The Christmas season in the Poconos is highlighted by snow-covered hills and frozen lakes and filled with a wonderful display of colorful lights and decorations. Christmas tree lights have been one of the traditions of Christmas throughout the world. And, I can surely say, appreciating the Christmas tree lights is one of the much-awaited Christmas activities of the Poconos region during the Christmas season.
You have been celebrating Christmas usually in your own city, and it can get pretty boring. The Poconos is the go-to place for a Christmas retreat if you want to celebrate Christmas in the adventurous mountain landscapes instead of in the boring city.
And the unique Christmas tree light displays here will make your Christmas experience in the Poconos a truly memorable one. In this blog post, I will provide all the information you need on the tree light display spots of the Poconos region. Read on to find out about the exciting tree light displays in the Poconos mountains and enrich your Christmas experience.
Olde Time Christmas
A Christmas tree lighting ceremony happens at Josiah White Park in Jim Thorpe on the 2nd of December every year to mark the start of the Christmas season. Thousands of visitors flock to Jim Thorpe to witness the ceremony. The celebrations last for three weekends of December, and they have family-friendly activities to entertain you.
The festivities in Jim Thorpe include train rides with Santa on the Santa train, special events at more than 50 shops, family events and entertainment, gallery visits and boutiques. From my experience, Jim Thorpe has some of the best shopping options in the Poconos during Christmas. Some of the annual events here include gingerbread house displays, Christmas tree contests, and church tours. You can even take photos with Santa. Or you can just follow my yearly routine of simply walking through the old-fashioned towns of Jim Thorpe to watch the bright Christmas light decorations there. Let me list the brief details of the event below:
| Location | Josiah White Park |
| Timings | Varies, but usually starts in the evening |
| Schedule & Dates | December 2nd every year |
Belvin Family Christmas Light Show
The Belvin Family Christmas Light Show is a charity light show that features more than 186,700 lights. The Belvin family transforms their property in East Stroudsburg into one of the best Christmas tree light display spots in Pennsylvania. Over 153,000 bulbs light up the Belvin Family property. The main attraction of the property is the 186-foot illuminated arch.
People can check out the Christmas light displays from Thursdays through Sundays during the Christmas season. Entry into the property is free of charge. However, 100 percent of all the donations are directed towards United Way of Monroe County.
| Location | East Stroudsburg |
| Timings | N/A |
| Schedule & Dates | Sunday through Thursday |
Festival of Lights
The Festival of Lights Holiday Celebration at Woodloch is a half-mile wagon ride through a nature trail full of twinkling light displays. Rides are usually between 20 and 30 minutes long and start from The Inn at Woodloch. The fun ride ends with some hot chocolate and a visit from Santa himself.
Other attractions I have found in Woodloch include Gingerbread Wars, Yule Log Hunt, and Holiday Scavenger Hunt during the Christmas season.
| Location | Woodloch |
| Timings | Usually starts in the evening |
| Schedule & Dates | December through January |
Honesdale High School Holiday Lights
Honesdale High School in Honesdale demonstrates an annual Christmas light display in their parking lot. Supervised by their teacher, students from the Department of Light and Sound create an intricate display of lights accompanied by music from December 1. Students string together over 25,000 lights on the roof and walls of the school.
In the parking lot, people can tune their radio to 107.7 FM to listen to the show featuring 10-12 holiday songs and lasting about 30 minutes. The light display will flash and blink like an orchestra to the music, which is an amazing sight to watch. The show happens from 6 to 9 p.m. on December 15-20.
Donations are accepted even though the show is for free. Students will be collecting the donations as well as directing the cars in the parking lot. The donations received are offered to local charities in Wayne County.
| Location | Honesdale |
| Timings | N/A |
| Schedule & Dates | N/A |
Bethel Woods Center Peace, Love & Lights
You can visit the Peace, Love & Lights in Bethel Woods Center for the Arts for an extraordinary light show. This is a one-mile-long drive-thru Christmas light show that starts right after Thanksgiving. Visitors can just turn off their headlights and follow the well-lit and glowing path of the Christmas trees with lights.
Once the fun drive is over, you can visit the Holiday Hub, where you can dine with your favorite food by the fire, have holiday drinks and more.
After that, you can visit the museum at Bethel Woods for a lesson on the unique experience of the 1960s Woodstock festival through multimedia, personal stories, and historic artifacts.
| Location | Bethel Woods |
| Timings | N/A |
| Schedule & Dates | After Thanksgiving |
Downtown Stroudsburg Christmas Tree Lighting
The magical Downtown Stroudsburg Christmas Tree Lighting event is a community favorite during the Christmas season. The festivities in downtown Stroudsburg begin with the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. The tree lighting takes place at the Courthouse Square.
As the main events of the festivities, you can enjoy shopping, live performances, and even a ride on a horse carriage after the tree lighting. You can also have a visit from Santa at the Courthouse Square for holiday wishes and photos.
| Location | Courthouse Square in Downtown Stroudsburg |
| Timings | N/A |
| Schedule & Dates | From Thanksgiving |
Hawley Winterfest
Hawley Winterfest at Downtown Hawley is a special festival to welcome Winter. The celebrations begin with a parade from the town to Bingham Park at 11 am. The highlights of the Winterfest include bonfires, the Santa Parade, small business fairs, carriage rides and annual cookie walks.
The annual Artisans’ Fair at Hawley Silk Mill is a free fair to promote the unique art and craft items of local artists. You can purchase the many original handmade crafts from the fair and support the local artists. During the festival, you can also take an on-foot tour to explore six historic buildings in downtown Hawley.
| Location | Downtown Hawley |
| Timings | N/A |
| Schedule & Dates | N/A |
Conclusion
The Poconos is one of the best mountain areas with the most mesmerizing Christmas tree light displays you can ever see. The Christmas tree light spots listed in this blog post are not easy to miss. They are a must-visit for a blooming Christmas season experience for everyone.
Enjoy a blissful beginning to the Christmas and holiday season by visiting the treelight spots and participating in the events and festivals of the Poconos.
Experience the festive magic in the Poconos with the above list as a guide to enjoy the tree-light attractions of the Christmas season. If you are looking for the best vacation rentals for the Christmas season, you can check out our HolidayKeepers platform. Contact us for more details or queries.
FAQ’s
Q: Which are the attractive Christmas tree light display spots you can visit in Poconos?
The attractive Christmas tree light display spots you can visit in the Poconos are the Belvin Family Christmas Light Show, Festival of Lights, and Hawley Winterfest.
Q: At what hours are the tree light displays open for visitors?
The exact hours when the tree light displays are open can vary from location to location. Most of the displays are open from dusk till dawn, while the others have restricted hours.
Q: Till what period are the Christmas tree light displays open for?
The Christmas tree light displays are open from late November, usually after Thanksgiving, and remain open through early January.
Q: What are some exciting winter activities you can do in Poconos during Christmas?
Some of the exciting activities you can do in the Poconos apart from enjoying the Christmas tree light displays are skiing, snowboarding, ice fishing, snowmobiling, ice skating, and so on.
