The 70th annual Fine Arts Fiesta opened on Thursday, May 14, 2026, on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and runs through Sunday. The event features artists, crafts, entertainment, and music, with headliners including the Phil Giordano Jazz Orchestra and Doug Smith & The Dixieland Band. A tribute to the late trumpeter Bobby Baird Jr. is scheduled, and eight local dance companies will perform at the F.M. Kirby Center. During the opening ceremony, Wilkes-Barre official George Brown presented a proclamation and key to the city to Fine Arts Fiesta board president Ann Saxton, executive director Brian Benedetti, and second vice president Gina Malsky.
This event matters as a longstanding community tradition in Northeast Pennsylvania, now in its 70th year, showcasing local artists, musicians, and performers while fostering civic engagement and cultural vitality in Wilkes-Barre. The fiesta highlights the role of public art festivals in bringing together residents and supporting regional creative talent, reinforcing the importance of accessible, free arts programming in smaller cities.