The action begins Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 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 p.m. on The Green. 

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 p.m. 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 p.m., 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 p.m., 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.  

There will be five free concerts with different entertainers each night Monday, June 15 through Friday, June 19.

From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, June 19 and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 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.

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 p.m. 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 p.m. and the band will close the event with more music. 

The Laurel Festival 10K at 9 a.m. and Two-Mile Fun Run at 9:05 a.m. will start events on Saturday, June 20. Registration for both will be from 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. 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 p.m. In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, this year’s theme is “From Sea to Shining Sea.” 

At Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. coronation ceremony, Chris Eckert will perform and the 2026 Pennsylvania State Laurel Queen will be crowned. 

On Sunday, June 21 at 10:30 a.m., 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.