8 Of The Most Welcoming Towns In The Poconos
The Poconos have been drawing travelers for generations, thanks to iconic spots like Lake Wallenpaupack, the Delaware Water Gap, and the Lehigh River carving their way through forested hills. A welcoming spirit permeates these small towns, where weekly markets, seasonal festivals, and walkable downtowns keep the energy up all year long. You might catch it while checking out the Monroe Farmers Market in Stroudsburg, joining a music-filled weekend in Jim Thorpe, or exploring Milford’s galleries and historic sites. If you want to see the most welcoming towns in the Poconos in action, these eight communities show exactly how the region draws people in and makes them feel at home.
Stroudsburg
Stroudsburg's downtown orbits around Courthouse Square and a tight grid of historic streets. StroudFest takes over several blocks each August with more than 150 vendors, multiple stages, plenty of family-friendly activities, and food tents. WinterFest brings a different kind of buzz with ice sculptures, themed activities, and a full lineup of shop specials along Main Street. June adds the Pocono Pride Festival, which draws visitors to Monroe Street for performances, vendors, and community programming, and Saturday mornings often start at the Monroe Farmers Market, one of the longest-running in northeastern Pennsylvania, with more than forty years of continuous operation.
Between events, the Sherman Theater anchors the arts scene with touring acts, local showcases, and community fundraisers throughout the year. The theater’s smaller sister venue, The Sherman Showcase, gives local musicians and performers an additional space downtown. Visitors who want to explore beyond events usually end up along Main Street, where cafés, boutiques, and small breweries create an easy walking loop. Brodhead Creek flows just a few blocks away and borders Creekview Park, where a short greenway gives visitors an easy walk by the water. Altogether, Stroudsburg’s combination of festivals, walkability, and local institutions gives the town a welcoming feel in every season.
Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe’s steep streets and Victorian architecture set the stage for a calendar packed with long-running traditions. Each October, the Fall Foliage Festival draws large crowds for crafts, food vendors, live music, and scenic train rides through the Lehigh Gorge. December’s Olde Time Christmas spreads holiday décor, carolers, and horse and carriage rides across the historic district. Earth Day brings its own locally organized celebration with educational programs, cleanups, and community entertainment, and throughout the warmer months, the town also supports a steady rotation of smaller weekend events and First Friday activities organized by local businesses.
A tour of the Asa Packer Mansion remains a common starting point for visitors. The 1861 Italianate home features original furnishings and sweeping views of the downtown from its hillside perch. The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway runs directly below the mansion and offers narrated excursions along the river and into the surrounding mountains. Nearby, the Mauch Chunk Museum adds context on the area’s coal mining history and the formation of the town, while entrances to Lehigh Gorge State Park are only a short drive away and give visitors miles of trails and river overlooks.
Milford
Milford may be compact, but its festival lineup pulls visitors from well beyond Pike County. Every October, the Black Bear Film Festival screens independent films, documentaries, and shorts at venues across town and hosts panel discussions with filmmakers. June’s Milford Music Fest spreads performers across porches, patios, and storefronts throughout the historic district, and September’s literature-focused festival brings authors, readers, and speakers together for a weekend of workshops and conversations.
Grey Towers National Historic Site, the former estate of conservationist and Pennsylvania governor Gifford Pinchot, offers self-guided tours of the mansion along with access to its landscaped grounds and walking paths. The Columns Museum enhances and illustrates the local story with exhibits tied to Pike County history, including the Lincoln Flag and rotating displays that highlight the region’s past. For anyone interested in exploring the outdoors, Milford sits close to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, which provides access to waterfalls, hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and quiet sections of the Delaware River.
Honesdale
Honesdale ties its rail history to a full calendar of community events. The Roots and Rhythm Festival brings musicians, art vendors, and food stands to Central Park each June, creating one of the town’s most anticipated free events. August marks the return of the Wayne County Fair, a nine-day tradition that features agriculture exhibits, carnival rides, live music, and regional food. October’s Harvest and Heritage Days spreads activities across downtown with historic demonstrations, corn shucking competitions, pumpkin painting, and wood carving, among other family-friendly activities.
Rail history stays front and center through the Stourbridge Line, which offers scenic tours along the Lackawaxen River. Rides run on a seasonal schedule and include themed trips, fall foliage runs, and weekend excursions. The Wayne County Historical Society Museum provides another detailed look at the area’s past. Its most recognized artifact is the Stourbridge Lion, widely known as the first commercial steam locomotive to operate in the United States. The museum also includes exhibits on canal history, early industry, and regional heritage.
