The ever-improving 2019 Pittston Tomato Festival is upon us. Organizers like to keep things fresh each year and this year that tradition continues.
Prior to the beginning of the 2018 festival, Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo stated the 2019 event would be set for dramatic changes. Although there will be changes this year, the dramatic changes will be in full swing in 2020.
The first thing you will notice during the 36th annual festival is the first part of the new stage attached to the James Zarra Tomato Festival Building on the second tier. This stage will be utilized for the opening ceremony this year instead of the bandshell.
The completed stage will have a metal structure erected over top to accommodate for cover, lighting and sound for shows, including a future jazz festival and wine festival which are both in the works.
For many years, the Tomato Festival reference points were called the lower lot and the upper lot. That is also changing because there are now three lots being utilized; the old lower lot (first tier), the upper lot (second tier) and the Pittston Memorial Library lot (the third tier).
The biggest change for 2019 will be the third tier that will house vendors, including Pittston Popcorn and wood-fired pizza, an assortment of food vendors, baked goods, face painting for children and plenty of artwork for sale. After all, Pittston is turning heads with the amount of art visible in the city.
In addition to vendors at the third tier, there will be entertainment at the new amphitheater each evening.
If you have not seen the amphitheater, it’s a definite must during your festival visit. It’s a beautiful facility that is comfortable with a great view of the city and the mountain to the west. It’s a perfect spot for one of our late summer sunsets that look so spectacular.
When you toss around a number like an estimated 50,000 visitors attend the Tomato Festival each year, that might seem like a crazy number until you actually get to the festival – then it’s not so crazy.
What isn’t new but are tons of fun are the Tomato Fest 5K Run and Fun Walk (Saturday, Aug. 17, 10 a.m. with registration beginning at 8 a.m.), and the festival parade (Saturday, Aug. 17, 10:30 a.m. to be televised live on Fox-56), followed by the Tomato Fights (Saturday, Aug. 17, 1:30 p.m. at the former Cooper’s Waterfront parking lot).
On Sunday, the always fun and entertaining Little Miss and Little Mister Tomato contest will begin at 10:45 a.m. at the bandshell. I’ve been photographing this event for many years and it’s so enjoyable, especially when you witness the joy and happiness of the parents and families of the contestants.
On a side note, the Tomato Pageant and Sauce Wars have been retired from the festival.
Richie Kossuth, owner of Rock Street Music, not only has supplied the sound system equipment for the festival for years, but also is in charge of putting the bandshell entertainment line-up together.
This year you will have acts like Windfall, Running on Whiskey featuring Billy Knowles, The Sperazza Band, Sweet Pepper & The Long Hots, Fuzzy Park Band, Groove Train, and Flaxy Morgan headed by Kossuth as he and his band will perform in their 25th appearance at the festival this year.
Let’s not forget all the food offered at the festival at the second tier and now at the third tier.
It’s customary to walk around the center tent just to get an idea of the food available. The aromas all mingle together and make your mouth water so don’t go to the festival on a full tummy.
There is a bevy of Italian food specialties, BBQ, gyros, pizza and plenty of desserts, including ice cream, cannoli and pie.
If you like this year’s changes and additions, I believe 2020 will have more to improve the festival.
I think change is good and change means progress, Let’s face it, everyone in northeast PA has their eye on the Tomato Festival in August and Pittston officials know that. They want to put on the best effort possible and have a great show for everyone in attendance is important.
Let’s not forget the festival has garnered attention from national publications like Parade Magazine, The Washington Post, and Pennsylvania Magazine. The festival is even noted at the Library of Congress Local Legacies Project in Washington, D.C.
So welcome to the 2019 Pittston Tomato festival; walk around, meet old friends, make new friends, have plenty to eat, listen to great entertainment and enjoy the last blast of summer.
On a sad note, we will be saying good-bye to longtime chair of the event, Lori Nocito. Lori has decided it’s time to move on and she’s extremely proud of how far the festival has come since the early days.
As she recently said, the original organizers of the festival would be happy and proud of how far its come in 36 years.
