Event Release – Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Image 1 by Bruce Dart 2025. Image 2 by Lonny Frost © 2014.
WELLSBORO, PA – This Saturday, June 13 through Sunday, June 21 is Wellsboro’s 84th Annual Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival with activities for all ages.
The action begins Saturday from 10:00 AM. to 1:00 PM with Family Day and the Children’s Health Fair on The Green. Rain or shine, there will be 47 booths with free information for children’s health, safety and well-being, about summer programs for youth and adults, outdoor recreation opportunities, Head Start, etc.; activities, such as games to play for prizes, puzzles to put together, a bubble machine, an obstacle course, creative projects to do on-site and take home; and giveaways, like toys, drawstring bags, water bottles, stickers and Frisbees. Each youngster participating in Family Day will be given a free playground ball or an 18-inch super flying disc and toddlers to 12-year-olds will be fitted with free bike helmets, while supplies last. At the First Citizens booth will be entry forms for a chance to win an Echo Dot for Alexa’s Learn and Play at a drawing being held at 1:00 PM on The Green.
Family Day & Children’s Health Fair – June 13th at the Green. Image by the Wellsboro Chamber.
This Sunday, June 14 is the Pet Parade. It’s free. Children, 12 and under, with decorated bicycles and pets of all types will gather for registration and judging at 12:25 PM in the Packer Park picnic area behind the Wellsboro Active Living Center (Senior Center) parking lot on Queen Street. Only one pet or one bike per child will be judged. Those who did not preregister can fill out a registration form. At 1:15 PM., teens, 13 and older and adults who want to be in the parade but are not eligible for judging or for prizes can bring a pet or decorated bike to Queen Street and line up on the sidewalk along the Laurel Health Center parking lot. At 1:30 PM, the Pet Parade will leave the park, be joined by those on Queen Street and travel up Main Street to The Green where awards will be presented.
Laurel Festival Pet Parade 2014. Shown are Madison Cruttenden and Rusty the Alpaca won best dressed under Miscellaneous. image by Lonny Frost © 2014.
There will be five free concerts with different entertainers each night Monday, June 15 through Friday, June 19.
From 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Friday, June 19 and 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM Saturday, June 20, the annual Arts & Crafts Fair with 76 artisans will be on The Green with unique, handcrafted items and 25 vendors will be on the International Street of Foods offering delectable delights.
Shown is MaryLou Good and her husband celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary during the Laurel Festival many years ago. Image © by Lonny Frost.
The welcome for last year’s Laurel Queen and the 2026 queen candidates will be at noon Friday, June 19 on the Tioga County Courthouse steps.
At 4:30 PM, Friday, the Molly’s Boys Jug Band will open the free Laurel Queens Preview & Concert on the Deane Center’s outdoor stage. The 22 queen candidates will be introduced at 5:00 PM and the band will close the event with more music.
The Laurel Festival 10K at 9 :00 AM and Two-Mile Fun Run at 9:05 AM will start events on Saturday, June 20. Registration for both will be from 7:45 AM to 8:45 AM at Packer Park on Queen Street.
The Laurel Festival Parade with floats, queens, top-notch drum and bugle corps, bagpipers, string bands, high school marching bands, antique vehicles and more will be at 2:00 PM. In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, this year’s theme is “From Sea to Shining Sea.”
Uncle Sam stops to for a phot op by Bruce Dart of Mansfield, PA. Image by Lonny Frost © 2012.
At Saturday’s 6:30 PM coronation ceremony, Chris Eckert will perform and the 2026 Pennsylvania State Laurel Queen will be crowned.
On Sunday, June 21 at 10:30 AM, the festival will end with the Union Church Service on The Green. The rain location is the First Baptist Church.
For more information about festival events, contact the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce by stopping in at 114 Main Street in Wellsboro, by calling 570-724-1926, emailing info@wellsboropa.com or visiting wellsboropa.com.
PENNSYLVANIA STATE LAUREL FESTIVAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Annual Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival
Schedule of Events
June 13-21, 2026
Free unless stated otherwise
Saturday, June 13
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Family Day & Children’s Health Fair
The Green
Sunday, June 14
1:30 p.m.
Pet Parade
Main Street to The Green
(Registration/Judging: 12:25 p.m. at
Packer Park Picnic Area on Queen Street)
Monday, June 15
7 p.m.
Laurel Concert Series
House of Sterling
Outdoor Stage, Deane Center
Rain location: Coolidge Theatre
Donations Appreciated
Tuesday, June 16
7 p.m.
Laurel Concert Series
The 3Ds
Outdoor Stage, Deane Center
Rain location: Coolidge Theatre
Donations Appreciated
Wednesday, June 17
7 p.m.
Laurel Concert Series
Almost World-Famous Wellsboro Town Band
The Green
Rain location: Wellsboro School District Auditorium
Donations Appreciated
Thursday, June 18
7 p.m.
Laurel Concert Series
Wellsboro Men’s & Women’s Choruses
First Presbyterian Church
130 Main Street
Donations Appreciated
Friday, June 19
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Arts & Crafts Fair &
International Street of Foods
The Green
12 p.m.
Queen Candidates Welcome
Tioga County Courthouse Steps
4:30 p.m.
Queen’s Preview & Laurel Concert
with Molly’s Boys Jug Band
Deane Center Outdoor Stage
Rain location: Coolidge Theatre
Saturday, June 20
9 a.m.
10K Foot Race & 2-Mile Fun Run
Entry fee: 10K $25; Fun Run $5
Packer Park on Queen Street
9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Arts & Crafts Fair &
International Street of Foods
The Green
2 p.m.
Laurel Festival Parade
Nichols, Queen, Main, King, Walnut Streets
6:30 p.m.
Coronation of 2026 Laurel Queen
Wellsboro School District Auditorium
Tickets: Adult, $20; Sr. Citizen/Student, $10;
Children, 12 & Under, $5
227 Nichols Street
Sunday, June 21
10:30 a.m.
Union Church Service
The Green
Rain location: First Baptist Church, 25 Central Avenue
For more information, contact the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce by stopping in at 114 Main Street in Wellsboro, by calling 570-724-1926, emailing info@wellsboropa.com or visiting wellsboropa.com.
