the weather's going to be great. That's what they always look for, so they know this will be a great weekend as far as the weather goes, they're pumped up about that, they can't wait," said Guido.
Scranton residents are excited, too, as they see the festival coming to life.
"When we were just coming by here, we saw tents, and we didn't realize it was so soon, and we're already planning out what food to get this year, when we should go, and it's all very exciting to come up," said Charlotte Cruce and Kyra Malanowski, of Scranton.
The wait is almost over, and organizers are eager to see the results of their work.
"It's a lot of hard work putting this festival on over the short time that we have to get it ready, and the best part about it is standing back when it's all going on, just watching everybody have a good time and enjoy themselves. It's a very family-oriented event, and when you just step back and watch everybody, it makes it all worth it," shared Guido.
While it may look busy on Wednesday and Thursday in Scranton, that will pale in comparison to the crowds they're expecting this Labor Day Weekend.
