We are a week removed from the close of the annual Pittston Tomato Festival. I’ve either attended or covered the event for many of it’s 42-year history, and I don’t have official numbers — and I realize it’s hard to keep official numbers — but I believe this year had to be one of, if not the most successful festivals to date.
I could not attend the festival on Friday because I had to cover the Pittston Area – Mid Valley game, but going to the game at Trippi Stadium and coming from the game, the city was jammed with parked cars and the festival lots, all three of them, were packed with patrons.
Heading down Main St., I caught the red light at Market and Main streets, and I was thinking how the landscape of the city will change when the seven-story highrise is built.
So I glanced to my left, looking downhill to the former Quinn’s Supermarket parking lot of the Waterfront Warehouse and The Banks, I couldn’t help how it looked with a sea of cars parked with festivalgoers.
It was literally bumper-to-bumper parking and it looked like the parking lot at Citizens’ Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies during a double-header.
When the light turned green, traffic crawled as we drove past the lower festival lot. I took a quick look to my right, and it was just wall-to-wall people.
Two tribute bands were playing that night, and I believe, with tribute bands being the rage, having back-to-back tribute bands on a Friday or Saturday night could be the key to ensuring a large crowd.
Mayor Michael Lombardo told me a lot of food vendors ran out of food by 9:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
On Saturday, I covered the 5K and the Tomato Fest parade, followed by the first-ever pepper-eating contest. The race and parade went off without hitch, but the pepper-eating contest was a little delayed a bit.
At one time, I was told the peppers did not arrive until the very last minute, so there was a setback when the peppers arrived late.
Because of time constraints, I couldn’t stay until the conclusion of the contest. The way the contest was held, there were several rounds of pepper eating with each round brings on a hotter pepper than the last.
From what I understand, the ending was a bit wild.
Before I left for the afternoon on Saturday, I joined Mayor Michael Lombardo in greeting the travelers from Jim Thorpe who arrived by train, then transported to the festival ground by Luzerne Co. Transportation Authority bus.
With the addition of those several hundred train-riders, the afternoon session numbers swelled.
Sunday saw a brief shower before the start of the Little Miss and Little Mister contest but the rest of day was a great closing day.
The amusement rides were very popular and with each year passing, it gets more and more popular.
I could not make it to the tribute to the late Danny Argo during the time slot he was to perform. His band and a few guests sat in, I’m sure making Danny proud.
With all of the components of the festival: the food, the contests, the rides, then the entertainment, parade, and race, the true success of the event is the weather cooperating, and with Mother Nature giving a helping hand, this year was a huge success.
In approximately 354 days from now, the 43rd Tomato Fest will get underway, and I wouldn’t doubt if there would be changes, additions, and surprises up the Tomato Festival Committee’s sleeves.
With this Labor Day weekend upon us, we turn our attention to schools being in session, fall sports, and chilly nights ahead. I’m not looking forward to the latter for sure.
It was a lot of fun for me on opening night of high school football when I was pressed into double duty covering both the Pittston Area and Wyoming Area home games.
Both teams got off to a great start, pulling off victories, Pittston Area in stunning fashion, and Wyoming Area gutting it out.
This past Friday, Wyoming Area faced an always-tough Dallas Area at Dallas, while Pittston Area played a second week at home against North Pocono.
Wyoming Area walked away with a victory, while Pittston Area, playing a tough first half, did not fare as well.
Let me tell you, although it was a gorgeous night at Trippi Stadium with an incredible sunset, the temps dipped into the mid-60s with a slight breeze, making it a bit too chilly for me. I hope it’s not a sign for the winter ahead.
I hope everyone has a great end of the summer vacation with Labor Day cookouts and family gatherings. It’s one of my favorite three-day weekends, and even though I know what follows as we enter fall and move into that dastardly winter, I’ll soak in the Labor Day outdoor vibes.
Even though we haven’t had above-average temperatures over the last week or so, I can always hope for a long Indian summer.
Enjoy this long weekend that was filled with sunshine and football in full swing.
Quote of the Week
“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall. The clear skies, the cool evenings, and the turning leaves remind us that change is not only inevitable, but often beautiful.” —F. Scott Fitzgerald
Thought of the Week
“Notice that autumn is more the season of the soul than of nature. Its fading warmth and gathering quiet are reminders of the reflective spirit within us.” —Friedrich Nietzsche
Bumper Sticker
“Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.” —Jim Bishop
