WILKES-BARRE — The tents are up on Public Square, and the weather report for this Thursday through Sunday calls for temperatures in the mid- to high 60s to the low 80s — and, of course, some rain.
But nothing will stop the amount of great fun, food, and celebration, as the 70th edition of the Fine Arts Fiesta once again enhances and enlightens Downtown Wilkes-Barre and all who attend.
It’s amazing when you think that there have been 70 Fine Arts Fiestas and even more amazing when you realize Brian Benedetti, executive director, has been at the helm for 49 of those years.
The Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame has announced that Benedetti and the Fine Arts Fiesta will receive the organization’s “Distinguished Achievement Award” for 2026 — a truly deserving honor.
• Brian Benedetti — The leader of the Fine Arts Fiesta, who has helped transform the event from niche to mainstream for nearly five decades. Artists, entertainers, and students across Luzerne County have his initiatives to thank for bringing their work to general audiences.
• The Fine Arts Fiesta — The annual event that has spotlighted various art forms on Wilkes-Barre’s Public Square for 70 years. Throughout its storied history, the fiesta has grown to become an all-inclusive, seminal cornerstone of the local arts calendar.
Ticket info for the Oct. 3 induction ceremony will be available soon for the event, to be held at Wyoming Seminary’s Kirby Center for the Creative Arts.
For information, visit the organization’s official website at www.luzernecountyaehof.org. You can also follow the organization on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LCAEHOF.
This will be the Hall of Fame’s fourth induction ceremony, and the 2026 class is another amazing group from the world of arts and entertainment.
The 2026 inductees are:
Arts category
• Edie Adams — The actress and comedian whose talent and business acumen made her a show business mainstay for decades. She was a Tony winner and Emmy nominee and appeared in multiple classic films, including “The Apartment” and “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.”
• Nick Adams — The Oscar-nominated actor who made a name for himself in mid-century Hollywood by playing rebellious characters on film and television.
• Mark Cohen — The photographer whose intense, invasive style captures the aesthetic of Luzerne County and its residents.
• James Karen — The longtime character actor who was best known for his roles in films like “The Return of the Living Dead,” “Mulholland Drive,” and “Poltergeist.”
• George Korson — The folklorist who kept decades of coal mining history alive through his recordings and writings.
• Jozef Murgas — The Renaissance man who expressed his artistic visions through groundbreaking technology and countless other creative pursuits. Wilkes-Barre’s “Radio Priest” was a champion of Slovak culture, a painter, a botanist, a butterfly collector, and a community leader.
• Bruce Price — The architect whose local legacy goes beyond the buildings he designed made a serious and timeless impact on the landscape of the area.
Entertainment category
• The Back Doors — The tribute band to the Doors that formed in an era when the very concept of a tribute band was novel. Their global fame was due to their excellent balance of adherence to the Doors’ performance style and their own unique spin on the music.
• Cabinet — The bluegrass band that bends genre conventions to create something all music fans can enjoy, as evidenced by the massive crowds they have drawn.
• Dakota — The band led by quintessential Luzerne County rockers Jerry Hludzik and Bill Kelly following their departure from the Buoys. Their career was defined by a major tour opening for Queen and multiple albums filled with slick, ultra-listenable rock tracks.
• Thomas Hrynkiw — The classical pianist who was celebrated for his accomplishments in the musical arts. He played for audiences at a number of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, including the Kennedy and Lincoln centers, and at various music festivals.
• Mere Mortals — The rock group known for their dogged commitment to playing high-quality original material.
• The Cino Paci Band — The Pittston-based musical ensemble that has entertained the community for over a century – literally.
• Eddie Rambeau — The hit-making machine who co-wrote multiple charting tunes in an era dominated by British artists. His seminal recording, “Concrete and Clay,” was a charting success in its own right.
A&E Impact category
• The Briggs Family — The founders of the iconic, nationally-known blues festival that bears their family farm’s name. Inductees include Richard Briggs and Alison Briggs, founders of the Briggs Farm Blues Festival; and Dylan Briggs and Dena Briggs, producers of the Briggs Farm Blues Festival.
• Jim Della Croce — The manager, publicist, and concert promoter whose list of clients reads like a who’s who of the music industry’s biggest acts, labels, and venues.
• Thom Greco — The concert promoter and nightclub owner whose many ventures in the hospitality industry have made Luzerne County an arts and entertainment destination.
• John Walson — The founder of Service Electric and one of the original innovators in establishing cable television.
Enjoy the Fine Arts Fiesta this week.
Celebrate the arts.
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