Lackawanna County’s popular “Scrantastic Spectacular” fireworks show at Courthouse Square and annual three-on-three basketball tournament on Wyoming Avenue in Scranton won’t happen this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The public health crisis and uncertainty about what events would be permitted given state restrictions on large gatherings prevented the planning of both events, county Chief of Staff Brian Jeffers said during today’s virtual commissioners meeting.
The Scrantastic Spectacular on Lackawanna County Courthouse Square usually happens annually on July 3 as a pre-Independence Day celebration with fireworks, food and live music.
Lackawanna County will move into the yellow phase of the three-phase reopening plan Friday and likely remains at least a few weeks away from moving into the least-restrictive green phase, where gatherings of more than 250 people are prohibited.
About 75 teams signed up to compete in the basketball tournament in 2018. Among players, fans and officials, that event likely would exceed the 250-person cap on green-phase gatherings.
— JEFF HORVATH
