The Pittston Tomato Festival committee is taking the 2019 celebration to a new level – literally.
After years of talking about expanding the festival to a third level, organizers are finally putting that plan into motion.
Lori Nocito, the 2019 Tomato Festival outgoing chairperson, said adding another level has been on her wish list for many years.
“Adding a third tier has always been a dream of mine and to see it happen in my final year is just the icing on the cake,” Nocito said.
Festival-goers have been enjoying two levels at the Tomato Festival site since the event migrated from the original spot on Kennedy Boulevard to its present location on Main Street. Now a top tier located at the rear parking lot of the Pittston Memorial Library is ready to go, adding a new layer and dimension to the festival.
The newly completed amphitheater for 2019 will be utilized during the four days of the event with music playing each night starting at 5 p.m.
In order to secure a third tier, the Pittston Memorial Library has agreed to let the festival use the rear parking lot. When the lot was put in, it was wired for electricity for future events like the Tomato Festival.
The second addition to the third tier was the construction of the amphitheater. The well-built structure could accommodate a few hundred people for concerts or plays for not only the festival, but for other events.
Now that both are ready to go, Pittston’s Main Street coordinator Mary Kroptavich was asked to handle the festivities at the third tier.
“We are saving the top for the best,” Kroptavich quipped. “We are going to have artwork for sale; there will be plenty of music at the amphitheater over the four-days and plenty of food vendors onsite.”
According to Kroptavich, several tents will be erected for vendors including one larger tent filled with artwork for sale. Essentially, the 2nd Friday Art Walk will now take place at the third tier.
“We have secured at least 25 artists selling their artwork, photography and sculptures and there may even be more participating as we get closer to the festival,” Kroptavich said.
In addition to selling artwork, the parking lot will have Pittston Popcorn, wood-fired pizza vendor, an assortment of food vendors, baked goods, and face painting for the children.
