Pittston: Riverfront, Art, and Festival Traditions

Pittston offers several distinct focal points for a stay: the riverfront at Riverfront Park, public art along the Art Loop Trail, and recurring events. There is also a seasonal weekly market. For planning, you can first decide whether you are more interested in an outing by the river, art at your own pace, or a visit timed to coincide with the market or a festival.

Riverfront and Luzerne County Rail Trail

Riverfront Park is on the banks of the Susquehanna River. The Luzerne County Rail Trail begins in the park, with its trailhead located near the Fort Jenkins Bridge. The park is therefore both a landmark on the river and the starting point for the trail. The Luzerne County Rail Trail near Pittston offers views of the Susquehanna River, a connection to local history, and outdoor recreation for walkers, runners, and cyclists. For an outing, you can focus on the riverfront or one of the activities described along the trail.

Public Art on the Art Loop Trail

The Art Loop Trail is behind the Pittston Memorial Library and features 25 permanent sculptures by local, regional, and nationally recognized artists. As a self-guided public art experience, it is for art lovers of all ages. Its self-guided format and permanent collection give a visit a different focus from a program tied to a festival date. If you are interested in public art, you can include the Art Loop Trail as a separate part of your Pittston itinerary.

Riverfest and the Pittston Tomato Festival

Riverfront Park is the venue for the annual Riverfest. If you would like to plan your visit around this festival, check the event date in advance. The Pittston Tomato Festival offers a different focus: family-friendly activities and community events take place downtown during the festival weekend.

Pittston Tomato Festival traditions include an annual parade, a 5K and a one-mile run, the Little Miss & Mr. Tomato contest, a tomato competition, and a spaghetti-eating contest. The festival also features food stands, live entertainment, arts and crafts, carousel rides, games, and the famous locally grown Pittston tomatoes. The various contests and activities give you several specific points to consider when planning a stay during the festival weekend. Check current event dates before scheduling your trip around them.

Pittston City Farmers’ Market

The Pittston City Farmers’ Market takes place every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., July through November. Local farms, bakeries, and shops come together there. The market is therefore tied to a specific season and day of the week: if you would like to visit, plan your stay for a Tuesday during this period and check the date in advance. This lets you treat the market as a separate activity rather than conflating it with the annual festivals or the art offerings.

Discover more destinations: Freeland, Nanticoke, Sugarloaf, Hazleton, Drums, Kingston, Milnesville, White Haven.

For the broader travel overview: Luzerne.