Many complain there isn’t much to do in Wilkes-Barre. But if you really look closely, there is a lot to do at night. There is a great publication, The Weekender, which many faithfully grab to see what is on the week’s agenda. The local music scene in Northeast PA is one of the best in the nation. Many local bands have a huge following, and sometimes they make it big. Breaking Benjamin is from the Wilkes-Barre area. Other hot local bands disappear from the area for months at a time to tour the New Jersey and Maryland beach bar scene. Simply put, the music scene is on fire here. That being said, 99 percent of the time, these bands are playing the bars, which means you must be 21. Popular bars to see bands play are: Brews Brothers, Night Caps, Leary’s, and Ole Tyme Charley‘s. Also, for those under 21, there is Café Metro.
For those not into the band scene that would rather dance to DJ'd music, there is the Evolution nightclub inside the Woodlands, the Twist (a gay bar with a killer dance club), Tink’s (which has a dance club upstairs), and The Mines. For those just looking for a fun night out at the bar, maybe to play some pool, shoot some darts, or play some jukebox music, there is Hops & Barley’s, Whiskey Business, The Riverside Café, and dozens of other corner bars. Aside from bars and parties, there is late-night glow bowling at Chacko’s and Stanton Lanes, a few pool halls, late-night coffee shops, and movie theatres.