Hawley
Hawley leans into its spot on Lake Wallenpaupack with a calendar that stays active from spring into winter. Wally Lake Fest in August remains one of its biggest draws. The three-day celebration features boat rides, live music, vendor stations, open houses, and fireworks over the lake. October’s Harvest Hoedown brings the focus downtown with seasonal food, craft vendors, children’s activities, and live performances along Main Avenue, then Hawley Winterfest caps the year with a packed schedule of holiday markets, house tours, music, carriage rides, and a Christmas parade that brings the community together.
Beyond its events, the Hawley Silk Mill is a restored 1880s industrial building that now houses shops, dining, fitness studios, art galleries, and cafes such as Cocoon Coffee House, making it a popular stop for both visitors and locals. Wallenpaupack Lakefront Park provides walking paths, picnic areas, and open green space with direct views of the lake. In warmer months, the park also hosts concerts and community programs.
Delaware Water Gap
Delaware Water Gap may be small, but it has built a regional reputation through its long-running arts and music traditions. The COTA Jazz and Arts Festival, founded in 1978, remains its signature event, drawing musicians and visitors for three days of performances, juried art exhibitions, and community programs each September. Founders Day in June brings a mix of sidewalk art, local vendors, and family activities that highlight the borough’s creative roots.
Much of the borough’s music history centers on the Deer Head Inn. Music fans regard the venue as one of the country’s longest-operating jazz clubs, and it continues to host live performances several nights a week. A short walk away, the Antoine Dutot Museum and Gallery shares exhibits on the region’s 19th-century resort era and features rotating art shows from regional artists throughout the season.
Outdoor access also shapes everyday life here. Delaware Water Gap sits at the southern entrance of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, which offers hiking trails, river access, wildlife viewing, and scenic overlooks. Many visitors use the town as a starting point for exploring the Appalachian Trail, which passes directly through the area.
Lehighton
Lehighton sits along the Lehigh River, and its location shapes much of the town’s outdoor and event activity. Late summer brings one of its biggest annual gatherings, Lehighton Bike Night, which draws thousands of riders downtown for concerts, food vendors, and a large motorcycle showcase each August. October adds Rocktoberfest, a community event that features live music, seasonal activities, and local fundraising efforts. Just outside town, the Great Pocono Pumpkin Festival runs from September through October with mazes, rides, and fall attractions at Country Junction, the world's largest general store.
Outdoor access is one of Lehighton’s strongest assets. Beltzville State Park is only a short drive away and offers hiking trails, boat launches, fishing areas, picnic spots, and a public beach along Beltzville Lake. The D and L Trail also passes by Lehighton, giving walkers and cyclists a long, uninterrupted path that follows former canal and rail routes through Carbon County. For visitors who want to get out on the river, the Lehighton Outdoor Center provides rentals for tubing, kayaking, and rafting, making it an easy starting point for a day on the Lehigh.
East Stroudsburg
East Stroudsburg blends its role as a college town with a steady calendar of community events. Pickle Me Poconos is one of its most recognizable festivals, drawing visitors to Crystal Street each October for pickle-inspired food, games, vendors, and live entertainment. The town's Big Bang Independence Day Celebration is also an annual favorite, which typically features food trucks, live music, family activities, and an evening fireworks show.
The restored Dansbury Depot continues to serve as a community venue for concerts, seasonal programming, and an outdoor space that overlooks Brodhead Creek. Nearby, East Stroudsburg University adds several public attractions for locals and visitors alike. The Schisler Museum of Wildlife and Natural History is home to more than 130 wildlife exhibits and environmental displays, while the adjoining McMunn Planetarium offers public star shows and educational programs throughout the year. The campus also hosts lectures, arts events, and occasional performances that are open to the community.
What Makes the Poconos Feel So Inviting
Across the Poconos, a warm welcome shows up in different ways, whether it is a farmers market filling a town square, a jazz festival echoing off river cliffs, or a lakefront park lighting up for summer fireworks. These communities lean into what they do best: festivals, historic sites, college events, and easy access to trails and waterways. Together, these traditions keep people coming back season after season. If you plan a trip to the most welcoming towns in the Poconos, you will find places where it feels natural to linger, join the crowd, and start to feel like part of the community, even on your very first visit.
