Plethora of pop-up festivals, spring and summer events kick off in Easton

EASTON, Pa. — Prepare for a plethora of pop-up festivals and other outdoor activities in Easton as the weather starts to warm up.

Mayor Sal Panto Jr. this week announced a series of pop-up festivals across the city, along with a swath of other entertaining outdoor events for everyone.

• Easton will have a season of pop-up festivals, movies, cruise nights and more
• The Easton Homecoming concert, featuring national celebrities Dee Roscioli and Carmen Jon Boscia, will return May 13
•  Easton ComedyFest, featuring Easton’s Liz Russo and her comic friends, will return from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 12

Among the activities will be the return of a few special events, including the Moose’s presentation of movies in the neighborhood parks.

Cruise Nights also are set to return, and two nationally celebrities will return for the Easton Homecoming Concert.

Three pop-up festivals are scheduled for the coming weeks, with the first set for noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at the West Ward’s Centennial Park. It will feature a moon bounce and a pizza food truck serving free food.

Panto will grill up some hot dogs from 1 to 3 p.m., and free water and soft drinks will be available. Balloons the Clown will provide entertainment starting at 2 p.m.

A second fest is set for May 6 at the South Side’s Easton Area Neighborhood Center, featuring the same setup and activities featured at the West Ward event.

On May 13, the city will celebrate the Neighborhood Festival at College Park’s Nevin Hill. Running from noon to 5 p.m., the event will feature clowns, face painting, live music and free food — including hot dogs served up by Panto.

Soft drinks and water will be provided free. Lafayette College students will provide free entertainment, as well.

The festivals, sponsored by the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, also will include three more pop-ups set for the fall.

Movies, Cruise Nights

A schedule for the Moose’s movies in the neighborhood parks will be released in the next few weeks.

Featured films will include “Super Mario Brothers,” “Top Gun Maverick,” “Jungle Cruise,” “Frozen II,” and “DC League of Super Pets.”

Cruise Nights will return on the third Saturday of each month, with the mayor’s office stating the completion of Centre Square “will allow for a better experience” for live entertainment.

The first Cruise Night is set for June 17, featuring Joyous. A Few Good Men will play the July event, and TimeWhys will be at the August set.

Classic cars arriving before 6 p.m. will have reserved free parking; after that, spaces will be made available to the public.

Center Square will be closed to traffic during all Cruise Nights.

The Homecoming Concert

Panto also announced two nationally celebrities — Broadway Star Dee Roscioli and “the Man with the Golden Voice,” Carmen Jon Boscia – will return for the Easton Homecoming Concert set for May 13.

Roscioli was born in Easton, graduated from Wilson Area High School in 1995 and DeSales University in 1999.

She is best known for her role as Elphaba in “Wicked,” and her role as Star in the Broadway production of “The Cher Show.”

In 2020, Roscioli made an appearance in Easton’s Centre Square. When she isn’t on Broadway, Roscioli sings at some of the most notable venues across the country.

Boscia grew up on the city’s South Side and graduated from Easton Area High School in 1966.

He has made appearances around the world at numerous nightclubs, casinos, restaurants, cruise ships, and theatres, in addition to Carnegie hall and the Lincoln Center.

Boscia’s one-hour show will start at 6 p.m., and Roscioli’s 90-minute show at 8 p.m.

“This Easton Homecoming is a show not to be missed and admission is free,” a release from the mayor’s office states.

Lastly, the Easton ComedyFest, featuring Easton’s Liz Russo and her comic friends, will return from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Riverfront Amphitheater.