By Emily Whalen • Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau
Mark your calendar for the return of Wally Lake Fest! This family-friendly, end-of-summer celebration of all that’s great about Lake Wallenpaupack is coming up August 25-27, 2023. Dive into an exciting weekend line-up of events both on water and on land. Be sure to book a place to stay nearby so you won’t miss any of the fun!
Float on the waves, watch loads of live music performances, snack on delicious food and drinks, visit the Boat and Outdoor Show, browse vendor fairs and markets and more. Wally Fest packs the best of a Pocono Mountains vacation into three days of food, music, watersports, shopping, tours and activities for all ages.
BEFORE YOU GO
Be sure to book your room early! It’s worth staying overnight in the area to get the full experience. Treat yourself to a lakeside getaway and end the summer right. Reserve your accommodations in advance to secure a spot close to the fun. Stay within sight of the water at Silver Birches Resort, Martin’s Lakefront Cottages, East Shore Lodging, Loch Highlands or Cove Haven Resort.
Both The Settlers Inn and Glass – Wine.Bar.Kitchen at Ledges Hotel in Hawley are hosting festival events, making them a perfect home base for the weekend. Have a big group? Let Davis R. Chant Real Estate, Inc. help you find a multi-bedroom vacation home rental.
Remember to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, swimsuits and comfortable walking shoes. Reference the official website to find out what’s happening, when and where to map out your can’t-miss activities in advance.
GETTING AROUND
With festival events on and off the water all along The Big Lake’s 52 miles of shoreline, you’re looking at a lot of ground to cover. Fortunately, celebrations are set in three main areas, and free shuttles run to these locations on Saturday and Sunday. You’ll find hot spots in Downtown Hawley, the North End and the Lake Region.
Festival Areas
Downtown Hawley covers the northernmost businesses located along Route 6 in town. Be sure to check out The Settlers Inn, Hawley Silk Mill, Cocoon Coffeehouse & Bakery, Ledges Hotel, Ritz Company Playhouse, Harmony in the Woods, Wallenpaupack Brewing Company, North of the Border Fireworks and Penny Lane Candies & Candles.
North End venues are slightly south of Downtown Hawley, on the lake’s eastern shore along Route 6 between 507 and 590. Points of interest include Wallenpaupack Scenic Boat Tours, Rubber Duckie Boat Rentals, Lake Wallenpaupack Visitors Center, David R. Chant Realtors, Palmyra Township Public Beach on Lake Wallenpaupack and Wallenpaupack Area High School. Gresham’s Chop House, Gresham’s Ice Cream Shoppe , and Three Hammers Winery are also in this area.
The Lake Region begins directly beneath the North End and curves around the water. It’s where you’ll find waterfront businesses along 507 like Silver Birches Resort, East Shore Lodging, The Dock on Wallenpaupack, The Boat House Restaurant and Lake Art. Continue further south and west to reach Lake Life Pursuit, Lighthouse Harbor Marina, 1st Klas Marina, Promised Land Inn Bar Restaurant and The Golf Course at Paupack Hills.
Parking & Shuttles
Free parking is available at the Lake Wallenpaupack Visitors Center, Wallenpaupack Area Middle School and Wallenpaupack Area High School. Free shuttles stop at these locations on Saturday and Sunday.
Ride the Train
Why not take a railroad outing with The Stourbridge Line during your visit? Railroad trips depart from Hawley and Honesdale, with different excursions to choose from like the Farmers Market Explorer, Ice Cream & Family Game Night, Pocono Expres, Honesdale Explorer, or the Wally Lake Fest Special. To experience a different side of the tracks when the trains aren’t running, take a scenic railbiking trip with Pennsylvania Rail Bike .
Enjoy the Lake and the Great Outdoors
Out on the water is the place to be during Wally Lake Fest! Bring your own boat, get a rental or purchase a new vessel from outfitters all around the lake including Lighthouse Harbor Marina, 1st Klas Marina, Rubber Duckie Rentals, Sterling Marina, and Wallenpaupack Scenic Boat Tours. Relax in a family-size pontoon, give paddleboarding a try, or step up the adrenaline and skim over the water during a jet ski rental or waterskiing lesson with The Boat Shop.
Looking for even more fresh air?
Venture out to the Van Scott Nature Reserve of the Delaware Highlands Conservancy for their free Saturday scavenger hunt. Visit the office to get your scavenger hunt booklet, then complete all the questions as you explore to receive a small prize at the end.
LIVE PERFORMANCES
The music never stops at Wally Fest. Check out the website for a complete schedule of live performances all weekend long!
Enjoy the rhythms of Jazz on The Deck – Wally Lake Fest Special at The Settlers Inn or groove to Lakeside Live Featuring The Idol Kings from your boat or from the lawn at Silver Birches Resort. Gresham’s Ice Cream Shoppe will also be showcasing talented local performers during Chords for Community. Get tickets to see The South Side Five or Mike Miz and the Northeast Extension at the beautiful Harmony in the Woods outdoor amphitheater.
You won’t want to miss Saturday’s Wallypalooza, which puts performers out on the lake with the help of a floating stage. Drop anchor free of charge or sit on the shore to catch a set of the musical acts. To close out the festival, head to Three Hammers Winery for Music at the Winery or Glass – Wine.Bar.Kitchen for Blues, Brews & BBQ .
WALLY LAKE FEST FOOD & DRINKS
Be sure to bring your appetite! You won’t leave Wally Lake Fest hungry. Great restaurants like The Dock on Wallenpaupack, Gresham’s Chop House, Wallenpaupack Brewing Company, and Glass – Wine.Bar.Kitchen will be serving up delicious meals all weekend long.
For fresh, farm-to-table flavors, reserve a spot at Wally Lake Fest Brunch at The Settlers Inn: Saturday’s menu is a la carte, while Sunday’s prix fixe menu is accompanied by live music. On Saturday, be sure to swing by the Cocoon Coffeehouse from noon to 6 pm to check out the High Noon Seltzer Bar. End your lake weekend with an ice cream from Gresham’s Ice Cream Shoppe while watching the sun set.
FESTIVAL FAIRS & MARKETS
Shop for everything from homewares to watercraft at Wally Lake Fest. The festival features several outdoor markets and fairs, and local businesses set up summer specials for the occasion.
Stop by the Hawley Farmer’s Market in Bingham Park on Friday between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. for local and hand-made products. Feel like visiting the midway? Take a short drive to the Greene Dreher Sterling Fair. Downtown Hawley will be bustling on Saturday with Last Saturday August, the Hawley Car Cruise, and the wrap-up of the Community Art Project.
Pay a visit to the Boat & Outdoor Show in the parking lot of Wallenpaupack Area High School from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday or Sunday, and while you’re there, check out the Vendor Fair & Market. Nearby Hawley Silk Mill will be hosting an Artisan Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with both outdoor and indoor shopping, and you can also browse the Open Market Fair held at the Lake Wallenpaupack Visitors Center.
Add Comment