In this file photo, Pittston Tomato Festival mascot Stew waves to the crowd along Main Street. This year’s four-day event begins Aug. 18.
Tony Callaio | Sunday Dispatch file photo
City of Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo and Pittston’s Main Street manager Mary Kroptavich pose with the offical mascot of the annual Pittston Tomato Festival prior to last year’s festivties.
Tony Callaio | Sunday Dispatch file photo
SwikaS Amusements have been added for the August 2022 Tomato Festival lineup. Shown is the 42’ high Ferris Wheel.
Submitted photo
One of the most beloved parts of each year’s Pittston Tomato Festival is the crowning of the Little Miss and Little Mister Tomato. Here are last year’s participants: From left to right: girls second runner-up: Aria Girrantano, first runner-up: Lacey Keiper, Little Miss Tomato: Ari Dempsey, Little Mister Tomato: Maverick Fabbri, boys first runner-up: Philip Dunn, second runner-up: Warren Brenner.
Tony Callaio | Sunday Dispatch file photo
Diane Charge helps her grandaughter, six-year-old Addisyn Kaspriski, where to place raffle tickest at the Blue Chip Animal Rescue stand at the 2021 Pittston Tomato Festival.
Tony Callaio | Sunday Dispatch file photo
PITTSTON — The 2022 Tomato Festival is a month away and organizers are putting on the finishing touches to final plans and this year won’t disappoint. There will be something for everyone for the four-day event beginning Aug. 18, including the top tier for amusement rides, a first in the festival’s 39-year history.
Festival officials are pleased to announce this year’s Grand Marshals are the 2022 Pittston Area Varsity Softball PIAA State Champion team.
All three tiers will be utilized fully with entertainment on the first tier (Main Street level), the second tier will be hard to resist with all the food vendors, and the top tier (located behind the Pittston Memorial Library) having the amusement rides including a Ferris wheel.
“The third tier will have eight to 10 rides including a 42’ Ferris wheel, where you will be able to see the whole city,” Mary Kroptavich, City of Pittston’s Main Street manager, said. “In addition, they will have games, funnel cake, popcorn, fried Oreos, cotton candy, and candy apples for sale and more.”
Along with the Ferris wheel, SwikaS Amusements will have eight to 10 other feature rides.
Stilt-walker Dani Longlegs of the Eclectic Circus would be on the grounds as well as performances at The Slope Amphitheater, as Kyle Mertz, one of the area’s best sword swallowers and jugglers.
Entertainment
The Main Stage and The Slope Amphitheater entertainment schedules have been released including four new main stage acts; one returning act that was canceled in 2021 due to rain and a band with a deep history in Wyoming Valley.
Added in the 2022 lineup is West Pittston native, rocker Tori Viccica, Burn the Jukebox, Taxman (a Beatles tribute band), Living Cash, featuring the music of Johnny Cash, Shakin-a-Tribute to Eddie Money, a blast from the past, Great Rock Scare.
Main Stage musical lineup
Thursday, Aug. 18 — 6:16 to 7 p.m., Windfall; 7:15 to 8 p.m., Phyllis Hopkins Trio; 8:30 to 10 p.m., Tori Viccica.
Friday, Aug. 19 — 7 to 8:15 p.m., The Sperazza Band; 9 to 11 p.m., Sweet Pepper & The Long Hots.
Sunday, Aug. 21 — 1 to 2 p.m., Danny Argo; 2:30 to 4 p.m., Living Cash (Johnny Cash tribute band), 4:30 to 6 p.m., Shakin-a-Tribute to Eddie Money, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Tony’s Wine Cellar Jam Band.
The Slope Amphitheater lineup
Thursday, Aug. 18 — 5 to 10 p.m., Carnival rides & games; 7 to 7:30 p.m., Eclectic Circus Intro, Swords & Stilts; 7:30 to 8 p.m., Dani Long Legs’ Stilts Act; 8 to 9 p.m., Join the Circus Photos & Activity Area.
Friday, Aug. 19 — 5 to 11 p.m. & Saturday, Aug. 20 — noon, Carnival rides & games; 5 to 6 p.m., Eclectic Circus Intro, Swords & Stilts; 6 to 7 p.m., Happy Hula Hoops Circus Act; 7:30 to 8 p.m., Dani Long Legs’ Stilt Act,; 8 to 9 p.m., Join the Circus Photos & Activity Area, Light UP the Night: LED Circus Show (jugglers, stilts, hoops, glow fans & more).
Sunday, Aug. 21 — noon, Carnival rides & games; 1 to 2 p.m., Kraken Kyle’s Juggling Act, 2 to 2:30 p.m., Hula Hooping workshop (all ages)
Other Events
Other festivities for the weekend include a Pub Run, Ultimate Tomato 5K, Little Miss & Mr. Tomato contest, and Best Tomato contest.
