Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival

Every year in mid-June the community of Wellsboro celebrates the blooming of the Pennsylvania state flower with the annual Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival.

The week-long event includes a juried arts and crafts fair, queens pageant, bicycle and foot races, a gospel sing and several musical concerts, a pet parade, as well as the traditional two-hour Laurel Festival Parade.

The Festival was first held in 1938 and was the brainchild of a local businessman named Larry Woodin, who was hoping to boost a sagging economy by promoting the beautiful Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. The festival was originally organized by the Lions Club, but today’s festival is sponsored by the Wellsboro Foundation Inc., administered by the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce, and is organized by a committee of volunteers who work year round to ensure its success. Over the years, the Festival has grown and expanded and has become known far and wide. A big part of our success is due to the friendly hospitality of our area.