A “what if?” tweet turned into this Scranton festival

If you’re doing one thing this week…

Make it Good Things Are Happening Fest on Saturday, September 12 at the Scranton Iron Furnaces.

The festival started with a spontaneous “what if?” tweet in 2022. Five years later, it’s bringing a full day of music, art, food, drinks and local vendors to one of Scranton’s coolest historic spaces. This year’s lineup includes Pool Kids, Have Mercy, James Barrett, The SW!MS and a long list of regional and local acts. It’s also all ages, rain or shine, and re-entry is allowed. An underrated festival perk when you’re committing to an 11-hour day. 

Get tickets and see the lineup

Also happening around NEPA

La Festa Italiana — Sept. 6–7 | Downtown Scranton
The 50th-anniversary celebration continues Sunday from 11–10 and Labor Day from 11–8. Admission is free; if you skipped the crowds earlier in the weekend, Monday gives you one last chance to correct that. 
See the La Festa schedule

Apple Harvest Festival — Sept. 6, 10–12 | Scott Township
Lakeland Orchard & Cidery has officially moved into apple season, with more than 30,000 apple trees plus rides, farm animals and the Lakeland Express. Buy online and save 15%; current day passes run $17.75–$19.95. 
Apple Harvest tickets and details

Electric City Music Conference — Sept. 10–12 | Scranton
The 13th annual conference spreads live music across downtown venues for three nights, starting with the Steamtown Music Awards Thursday. Saturday also includes free music-industry panels and workshops, so you don’t necessarily need to be a musician — or buy a ticket — to get something out of it. 
See the full three-day schedule

Local Business Spotlight: National Bakery

National Bakery has been baking in Scranton since 1946, and there’s a decent chance you’ve eaten its bread without realizing where it came from. The family-owned kosher bakery supplies local restaurants, delis, hoagie shops and grocery stores in addition to its retail bakery.

It’s especially known for its hard rolls and “all-purpose” wiener buns — the rolls underneath a whole lot of Scranton-area Texas wieners. Some local businesses become part of the food culture without needing their name on the sign. 

Visit National Bakery

This Week at Home

Give the outside of your house one slow lap. Look specifically at the caulk around windows, doors and other exterior penetrations. You’re looking for gaps, cracks or places where the bead has pulled away. Early September is a much nicer time to discover those than January, when cold air starts volunteering to point them out.

10 minutes · $0 to inspect

The Local Market in 30 Seconds

We finally have something different to report. August data now describes Lackawanna County as a balanced market, with homes selling for an average of about 99% of asking price. Median time on market has moved to 47 days, up 13.5% from a year ago, while active inventory is up a much more modest 4.2%. 

That doesn’t mean buyers suddenly control the market. It means neither side can rely quite as heavily on momentum anymore. Buyers have more room to be thoughtful; sellers have less room to be unrealistic. That’s a healthier market. Just a less forgiving one.

See the current Lackawanna County market data

Need something? I’ve got you.

What’s my home worth?
Get an updated estimate of your home’s value.

Search homes
See what’s currently for sale.

Preferred lender
Questions about rates, payments or getting pre-approved? Start here.

Know a local business, NEPA event or hidden gem I should feature? Send it my way.

— Brady