Visit Luzerne County

09/05/2026

Join Luzerne County on Friday, September 11, as we come together to remember and honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001.

A 9/11 Observance Ceremony will be held at 8:30 AM at the Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre. The community is invited to attend this solemn remembrance as we pay tribute to the victims, first responders, and all those whose lives were forever changed by the events of that day.

📍 Luzerne County Courthouse, Wilkes-Barre
🕣 Friday, September 11 at 8:30 AM

We will never forget.

09/04/2026

Kyle is back with a Labor Day Weekend edition of Weekend Roundup!

For more info and events, check us out online at VisitLuzerneCounty.com!

09/04/2026

Happy National Wildlife Day!

Luzerne County is teeming with wildlife! More than 220 species of native and naturalized birds have been documented here, but our biodiversity goes far beyond what’s flying overhead. Deer, black bears, turtles, salamanders, butterflies, fish and countless other species make their homes among our forests, wetlands, mountains, lakes and waterways.

Want to do a little wildlife watching of your own? Explore Nescopeck State Park for forests and wetlands, Frances Slocum State Park for lakeside and woodland habitats, Moon Lake Recreation Area for quiet trails and birdwatching, or head to Ricketts Glen State Park to experience one of the region’s most spectacular natural landscapes. Even Kirby Park and the Susquehanna River corridor offer great opportunities to spot wildlife close to downtown Wilkes-Barre.

National Wildlife Day is the perfect excuse to get outside, keep your eyes open and see who else calls Luzerne County home!

09/04/2026

Take your swings!

Thanks to the Times Leader for the page 1 coverage of the upcoming Babe Ruth Sultan of Swat Home Run Derby (100th Anniversary Celebration)! Some special things are planned for this year's event:

* Tom Stevens, Babe Ruth’s grandson, will be at the event. Stevens will speak during the opening ceremonies and will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

* A new historical marker commemorating Ruth’s home run will be unveiled. The marker, which will complement a nearby kiosk which tells the tale of the homerun, will be placed by the softball field and is being erected by Visit Luzerne County, the City of Wilkes-Barre, The Luzerne Foundation, and the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame.

* The City of Wilkes-Barre will be proclaiming October 12, 2026 “Babe Ruth Day” in the city, and the proclamation will be presented to Mr. Stevens.

* Luzerne County will be proclaiming October 12, 2026 “Babe Ruth Day” throughout the entire county, and the proclamation will be presented to Mr. Stevens.

* Mr. Stevens will be presented the “Key To The City” of Wilkes-Barre.

* Artillery Park, which is usually gated and locked, will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., which will allow those attending the derby to stroll across the street, stand at home plate, and take photos of the exact spot where Ruth had hit the home run. Prior to the derby, local Little League teams will march from home plate at Artillery Park the main softball field at Kirby Park to help kick off the opening ceremonies.

* Yankees Magazine, the official magazine of the New York Yankees, will be sending a reporter to cover the derby, which will later be published as a feature story.

* For the traditional City vs. County game, both teams will sport special jerseys to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Babe Ruth's 650-ft. home run.

The third annual Babe Ruth Sultan of Swat Home Run Derby will take place on Saturday, October 10, in Kirby Park. The event, presented by Visit Luzerne County and the City of Wilkes-Barre, celebrates the mammoth home run hit by Babe Ruth at Artillery Park in Kingston on October 12, 1926. Legend has it that the ball traveled an estimated 650-ft., making it the longest measured home run in baseball history. The Babe Ruth Sultan of Swat Home Run Derby takes place on the main softball field at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre, just a few feet away from where Ruth’s ball landed.

The derby is open to all men and women, ages 16 and up, who feel they are capable of launching a ball out of the main softball field at Kirby Park. (There will be a male/female derby, and the distance of the fence will be modified for the women.) The Derby will offer “Sultan of Swat” awards for the male and female contestants who hit the longest home runs and “Bambino” awards for the male and female contestants who hit the most home runs. Participants will be eligible to win both awards. There will also be prized from the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. All proceeds benefit the Children's Miracle Network at Geisinger/Janet Weis Children's Hospital.

To register, visit www.visitluzernecounty.org

Wilkes-Barre City Government
Visit Luzerne County

09/03/2026

There are BIG things planned for this year’s Babe Ruth Sultan of Swat Home Run Derby (100th Anniversary Celebration). For details, check out this story from the Times Leader:

WILKES-BARRE — The third annual Babe Ruth Sultan of Swat Home Run Derby will return to Kirby Park on Oct. 10, marking the 100th anniversary of Babe Ruth’s famous home run at nearby Artillery Park.

09/03/2026

Visit Luzerne County was proud to be part of this great event today welcoming Wilkes University's College of Business & Engineering students!

This morning, members of our team, alongside of some wonderful community partners, had the opportunity to speak at the Freshman Welcome event for Wilkes University's College of Business & Engineering students. Thank you to our partners that joined us, including DiscoverNEPA, Visit Luzerne County, Diamond City Partnership (Downtown Wilkes-Barre) , Wilkes-Barre City Government's Mayor George Brown, and County Manager Romilda Crocamo.

We were so excited to meet the students and introduce them to the people and organizations that make our community such a great place to live, learn, and get involved!

09/02/2026

There’s a mystery to solve at the Back Mountain Memorial Library!

On Saturday, October 17 at 5 PM, put your detective skills to the test during an interactive Murder Mystery Fundraiser benefiting the library. Guests will work in teams of eight and follow along with Inspector Laing-Ovadew as they search for clues and work to crack the case.

Tickets are $25 per person, with proceeds helping support important library expenses and improvements. Team requests are first-come, first-served, so be sure to list who you’d like to investigate with when purchasing your ticket.

This event is 21+ and BYOB. Space is limited, so grab your tickets and get ready for a night of mystery, teamwork and fun!

Sign up at: https://givebutter.com/murder-mystery-fundraiser-k9nr8e

09/02/2026

Check out our monthly appearance on WBRE-TV's PaLive, where we talk about all the great events happening in September!

09/01/2026

Did you know part of present-day Luzerne County was once claimed by Connecticut?

In the 1700s, competing colonial land grants led both Pennsylvania and Connecticut to claim the Wyoming Valley. Connecticut settlers established communities throughout the area, and in 1774 the region was even organized as the Connecticut town of Westmoreland. The dispute sparked years of conflict known as the Yankee-Pennamite Wars before the Decree of Trenton ruled in Pennsylvania’s favor in 1782.

There’s a lot more to Luzerne County’s story than you might expect. The Visit Luzerne County History Trail is open now through October 4, giving you the chance to visit historic locations across the county and earn prizes as you explore.

Sign up here: https://www.visitluzernecounty.com/371/History-Trail

08/31/2026

Sheena and Kyle from our staff had a great time connecting with students and sharing all the wonderful things Luzerne County has to offer at Misericordia University’s Welcome Week!