SCRANTON -- There is a new holiday spirit at the Mall at Steamtown in Scranton after years of struggles. That includes two big holiday events that moved into the mall for this season. Both start Friday night, and both are excited to join the mall's new owner is spreading some new excitement there.
The holiday spirit is back at the Mall at Steamtown in what has been an empty space for nearly two years.
Lackawanna County's Festival of Trees takes over part of the old Bon-Ton department store. That popular event made the move into the mall.
"We think with this move, more of the public will get to see it and the mall with the new owners, there's a lot of energy so we think it will be a great space to showcase the community trees," said Maureen McGuigan, Lackawanna County Arts and Culture.
Different businesses and groups enter trees as part of this competition and fundraiser for Toys for Tots. The theme this year is Scranton Through the Decades.
Debbie Koshinski-Urban put the finishing touches on her entry Friday.
"It really shows Scranton from when it first started until today," said Koshinski-Urban. "That's what my tree represents, 150 years. It's their anniversary."
And she says it's fitting that the Festival of Trees moved into a place looking toward the future after the struggling Mall at Steamtown was bought by Lackawanna County businessman John Basalyga.
"I think it's going to draw people to the mall. I hope it does and we want to see the mall do well again and it's just really nice to able to have it here."
The Festival of Trees isn't the only thing bringing life to the Mall at Steamtown this weekend. There's also a vendor fair that's with all kinds of shopping opportunities, set up where the Bon-Ton used to be.
Set up was underway Friday afternoon. Friday night and Saturday, 100 vendors will be part of the ScrantonMade Marketplace.
"With the new mall owner, it was great timing to sign up and be part of this new energy in the mall," said ScrantonMade's Cristin Powers.
For years, this holiday marketplace was outside on Courthouse Square in Scranton and had to deal with the elements. Organizers think this is a bigger space with more possibilities.
"We wanted to show that our area is really full of creativity, and opportunity and small business owners."
The ScrantonMade Marketplace runs Friday until 10 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Festival of Trees has a kickoff event open to the public Friday night. The trees will be up through the holiday season.