New Castle Fireworks Festival is this weekend

Staff report

NEW CASTLE, PA.

The New Castle Fireworks Festival featuring Arts on the Riverwalk will take place from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday on East Washington and Mill streets in the city’s downtown.

A Wounded Warriors concert will kick off the event at 5 p.m. Friday at the Riverwalk Amphitheater, and five bands will perform until 10 p.m. A small fireworks display by Sky King Fireworks will close the day at 10 p.m.

Saturday entertainment includes a juggler/stiltwalker, inflatable amusements, a trackless train, and art activities for children, face-painting, chalk on the walk, beading, hat-making and more. A fireworks display by Zambelli Internationale will begin at 10:05 p.m., and an after-party will follow inside the Riverplex.

The Lawrence County Historical Society and Lawrence County Community Action Partnership also will offer tours of New Castle’s North Hill historic district both days.

Departures are planned for 4:30 and 6 p.m. from Mercer and North streets. Cost is $5 and will support the historical society. The group also will sponsor an ice-cream social at 8:30 p.m. Saturday on its front lawn.

Other ongoing activities include a photo booth inside the Riverplex, Kids Create Zone daily from 4 to 8 p.m., art show at the Confluence and a patio bar at the Commonwealth Gastropub and Brewery. There will be guest appearances by children’s characters as well as street artists.

Handicapped parking is available on the first floor of the parking garage on Mercer Street. An event tram will be set up Saturday evening for easier access around the festival. Cost will be $1 per ride with three event tram pickup locations.

There also will be free shuttle buses from Union Plaza between Lowe’s and Sears, and also behind First Merit and Arby’s. Signs will be placed to show locations off U.S. Route 224 and state Route 65. Buses will run from 3:30 to 11:30 p.m. or until the last person is picked up, courtesy of the New Castle Area Transit Authority.

Street closures to accommodate the festival will take place from 8 a.m. Friday to midnight Saturday. The closings: East Washington Street at Cochran Way to East Street (the Diamond will remain open to traffic); Mill Street from North Street to Croton Avenue at the Mill Street bridge; Mercer Street at North Street to the entrance of the Riverplex parking lot; and Cochran Way closed in one- to two-block sections of either side of East Washington.

Further information on the festival is available from the Lawrence County Tourist Promotion Agency at 724-654-8408 or www.VisitLawrenceCounty.com.