Pub Run
The 1st Annual Ultimate Tomato Run Pub Run, will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2022, where participants will be jogging from pub to pub after each stop.
Check-in for the pub run begins at 5 p.m. with the run starting at 5:30 p.m.
Joggers will meet at the lower tier Tomato Festival Lot at Main Street and then take a running bar tour around downtown Pittston.
First stop will be The Red Mill, followed by LBC Distillery, then jog to The Knights of Columbus, finally ending at The Tomato Bar where there will be live music.
At each stop joggers will be able to grab a drink before heading to the next destination. Total time spent at each location will be approximately 30 minutes. The total distance of the jog is 1.6 total miles.
Tickets for this event can be purchased in advance online at https://tinyurl.com/4uzn8mu6.
Tickets are $30 per person, which includes one drink at each bar.
The pub run profits will benefit Miles for Michael and Shop with a Cop.
23rd Annual Festival Run
Newly titled The Ultimate Tomato 5K (formerly Miles for Michael 5K) will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20. Registration begins at 8:30 p.m.
Every early bird registration will receive a Tomato Festival 5k Moisture-Wicking Short Sleeve T-shirt.
New this year is a 1.5 mile Youth Run for ages seven through 13.
Participants may also form teams, which is also new for 2022. The fastest overall team will get a trophy.
Awards will be: fastest team, top three male and female runners for the overall 5K race plus the overall top three boys and girls for the Youth Run.
Top male and female from each age group will be awarded for 14 to 17-years of age, 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+.
Race check-in and bib pick-up will be the morning of the race beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Greater Pittston YMCA, 10 North Main St., Pittston.
To register for the races, go online to: https://tinyurl.com/2zpthwef.
Tomato Festival Parade
The 39th Tomato Festival Parade will step off at 11 a.m. Parade lineups are asked to line up at 9:45 a.m. at the south end of the city.
All area civic, social and school organizations, as well as public officials are encouraged to participate.
According to Sarah Donahue, parade coordinator, she’s asking participants to decorate your vehicle or create a tomato themed float.
“Make a Banner to let us know who you are,” Donahue said. “Tell us about you and or your organization.”
The parade route is approximately two miles long and will begin on the Main Street of South Pittston and proceed through the Downtown and around to Kennedy Boulevard ending on East Street, adjacent to Coopers Co-op Building.
To be a parade participant, on online to fill out the application at: www.pittstontomatofestival.com/parade.
The Spc. Dale Kridlo Memorial Bridge will be closing at 10 a.m.
Sunday Dispatch/Times Leader sponsorship
The Sunday Dispatch has been the greater Pittston area’s hometown newspaper since 1947, and together with parent Times Leader Media Group has been a longtime supporter of the festival, Publisher Kerry Miscavage noted.
“We are proud to be both the original and official media sponsor of the Pittston Tomato Festival,” Miscavage said. “The amount of work that goes into each year’s festival is so impressive, and shows how much genuine pride and affection the people of greater Pittston have for their community.”
Each year, staff from the Dispatch and Times Leader take part in the parade, which Miscavage said is a fun event they always look forward to.
The papers also offer a range of sponsorship opportunities for those who want to show their support for the festival while getting their names and businesses out to the community.
Interested advertisers should reach out to dmcgee@timesleader.com.
Little Miss & Mr. Tomato Contest
The ever popular Little Miss & Mr. Contest for ages 2 through 6 will take place at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 21. Check in/registration for participants will be 10 a.m. Fee is $5 per child.
Children will be asked questions about the festival and will receive a prize for entering. To preregister a child, go online to www.pittstontomatofestival.com/little-mr-mrs-tomato.
Entries may also be mailed to: Downtown Pittston Partnership, 71 S. Main St., Pittston, PA 19640.
Tomato Contest
The Annual Tomato Contest is fun for everyone where all are welcome to enter his or her tomatoes at no charge in this contest.
Ribbons will be awarded in four categories: largest tomato, smallest tomato, ugliest tomato, most perfect tomato.
The contest will be held at the committee stand at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20. Drop off your tomato no later than Saturday at 5 p.m.
Festival hours
Thursday, Aug. 18 — 5 to 10 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 19 — 5 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 20 — 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 21 — 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Officials also announced that T-Mobile has been added as a presenting sponsor.
For further questions on the Tomato Festival, contact Mary Kroptavich at mkroptavich@cityofpittston.org or phone at 570-299-7543 or online at: www.pittstontomatofestival.com/contact.
