Free events in Wilkes-Barre, PA

The Scranton Jazz Festival is a three-day music celebration that turns Downtown Scranton into a lively hub for jazz and more. Expect performances from more than 80 musicians across 20-plus venues, with styles like jazz, blues, swing, and world beat taking over the streets. A highlight is the free Jazz Walk, where you can stroll downtown and catch live sets at local restaurants, lounges, and other stops along the route. The festival also kicks off with a First Friday-style citywide celebration, featuring artisan vendors, family-friendly activities, and live music throughout downtown.

Every Friday, families can relax on the library lawn for a casual picnic. Bring your own lunch, and blankets will be provided. The gathering depends on the weather and is open to families with children of all ages. This takes place at the Lackawanna County Children’s Library.

Join a free post-festival film discussion where you can talk about the content and significance of select film festival movies with others who have seen them. If you have questions about festival films, bring them along, and Ronnie Harvey will help facilitate the conversation. No registration is needed, just show up.

Help fill a bus with back to school essentials for students across the Wyoming Area School District. The Wyoming Area Kiwanis Club, working with the community, is hosting a school supply drive in the Wyoming Area High School parking lot to collect new items for local children and families in need. Donations of new pencils, crayons, markers, notebooks, folders, backpacks, scissors, hand sanitizer, tissues, and other classroom basics are welcome. Those who cannot attend may coordinate a donation with the organizers. Every contribution helps ease the burden on families and equips students with the tools needed for a confident start to the school year.

Players can test their Yu-Gi-Oh! decks against local competitors in an open play session using the Advanced Format, featuring four Swiss rounds. There is no entry fee. Every participant receives one OTS Pack for playing, with additional OTS Pack giveaways awarded at random.

Beat the summer heat with water play at the Lackawanna County Children’s Library. The outdoor splash pad and water toys are available on Mondays and Saturdays, weather permitting, offering a fun way for kids to splash and play. Designed for families with children of all ages.

Move Your Body with Karen Ritter is a supportive, lighthearted workout at the Greenhouse Project in Nay Aug Park. Expect music-driven movement that aims to improve mobility, strength and balance. There is no floor work and no jumping. A chair is used for support, and resistant loops, weights and blocks help add gentle resistance without strain. The session focuses on flexibility, joint mobility, strength and endurance, and is designed to feel accessible to a wide range of participants. Classes may be held indoors or outdoors, so wear layers and bring water and sunglasses. Drop-ins are welcome and sign up takes place upon arrival. New participants with OAOA can try a class for free. A $5 drop-in donation or $25 per month supports continuing classes. OAOA members, ages 55 and up, receive discounted pricing of $4 per class or $20 per month. Sponsored by Age Friendly Lackawanna, The Greenhouse Project and SMRA.

F.M. Kirby Center hosts Space Jam, with free entry for kids 12 and younger.

For more than a decade, this free open mic has been a fixture in Northeastern Pennsylvania, bringing diverse performers and lively crowds to The V-Spot in Scranton. Musicians, comedians, actors, performance artists, magicians, and others take the stage to share their work, connect with fellow artists, and reach new audiences, with added exposure from live streaming and event photography. Even touring bands sometimes drop in for a set between gigs. Sign-ups are collected first, with a small number accepted later, and arriving early is the best way to secure a spot. Each performer gets a set on a brightly lit stage equipped with a soundboard, two microphones, two standard instrument cables, and a Mapex house drum kit with five pieces. Full bands can take the stage. Performers using pre-recorded music or backing tracks may bring a phone or laptop to plug directly into the soundboard. Any other gear should be brought by the artist. Original work is encouraged. All participants appear in the live stream on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, although some platforms restrict copyrighted tracks, so certain sets may not appear in the stream. Downloadable photos of every act are posted in the NEPA Scene Open Mic Facebook group for artists to use in their own promotion. Participants must be 18 or older. Those ages 18 to 20 must attend with a parent or legal guardian, and both must present valid IDs to enter the venue.

Healthy living starts in the community. At the City of Wilkes-Barre Farmers Market, the market’s sole health sponsor maintains a weekly presence where a healthcare team connects with residents and shares resources that support well-being. Over the season, visitors may have opportunities to learn hands-only CPR, receive blood pressure checks, get guidance on weight management, and find information about local health services. The emphasis is on simple, proactive steps that make it easier to care for your health close to home.

Enjoy a tribute to The Eagles with Best of the Eagles during Party on the Patio, part of a weekly Thursday outdoor concert series. The evening features free live entertainment hosted by The River 105. NEPA, along with food truck bites from local favorites.