Scranton–Wilkes-Barre
Around Scranton–Wilkes-Barre
Photo: Christopher Seliga · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Pennsylvania · 574k people
Scranton–Wilkes-Barre
Locals say NEPA · “Electric City”, “Diamond City”
Scranton · Wilkes-Barre
Where the mountains meet the mines
Coal GoldAnthracite SlateLackawanna Blue
Welcome to NEPA, where the mountains meet the river and the coffee's always on. Whether you're here for the coal history, the pizza, or the friendly faces, you'll find a home in the Electric City.
Clubs for Scranton–Wilkes-Barre
No clubs for Scranton–Wilkes-Barre yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Scranton–Wilkes-Barre. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Scranton–Wilkes-Barre. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Steamtown National Historic Site Railroad museum in Scranton's former rail yard.
- Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour Underground tour of a former anthracite mine.
- Nay Aug Park Scranton's largest park with a pool and zoo.
- Kirby Park Wilkes-Barre park along the Susquehanna River.
- Mohegan Sun Arena Home of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
- PNC Field Home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
- Outdoors Hiking at Ricketts Glen State Park
- Outdoors Biking the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail
- With kids Steamtown National Historic Site
- With kids Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour
- Evenings Concerts at the F.M. Kirby Center
- Evenings Casino entertainment at Mohegan Sun
- Locals love diners
- Locals love pierogi joints
Through the year
- Fine Arts Fiesta May Annual arts festival in Wilkes-Barre's Riverfront Park.
- Scranton Jazz Festival September Jazz performances across downtown Scranton.
- Luzerne County Fair August County fair with rides, livestock, and food.
- Cherry Blossom Festival May Spring festival at Kirby Park with cherry blossoms.
- Scranton Fringe Festival September Performing arts festival with experimental shows.
Cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. Fall is the best time to be out, with crisp air and foliage. Best: Fall offers crisp air and vibrant foliage, ideal for outdoor activities.
Talk like a local
- “NEPA”
- Northeastern Pennsylvania, the region's nickname.
- “The Electric City”
- Scranton's nickname, from its early electric trolleys.
- “The Diamond”
- Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton.
- “Old Forge”
- Used to describe the style of pizza from that town.
Getaways
- Poconos (East Stroudsburg) Outdoor recreation and resorts.
- Binghamton Historic carousel and riverfront.
- Bloomsburg College town with a scenic downtown.
- Lehigh Valley (Allentown) Steelstacks and cultural venues.
Local flavour
Teams
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL
- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders MiLB
Also rooting for Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL), Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Philadelphia Phillies (MLB), Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Philadelphia 76ers (NBA)
Eat and drink
- Old Forge Pizza Rectangular, thick-crust, double-baked pizza from the nearby town of Old Forge.
- Pierogies Polish dumplings, often served with onions and butter, a staple at local diners and festivals.
- Texas Wiener A deep-fried hot dog topped with a unique meat sauce, a regional specialty.
- Kielbasa
- Halushki Cabbage and noodles, a hearty Eastern European comfort dish.
Where people go
- Coal mine tours Historic anthracite mines like the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour, offering a glimpse into the region's past.
- Railroad museums Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, celebrating the steam rail era.
- Mountain trails The Pocono Mountains and the Endless Mountains, with hiking, fishing, and fall foliage.
- Riverfronts The Susquehanna and Lackawanna rivers, with parks and walks in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton.
- Diners Classic American diners serving pierogies, Texas wieners, and endless coffee.
Heritage and traditions
NEPA is proud of its coal-mining heritage, tight-knit communities, and a rich mix of Eastern European and Italian traditions that show up in its food, festivals, and family gatherings.
This time of year in Scranton–Wilkes-Barre
- Fall foliage October Leaf peeping in the mountains.
Say it like a local: “Redd up” — clean up
Festivals
- St. Patrick's Parade March One of the largest St. Patrick's parades in the country, celebrating Irish heritage.
- La Festa Italiana September A celebration of Italian-American culture with food, music, and games in downtown Scranton.
- Hazleton Funfest August A multi-day street festival with live music, food vendors, and a carnival in downtown Hazleton.
- Wilkes-Barre Riverfest August A riverside music and arts festival along the Susquehanna.
- Ukrainian Festival August An annual celebration of Ukrainian culture with food, dance, and crafts at a local church grounds.
Landmarks with a story
- Scranton Iron Furnaces Historic iron-making furnaces from the 19th century, now a museum.
- Lackawanna County Courthouse A grand Romanesque Revival building in Scranton.
- Cathedral of Saint Peter The Roman Catholic cathedral in Scranton, known for its architecture.
- St. Stanislaus Cathedral The cathedral of the Polish National Catholic Church in Scranton.
- Eckley Miners' Village A preserved coal mining town with original structures.
- Forty Fort A historic site and borough named after the colonial fort built in 1778.
Food traditions
- Halupki Stuffed cabbage rolls, a staple of Polish and Slovak households, often served at family gatherings.
- Paczki on Fat Tuesday Polish donuts enjoyed before Lent, with lines at bakeries.
- Chrusciki Fried pastry ribbons served at Christmas.
- Potato pancakes Often served with applesauce or sour cream, a classic from Eastern European kitchens.
- Scrapple A breakfast meat made from pork scraps, common across Pennsylvania.
Music and arts
- Polka and Eastern European folk music A lively tradition with polka bands at festivals and weddings.
- NEPA Philharmonic The region's professional orchestra, based in Scranton.
- Community theater A vibrant scene with local productions in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre.
- Anthracite-inspired visual art Artworks depicting coal breakers and mining life.
A little history
- 1959 1959 Knox Mine Disaster
- 1870s Molly Maguires
- 1886 Electric City nickname
- 1972 Hurricane Agnes flood of 1972
- 1840s Founding of Scranton
Rivalries
- Scranton vs. Wilkes-Barre Friendly rivalry between the two cities.
- Penguins vs. Hershey Bears AHL hockey rivalry.
- RailRiders vs. Lehigh Valley IronPigs Baseball rivalry in the International League.
- Penn State vs. Pitt College football rivalry fans argue about.
- Game day Friday night high school football
- Game day Tailgating at RailRiders games
- Outdoors Canoeing/kayaking on the Susquehanna
- Outdoors Leaf peeping in the fall
- With kids Houdini Museum
- With kids Lackawanna County Children's Museum
Locals speak with a distinct Northeastern Pennsylvania accent, influenced by Eastern European and Italian immigrants. Common phrases include 'youse' for 'you all', 'crick' for 'creek', 'worsh' for 'wash', and 'redd up' for 'clean up'.
Only here
- The Electric City nickname for Scranton, from its early electric streetcars.
- The Knox Mine Disaster site, where the Susquehanna River broke into a mine.
- The Scranton St. Patrick's Parade is one of the largest in the country.
- Old Forge pizza style, with its distinctive square cut and thick crust.
New here? A few tips
- Expect cold, snowy winters—invest in a good coat and snow boots.
- Pronounce 'Wilkes-Barre' as 'WILKS-bear-ee' but locals often say 'WILKS-burry'.
- Try Old Forge pizza and pierogies early on; they're local icons.
- Don't be surprised if people ask 'where did you go to high school?'—it's a common way to place someone.
- Get used to the term 'NEPA' for the region; locals use it all the time.
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Nearby
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Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.