‘Williamsport Welcomes the World’ festival returns Friday
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The annual Little League World Series and all of its adjunct events and activities generate roughly $40 million for the region.
It's not just the economic impact for Williamsport and Lycoming County – as many visitors stay close by and drive to see these games and attend the upcoming 16th annual Williamsport Welcomes the World on Friday.
That staggering figure is derived from doing actual research showing the overall economic boom the series creates for the city and region.
"We did a study a few years ago that showed the rough economic impact of the Little League World Series is somewhere in the neighborhood of $40 million to the region," said Jason Fink, chamber president and chief executive officer.
"It's not just over at Little League on the international campus in South Williamsport.
No, that's a major factor, but there are tons of people shopping, dining, and gassing up at the stations and "they're circulating their dollars here in the area," Fink observed.
It's a visible and tangible evidence of the benefits the series holds for the region.
"We're seeing more people in those shops," Fink said of the small boutiques specializing in a variety of items, and the city and region's small businesses and stores and chain and non-chain restaurants.
Another major attraction that brings in the visitors year after year is held as the series draws to a close. It is the immensely popular Williamsport Welcomes the World, a street festival that takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday in downtown Williamsport.
This will be the 16th Williamsport Welcomes the World and the event planners at the chamber and the tourism bureau consider it to be an integral part of the experience for those attending the games in South Williamsport.
"You look at it and it is the event that really is the capstone for the community in being able to say, 'Hey, we've been through, you know, the bulk of the Little League World Series for this year, and this is our celebration, really, as a community, to be able to say to everybody coming in for Championship weekend to to really have fun and and enjoy the heart of the downtown," Fink said.
It's an early evening event, perfect for a family with young children to join together as fans of the game of baseball and the community welcome the teams playing at the Little League World Series, and their families to downtown Williamsport for the Williamsport Welcomes the World.
Over 20,000 people participated in the 2025 event. The festival takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday along West Fourth Street, between Market and Hepburn streets
The weather forecast calls for clear conditions with a daily high temperature of 79. Temperatures drop in the early evening as the sun begins to set.
The street festival is a sight to behold offering visitors several blocks of activities including live musical performances from talented local musicians, a Kids Zones – full of fun and free activities, along with the irresistible variety of food and merchandise vendors.
Among the expected highlights of Williamsport Welcomes the World will be the appearance of former Atlanta Braves center-fielder and 2026 Hall of Fame inductee Andruw Jones, who will be available to sign free photographs from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Jones will be positioned just outside of the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce and Lycoming County Visitor's Bureau building at West Fourth and Pine streets.
Not-to-be-missed
For Fink, the festival allows visitors to the city to explore the shops and restaurants.
He made a reference to how, in 1947, the first Little League World Series was played in Williamsport at Original Field, and he considered Williamsport Welcomes the World yet another way to be able to celebrate the fact that this is the birthplace of Little League Baseball and the Little League World Series.
He also expressed how he was excited because of what the team of event planners put together for the night.
"Sydney Sellers – she shared with me some of the vendors that we've got coming in," Fink said.
"There's going to be some really cool craft vendors and folks who are selling creative ware," he said. There are going to be a wide variety of food vendors, and there's always the Kid's Zone with the activities for children.
"So, to me, it's one of those things where there's a little bit of everything for everyone," he said.
In terms of musical entertainment, the festival will showcase Uptown Music Collective, and other groups to be performing.
"It's a really nice setup to be able to meet the interests and needs of a lot of different people," he said.
Attendance is anticipated to be as strong as any prior years and Fink also was monitoring the forecast for the event.
"One of the key drivers of that is it looks like we're going to have weather like we're having today, which is very nice seasonal weather," he said.
In his parting words, Fink encouraged everyone who can to attend and have some fun.
The street is blocked off for safety and there is always enough security and law enforcement, along with fire and emergency medical personnel ready to respond.
"We encourage local residents of the county to come out and celebrate with the teams who are still here and the fans of those teams who are here to be able to celebrate another successful Little League World Series that we just hosted in the community," he said.