Published October 30, 20263 min read

October 30, 2026 · Mountains/Ski

Poconos Holiday Season 2026: Thanksgiving to New Year’s

The Poconos holiday season centers on two small towns. Jim Thorpe’s Victorian downtown runs Christmas weekends with Santa trains through the Lehigh Gorge, and Hawley, near Lake Wallenpaupack, holds a December Winterfest. Dates below come from the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau and the railroad’s own page, read on October 30, 2026. Where the official pages disagree or have not posted 2026 details, we say so. Shortlist cabins and lake houses on Poconos rentals, then book on the property site. See also things to do and the winter packing guide.

Quick answer

Jim Thorpe lights its tree on Friday, December 4, 2026, at 6 p.m. Olde Time Christmas weekends follow in December. Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway Santa Claus Specials run on set days from November 27 to December 24. Hawley Winterfest is December 11–13, 2026. We do not publish ski-area opening dates. Those depend on snow and are set by each resort.

The 2026 holiday calendar

Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 26, 2026.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: Thursday, December 24, and Friday, December 25, 2026.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day: Thursday, December 31, 2026, and Friday, January 1, 2027.

Many rentals set their own minimum stay for these nights, and it can differ from the rest of the season. Read the minimum for your exact dates on the booking site, not the general winter rule.

Jim Thorpe: Olde Time Christmas

Tree lighting: Friday, December 4, 2026, in Josiah White Park. Santa arrives at 6 p.m. Admission is free, per the visitors bureau’s event listing.
Festival weekends: the bureau’s Olde Time Christmas listing gives December 5–6, 12–13 and 19–20. The bureau’s Jim Thorpe Christmas page lists only December 5–6 and 12–13. Treat December 19–20 as unconfirmed until the full schedule is posted. The listing says there is no entry fee, with fees for some activities.
Parking: Carbon County controls parking in Jim Thorpe, and the railroad strongly advises checking the municipal lots before peak holiday weekends.

Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway: Santa Claus Specials

From the railway’s Holiday Trains page:

Dates: November 27–30, then December 4–6, 11–13 and 18–24, 2026.
Departures: 10:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. from Jim Thorpe.
Fares: Standard Coach $25 adult and $9 child (3–12). Crown Class $27 and $10. Vista Class Dome $35 and $21. First Class Lounge $54 and $45. Children 2 and under ride free.
Boarding: seats are first come, first served. The railroad suggests arriving an hour early to allow time for parking.

Hawley Winterfest

The visitors bureau’s Hawley Winterfest page lists December 11–13, 2026. The Downtown Hawley Partnership’s Lighted Night Parade starts Friday, December 11, at 6 p.m. Hawley sits near Lake Wallenpaupack.

What to confirm before you pay

The minimum stay and cancellation terms for your holiday nights.
Driveway and road access in snow, and who plows.
Whether the fireplace or hot tub is working and included in winter. See cabins with fireplaces.
Community and township rules for gatherings and parking: Poconos rental tips.
Typical December weather: Poconos weather by month.

If one feature matters for a holiday stay, start with these Pocono Mountains pages; each lists only rentals whose own listing title or website mentions that feature: Pet-friendly Pocono Mountains listings (9), Pocono Mountains rentals with a hot tub (36), Pocono Mountains rentals with a pool (15), Lakefront rentals in Pocono Mountains (14), Pocono Mountains rentals with a game room (17), Pocono Mountains rentals with a fireplace (8), Pocono Mountains cabin rentals (17). Confirm the feature and the holiday minimum stay with the owner or manager in writing before you pay.

FAQ

When is Jim Thorpe’s Olde Time Christmas in 2026?

The tree lighting is Friday, December 4. Festival weekends start December 5–6 and 12–13. The bureau’s event listing also names December 19–20, but its Jim Thorpe page does not, so check the full schedule.

What days do the Lehigh Gorge Santa trains run?

November 27–30, then December 4–6, 11–13 and 18–24, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Does BnB Search book the stay?

No. Compare on the hub, then finish on the site linked from the listing.

Start browsing stays

Sources

Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau — Jim Thorpe Christmas (read October 30, 2026)
Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau — Jim Thorpe’s Olde Time Christmas (read October 30, 2026)
Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau — Olde Time Christmas tree lighting (read October 30, 2026)
Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway — Holiday Trains (read October 30, 2026)
Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau — Hawley Winterfest (read October 30, 2026)

Things to do · Winter packing · Weather by month · Rental tips · Christmas cabin destinations