What is Good Thing Are Happening Fest?

Like many cities that boomed during the industrial revolution, Scranton is marked by remnants of a bygone era: factories no longer in function, museums dedicated to old energy sources, and, located in the city's heart, four historic iron blast furnaces, towering reminders of an industry that put Scranton on the map nearly 200 years ago.

Although The Electric City got its nickname for being the first in the nation to have electric-powered streetcars, it's undeniable that there's a current pulsing through the city's veins. Ask any creative from the area, and they'll tell you about its rich history of alternative music, conventions of all sorts, and a little television show you might have heard of. This is why so many Scrantonians are committed to fighting the stereotypes about it - there's the underdog mentality native to residents of any small city, fueled by the knowledge that this city held an important place in American culture. This is what's made Scranton musicians, artists, restauranteurs, brewers, organizers, and entrepreneurs so proud of their community - the knowledge that good things are happening in their neighborhood.

Scranton's Good Things Are Happening festival pays homage to this mentality. Named after the famous local news station segment and indebted to the many organizers already working to bring alternative culture forward locally, Good Things Are Happening is the culmination of what makes this city great. It's a day of excellent music, art, food, drink, and vendors, held at the historic Iron Furnaces. The inaugural event, born from a spontaneous "what if?" tweet, took place in August of 2022 with just under three months of planning and left a positive impact on the city, reinforcing both the need for these events and the support for those who organize them. As we get ready to roll out year two, we have ambition to turn this former pipe dream into an annual event that brings people from all over the country to the great town of Scranton.

Performances By (in alphabetical order):