Wilkes-Barre marks Fine Arts Fiesta’s 70th anniversary in Public Square

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE CO. (WOLF) — The Fine Arts Fiesta returns to Public Square in Downtown Wilkes-Barre this weekend for its 70th anniversary celebration, offering four days of free visual arts, live performances and family activities that continue through Sunday.

The festival, founded in 1956 by Annette Evans and Al Groh, has grown from a small gathering of artists and performers into a longtime community tradition that draws schools, local arts groups and visitors downtown each spring.

Ann Saxton, president of the Board of Directors for Fine Arts Fiesta, said the milestone year reflects how deeply the arts festival has rooted itself in the region’s culture.

“The arts are very much alive here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It’s become generational at this point. There are grandparents who brought their own children, and now they’re bringing their young children. So it has really spanned generations over 70 years,” said Saxton.

Saxton said Thursday’s opening day included several school groups visiting Public Square, with additional community groups expected Friday as the four-day schedule continues with visual arts, music, dance and stage performances.

Fine Arts Fiesta is an all-inclusive celebration of visual and performing arts, with juried shows spanning mediums such as watercolor, mixed media, pen and ink, charcoal, sculpture and photography. The adult and student juried shows feature more than 500 pieces of art, and the four-day schedule includes a broad range of music, including jazz, rock and roll, country and big band.

Saxton said the schedule includes a range of genres for music, including jazz, rock and roll, country and big band, and she highlighted a free Friday night dance gala featuring eight dance companies at the Kirby Center, with tickets available starting at 5:30 p.m. She also encouraged visitors to catch headliner shows Friday and Saturday nights, and to try the Sunday contra dance.

The festival spotlights working artists through its market, featuring more than 40 participants this year, including artisans selling items such as jewelry and pottery. Saxton added that the fiesta gives artists a public venue to showcase their work.

For more information, visit the Fine Arts Fiesta website.