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 27-29, 2021. Dive into an exciting weekend line-up of events both on the 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 Lake Fest packs the best of a Pocono Mountains vacation into three days of food, music, watersports, shopping, tours and activities for all ages. Read on for tips to help you make the most of Wally Lake Fest weekend in the Poconos.
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 pack bring sunscreen, sunglasses, swimsuits and comfortable walking shoes. Reference the official website, WallyLakeFest.com, 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 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 Lighthouse Harbor Marina, 1st Klas Marina, Three Hammers Winery, Promised Land Inn Bar Restaurant and 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 Friday’s Farmers Market Explorer and the Glen Eyre Express on Saturday and Sunday. To experience a different side of the tracks when the trains aren’t running, take a scenic railbiking trip with Soarin’ Eagle Rail Tours.
Enjoy the Lake
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, Pine Crest Marina, Rubber Duckie Rentals, Sterling Marina, The Boat Shop 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 on a jet ski.
Live Performances
The music never stops at Wally Lake Fest. Check out WallyLakeFest.com for a complete schedule of live performances all weekend long!
Kick things off Friday night with Jazz on The Deck at The Settlers Inn or enjoy a 70s throwback and beer release at Wallenpaupack Brewing Company in the afternoon, with live music Friday evening. You can catch Lakeside Live from your boat or from the lawn at Silver Birches Resort, or attend the Nashville Stops Here Tour at Gresham’s Chop House, both happening throughout the festival.
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. On Saturday or Sunday, take in al fresco performances outside the Promised Land Inn or see talented young musicians showing their skills in the courtyard of Gresham’s Ice Cream Shoppe.
Feel like seeing a show? Harmony in the Woods will be hosting “Forever Simon & Garfunkel” on Friday night and “The Sea The Sea” on Saturday night. You can also get tickets to see a performance of “Incorruptible” at Ritz Company Playhouse.
To close out the festival, Glass – Wine.Bar.Kitchen will present Blues, Brews & BBQ on Sunday night; reservations are recommended.
Wally Lake Fest Food & Drinks
Be sure to bring your appetite! You won’t leave Wally Lake Fest hungry.
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 comes with complementary bottomless mimosas and is accompanied by live music. You can also enjoy rhythms from local musicians while you eat during select times at The Dock on Wallenpaupack, Gresham’s Chop House, Promised Land Inn, Wallenpaupack Brewing Company and Glass – Wine.Bar.Kitchen.
On Saturday, swing by the Cocoon Coffeehouse from noon to 6 pm to check out the High Noon Shelter Bar featuring luge, floaters and four delicious flavors.
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, which can be experienced Friday through Sunday.
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., and while you’re there, check out the Vendor Fair & Market hosted by Victims Intervention Program. 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 find local, handmade items at the Chamber of the Northern Poconos Open Market Fair held at the Lake Wallenpaupack Visitors Center.
To get the most out of a bash this big, you’ve got to plan in advance. Visit the WallyLakeFest.com or the Wally Lake Fest Facebook page to learn more about daily schedules, activity centers and places to stay.