The top 10 things to do in the Poconos and around Lake Wallenpaupack this holiday season run from November 14 to December 13, 2026, from Hawley, Honesdale and Dingmans Ferry to Milford and Jim Thorpe, and they are listed here by date so you can plan each weekend at a glance.
I am Anne McCausland, a full-time Lake Wallenpaupack resident and a REALTOR® with Keller Williams Real Estate in Hawley. Most details below come from the Northern Poconos community events calendar compiled on November 9, 2026, and the Hawley Winterfest details come from the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau. Times, prices and schedules can change, so confirm with each organizer before you go.
Top 10 Holiday Events in the Poconos and Around Lake Wallenpaupack, by Date
1. WAHS Band and Color Guard Craft Fair, Wallenpaupack Area (Saturday, November 14)
A community craft fair supporting the Wallenpaupack Area High School Band and Color Guard, beginning at 10 AM at the high school in the Hawley area. Admission was not confirmed in the listing, so check the Wayne County Featured Events page before you go.
2. Stourbridge Line Autumn Dinner Train, Honesdale (Sundays, November 15 and 22)
A scenic ride along the Lackawaxen River with dinner aboard the historic railroad, departing Honesdale Station at 1 PM. Entrée choices are pork, chicken or fish, and reservations are available online at thestourbridgeline.net.
3. Printing Handmade Holiday Cards, Milford (Wednesday, November 18)
A free block-printing workshop from 5 to 6:30 PM at the Pike County Public Library, 119 E. Harford Street. Participants learn to carve designs and print their own holiday cards.
4. Thanksgiving Dinner in Hawley: Buffet or Dinner to Go (Thursday, November 26)
The Waterfront at Silver Birches serves a Thanksgiving buffet overlooking Lake Wallenpaupack from noon to 5 PM at 205 Route 507. Adults are $49 and children 10 and under are $24.50, plus tax and service, and reservations are required at 570-226-4388.
For dinner to go, pickup is 9 AM to 1 PM from The Dock on Wallenpaupack ($39 per person plus tax, order by November 19, 570-226-4388) or The Settlers Inn, 4 Main Avenue ($40 per person plus tax, order by November 20).
5. Winter Wonderland Parade and Christmas Tree Lighting, Honesdale (Friday, November 27)
The parade begins at 6 PM on Main Street, approximately 4th to 9th Streets, with decorated floats, music, community organizations and Santa Claus. The Christmas tree and Irving Cliff Star lighting follows at 7:30 PM near Central Park. The event is free, with complimentary hot chocolate, donuts and photographs with Santa planned. The rain date is November 28.
6. Santa Christmas Tree Express, Honesdale (Select Dates Beginning November 27)
A holiday-themed family train ride aboard the Stourbridge Line from Honesdale Station. Departure times vary by date, and advance reservations are available at thestourbridgeline.net.
7. The Christmas Show: A Trip Back to the Golden Age of TV, Dingmans Ferry (December 4 to 6)
A holiday stage production from Dingmans Ferry Theatre featuring songs and television Christmas specials of the 1950s and 1960s, at Akenac Park, 119 Abbey Lane. Shows are Friday at 7 PM, Saturday at 2 PM and 7 PM, and Sunday at 2 PM. Tickets are $12 per person.
8. Candlelight Christmas Dinner at The Settlers Inn, Hawley (December 4 to 6)
A holiday evening beginning at 5:30 PM each night at 4 Main Avenue, with holiday punch, syllabub, passed hors d'oeuvres, a farm-to-table dinner, live music, artisanal desserts and a horse-drawn carriage ride. The cost is $135 per person plus tax and service. The listing does not include reservation details, so contact the inn directly.
9. Olde Time Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Festivities, Jim Thorpe (December 4 to 6)
Holiday festivities and a tree lighting in downtown Jim Thorpe over the first weekend of December. Individual event times were not confirmed in the listing, so check with Jim Thorpe's tourism office before you plan your day.
10. Hawley Winterfest, Downtown Hawley (December 11 to 13)
A holiday weekend in downtown Hawley hosted by the Downtown Hawley Partnership. The weekend begins Friday with local community events, including a parade at 6 PM on December 11 (lineup at 5 PM near the Lutheran and Methodist Churches), and a craft and artisan market follows on Saturday and Sunday. Hours for the other events were not confirmed, so check the Hawley Winterfest page or call the Downtown Hawley Partnership at 570-226-4064.
At a Glance: Dates, Locations and What to Do Before You Go
| Date | Event | Location | Before You Go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14 | WAHS Craft Fair | Wallenpaupack Area High School, Hawley area | Confirm admission |
| Nov 15 and 22 | Autumn Dinner Train | Honesdale Station | Reserve online |
| Nov 18 | Printing Handmade Holiday Cards | Pike County Public Library, Milford | Free |
| Nov 26 | Thanksgiving Dinner | The Waterfront at Silver Birches, The Dock or The Settlers Inn, Hawley | Buffet: reservation required, 570-226-4388. To go: order by Nov 19 (The Dock) or Nov 20 (The Settlers Inn) |
| Nov 27 | Parade and Tree Lighting | Downtown Honesdale and Central Park | Free; rain date Nov 28 |
| From Nov 27 | Santa Christmas Tree Express | Honesdale Station | Confirm dates and times; reserve in advance |
| Dec 4 to 6 | The Christmas Show | Dingmans Ferry Theatre, Akenac Park | $12 per person |
| Dec 4 to 6 | Candlelight Christmas Dinner | The Settlers Inn, Hawley | $135 per person plus tax and service; contact the inn |
| Dec 4 to 6 | Olde Time Christmas | Downtown Jim Thorpe | Confirm event times |
| Dec 11 to 13 | Hawley Winterfest | Downtown Hawley | Parade Fri, Dec 11 at 6 PM; confirm other times |
More Worth Knowing About
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Stourbridge Line Wine and Cheese Experience (Saturday, November 14, 1 PM): A Honesdale Station departure with two glasses of wine and local flavors aboard the #1805 Table Car. Advance booking is available.
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Runaway Train Beer Tasting Express (Saturday, November 21, 1 PM): A Stourbridge Line ride from Honesdale with two pints of Runaway Train Brewing beer.
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Jonathan Kruk in Dickens' A Christmas Carol (Sunday, December 6, 2 to 5 PM): A storyteller performance presented by the Dingmans Ferry Historical Society at the Township Municipal Building. Doors open at 1:30 PM, and there is no admission after 2 PM.
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Winter Hikes in Pike (Saturday, November 21, 10 AM): A seasonal hiking activity in Pike County. The trail or meeting location was not confirmed, so see the Wayne County Featured Events page for updates.