Hello everyone!

We hope you all had a great holiday season, and we wish everyone a happy and healthy 2026!

In Luzerne County and throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania, there’s no need for any post-holiday blues, as the month of January is jam-packed with all sorts of great events and fun activities …

Looking for some timeless, high-quality, family entertainment? The legendary “Disney on Ice” comes to Mohegan Arena on January 8, 9, 10 and 11. Also on the ice at the arena, of course, will be the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, who have home games on January 16, 17, 21, 24, and 31.

The beautiful F.M. Kirby Center also has a fine schedule this month, including comedian Josh Johnson on January 9; Love Story: An Unofficial Taylor Swift Tribute on January 10; magician Bob Lake on January 25, and the legendary Jerry Seinfeld on January 30.

AlleyCrafts in Kingston will host the murder mystery, “Victorian Tea,” on January 17, the historic Eckley Miners’ Village in Weatherly will host a breadmaking workshop on January 10, and the Riverfront Parks Committee will present its annual Winterfest at Nesbitt Park in Wilkes-Barre on January 24.

Up for some live music? Life After Dead: A Tribute to The Grateful Dead, will perform at the River Street Jazz Café on January 24 and Wide Awake: A U2 Experience will plug in at the Jazz Café on January 30. And on January 31 at the Jazz Café, longtime local favorites Strawberry Jam will celebrate their 40th anniversary. Also on January 31, “Celebrate Music Pittston” — an all-day celebration of live music and the city’s thriving restaurant and bar scene — will offer live musical performances across at 14 downtown locations, each showcasing a local band or artist in a variety of styles, ranging from jazz to blues, folk, and rock. And at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, you can catch Direct from Sweden: The Music of ABBA on January 24 and Jessie’s Girl, a nationally-touring ’80s tribute act, on January 31.

Longing for some of that crisp, hearty, outdoor winter air? The City of Wilkes-Barre is offering free ice-skating on Public Square throughout the entire winter, with free skate rentals on the weekends. And though the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park is closed to regular hikers during the winter, you can still hike the trail system provided you have the minimum required gear of: Crampons (not micro-spikes), an ice axe, and rope. All ice hikers/climbers entering the closed portion must first sign in at the Ricketts Glen State Park office (695 State Rt. 487, Benton). All other trails in the park are open without restrictions throughout the winter. Want to hit the slopes? You can ski, snowboard, and snow tube at one of the 26 trails at Montage Mountain Resort.

Throughout 2026, here at Visit Luzerne County, we will continue to promote and celebrate all of the great things to see and do in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Our new Visitors Guide will be published in early April, and you can follow us every day on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. The Rockin' the River music series will return in July, “Next Stop: The Visit Luzerne County Podcast” will continue to be available on Spotify, YouTube, our website, and social media platforms, and throughout the entire year, we will be helping celebrate some major anniversaries and milestones. These include several great events with America250PA, the 75th anniversary of the Fine Arts Fiesta, the 70th anniversary of The Cavalcade of Jazz, the 240th anniversary of Luzerne County, the 40th anniversary of the F.M. Kirby Center, and the 100th anniversary of Babe Ruth’s 650-ft. home run near Kirby Park. We’ll have details throughout the year.

Happy New Year!

Alan, Sheena, Kyle, Gaye, and David

Click on the cover to get your 2025-2026 Visitors Guide!

Click on the images for more details and information.

For a list of all events going on in January, visit the events calendar on our website. Click the picture above for more information.