Lansford kicks off its 150th Anniversary Celebration this weekend with special events throughout June, culminating with an all-day stadium concert, food trucks and other vendors and fireworks.

Organizers welcome everyone to celebrate with them as the borough marks a century and a half of history and heritage.

“We invite everyone to take part in the events planned for Lansford’s 150th anniversary and our country’s 250th,” said Chris Ondrus, one of the organizers.

“Many of these events took months to plan,” he said, “We hope people participate and support our efforts in recognizing our town’s sesquicentennial.”

The celebration kicks off Saturday with Coal Town Blue performing from 6 to 9 p.m. at the American Legion Post 123, 3 W. Ridge St. in Lansford. A cover charge includes food and desserts.

On Thursday, the America250PA Mobile Unit — The Great American Getaway rolls into town. The custom-built, interactive experience on wheels designed to bring the nation’s semiquincentennial to directly to Pennsylvanians.

People can try their hand at Pennsylvania Pursuit, one of three interactive exhibits featured in mobile truck located in Ashton Park from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The fast-paced trivia game challenges visitors with questions about Pennsylvania’s rich history and key civics questions from the U.S. citizenship test.

Keystone Quest, another interactive exhibit, is designed as a retro-style video game that takes players on an adventure across Pennsylvania.

Finally, visitors can share and record their own stories about their lives, histories and hopes for the future in the Commonwealth Chronicles exhibit.

Giveaways will also be available during the visit.

On June 20, the Lansford Historical Society will present a special showing of the “The Lehigh & New England Railroad: From the Anthracite Region to the Lehigh Gap.”

Guest speaker John Panulla, also known as “JPan the Railfan,” will present the first five episodes of his series, “Follow the Rail,” in the lower level of St. John the Baptist Byzantine Church, 104, E. Bertsch St., just across the street from the historical society.

A lifelong railroad enthusiast, Panulla spent his youth in Belvidere, New Jersey, walking the tracks of the once active, area railroads, such as the Old Lackawanna Main and the Lehigh & Hudson Railroad.

Now 71 years old, Panulla has become a railroad archaeologist. His video series explores what remains along the path where the Lehigh & New England Railroad and its branches once operated in Pennsylvania, along with flashbacks to when it was active.

The five episodes include: Lansford, Summit Hill, Coaldale and Seek; Arlington Terminal to South Tamaqua; Chain, Pa., to Snyders, Pa.; Along the Lizard Creek; and Semmels, Pa. to the Lehigh Gap.

Admission for the historical presentation is free, but the society welcomes donations.

On June 27, a motorcycle run benefiting Lansford’s 150th anniversary events roars into town. Sign-ups will be from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the American Legion Post 123 with kickstands up at noon. Donations are $10 a bike.

Rounding out the month’s events will be an all-day concert at the Panther Valley Stadium featuring performances by the Pennsylvania Army National Guard 28th Infantry Band, the M & J Big Band and the Jimmy Sturr Polka Band.

Gates open at 1 p.m. and the performances start at 2 p.m.

Food vendors will be located in Kennedy Park on the east side of the stadium, and the day concludes with a fireworks display by Pyro Joe.