You’ll find as many things to do in Jim Thorpe this month as there will be leaves in the wind. Jim Thorpe’s annual Fall Foliage Festival showcases the town in all of Mother Nature’s splendor.
This year’s celebration, sponsored by the Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency (JTTA), will be held October 5-6, 12-13, 19-20.
Nestled in the breathtaking Lehigh Gorge, the town’s unique setting makes it one of the best spots in the country to view the Technicolor landscape from a variety of vantage points.
Brightly colored trees from Flagstaff, Mt. Pisgah and Bear Mountain surround you, whether you’re shopping the walkable downtown’s close to 50 shops and galleries, taking in a concert on one of four stages around the historic district – new location this year is the beautiful Race Street Park, enjoying live entertainment from coal cracker and rock and roll to belly dancing, more than 30 artisans and crafters, a variety of food trucks and lots of family fun.
Train rides on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway are always a favorite of festival goers, with special autumn leaf excursions from Reading this year. In fact, Smarter Travel named the Reading Northern Blue Mountain and Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway last year among the top 5 fall foliage train rides in the US. The 45-minute scenic tours through the Lehigh Gorge will operate daily all month long.
Once the sun goes down, dinner at one of Jim Thorpe’s fab restaurants and pubs will get you ready for a concert at the Mauch Chunk Opera House.
Ghost stories always seem a little spookier in October and there’s no better place for them than Jim Thorpe. The Victorian architecture can take on a decidedly spookier turn after dark when you learn about the spectral spirits that inhabit the town on an Old Mauch Chunk Ghost Walk sponsored by the Jim Thorpe Rotary Club. Tickets: Adults: $12. Children: 7-12; $6. For reservations and more information, call 484 629-3698.
While the Old Jail is always an interesting place to explore, Halloween ghost tours are extra fun. Not a haunted house attraction but definitely haunted, be sure to check out the mysterious handprint left by a Molly Maguire hanged from the prison’s gallows. Tickets: Adults – $10; Students 7th through 12th grade – $7. For more information, visit www.theoldjailmuseum.com/ghosts.html.
Returning for the third year at the festival is the annual scarecrow contest, sponsored by Muggles Mug. Local businesses are encouraged to participate. The scarecrows will be displayed throughout the downtown from Josiah White Park up to the Old Jail, and include all of Race Street. For those interested in participating, creativity is encouraged. This contest is not for political, religious or other inappropriate content.
If you or your organization are in another part of town, the festival hosts will help display your scarecrow along Broadway. Any individual, group, organization or business may enter the contest. Qualifying participants will be given a weatherproof letter-size sign to include on your display. The sign will have the scarecrows name on it for easy voting.
The following cash prizes will be awarded to the winners:
First place: $150
Second place: $75
Third place: $50
Please note: parking in the county lot by the train station, 1 Susquehanna St., fills quickly, however, additional parking with a shuttle service can be found at Mauch Chunk Lake Park, 625 Lentz Trail. Parking $15/vehicle; VIP reserved parking is available at Sam Miller Field and Mauch Chunk Lake (both with free shuttle). For more information, or to purchase VIP parking visit www.jimthorpe.org/shuttle.
Fall color is expected to peak on or about October 24 this year, according to the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau Fall Foliage Forecast. If weekends don’t work for your schedule, consider visiting midweek when the town is less crowded and there is more availability for an overnight stay.
The festival is located throughout the Historic District of Jim Thorpe.
MUSIC SCHEDULE
Saturday, October 5
Josiah White Park
Pat McGeehan: 10:30am – 1:00pm
Becky & The Beasts: 2:30pm – 5:00pm
Race Street
TBA: Noon – 2:30pm
John Ambrose: 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Quarry Street
Renard Cohen: Noon – 2:30pm
Timplistic: 3:00pm – 5:30pm
Mauch Chunk Opera House
Oliver Burdo Duo: 11:00am – 1:30pm
The Sound Birds: 2:00pm – 4:30pm
The Bedouin Tent at the Stabin Museum
Russ Mehnert: 2:00pm – 4:30pm
Sunday, October 6
Josiah White Park
Jay Smarr: 11:00am – 1:30pm
Brosky & Meyer: 2:30pm – 5:00pm
Race Street
Dave Matsinko: Noon – 3:00pm
Carbon Drifters: 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Quarry Street
Oliver Burdo Duo: Noon – 2:30pm
LeighAnne Burke & Co.: 3:00pm – 5:30pm
Mauch Chunk Opera House
Oldies Rockin’ Duo: 11:00am – 1:30pm
Brad & Luke: 2:00pm – 4:30pm
The Bedouin Tent at the Stabin Museum
TBA: 2:00pm – 4:30pm
Saturday, October 12
Josiah White Park
Jay Smarr: 10:30am – 1:00pm
Oldies Rockin’ Duo: 2:30pm – 5:00pm
Race Street
Dave Matsinko: Noon – 3:00pm
Shannon Marsyada: 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Quarry Street
Matt Miskie: Noon – 2:30pm
TBA: 3:00pm – 5:30pm
Mauch Chunk Opera House
Ecosphere: 11:00am – 1:30pm
The Sound Birds: 2:00 – 4:30pm
The Bedouin Tent at the Stabin Museum
Len Brunson, Doug Makofka
and Sean Daly: 2:00pm – 4:30pm
Sunday, October 13
Josiah White Park
Teri Strongheart: 10:30am – 1:00pm
TBA: 2:30pm – 5:00pm
Race Street
Joe Kinny: Noon – 3:00pm
Timplistic: 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Quarry Street
Sisters Arcana Belly Dancers: Noon – 2:30pm
LeighAnn Burke & Co.: 3:00pm – 5:30pm
Mauch Chunk Opera House
Free Range Folk: 11:00am – 4:30pm
The Bedouin Tent at the Stabin Museum
Shannon Marsyada: 2:30pm – 5:30pm
Saturday, October 19
Josiah White Park
Bees Knees: 11:00am – 2:30pm
Reimensnyder-Wagner: 2:30pm – 5:30pm
Race Street
TBA: Noon – 3:00pm
TBA: 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Quarry Street
Renard Cohen Band: Noon – 2:30pm
Timplistic: 3:00pm – 5:30pm
Mauch Chunk Opera House
Brad and Luke: 11:00am – 1:30pm
Len Brunson and Doug Makofka:
2:00pm – 4:30pm
The Bedouin Tent at the Stabin Museum
TBA: 2:00pm – 4:30pm
Sunday, October 20
Josiah White Park
Cover2Acoustic: 10:30am – 1:00pm
Professor Mike: 2:30pm – 5:00
Race Street
Gone: Noon – 3:00pm
Gone: 3:30pm- 5:30pm
Quarry Street
Carbon Drifters: Noon – 2:30pm
John Ambrose: 3:00pm – 5:30pm
Mauch Chunk Opera House
Becky and the Beasts:
11:00am – 5:00pm
The Bedouin Tent at the Stabin Museum
Brett Andrew and Justine Williams: 2:00-4:30pm
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