HAWLEY, PA — This weekend, Hawley Borough shines. 

Friday through Sunday, December 8 to 10, is all about Winterfest, and that means the bonfire (6 p.m. on Friday at Bingham Park on Main Avenue), the parade (11 a.m. on Saturday, starting at Spring St.) and the handbell concert (2 p.m. on Sunday at the United Methodist Church, 315 Maple Ave.).

That’s just for starters. Businesses will hold their own concurrent events, the library will hold a book sale, and you’ll find artisan fairs galore.

What’s happening this year

Back in 1999 at the first Winterfest, townspeople donned Victorian garb. “We wanted to celebrate the Victorian era, going into the 20th century,” said Elaine Herzog, owner of Miss Elly’s Antiques & Such and a borough councilperson. 

This year, they’re bringing back the history tour on Saturday and Sunday, December 9 and 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Indoor tours were suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic.) 

The locations will be a surprise—but “they’re venues you don’t usually have access to,” Herzog said. They’re places steeped in the history of Hawley, and who can resist a chance to see behind the scenes?

Tickets for the history tour cost $20.

For many, the holidays mean music—and we don’t mean the kind that’s been piped into your ears since before Thanksgiving. Various churches are holding performances from traditional carols to jazz—and the Ritz Theatre (512 Keystone St.) has a jazz concert too. (See “Music for the holidays” at riverrepoter.com/arts-leisure.)

There are don’t-miss performances. The Ritz annual Christmas show is held at 2:30 p.m. on both  Saturday and Sunday at the Ritz Theatre (512 Keystone St.). It’s not just a terrific family-friendly program, but kids can expect a visit from Santa too.

For Christians, the live Nativity, a guided tour of the road to Bethlehem, is a reminder of what Christmas is about. 

Businesses will host their own events—Hawley’s own North Pole at B. Madigan Jewelry and Gifts (all three days from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 409 Main Ave.)—and the Hawley Silk Mill and the Hawley Hub have artisan markets and craft fairs during the festival. 

The library, of course, is open (103 Main Ave.) and the theme is books: there’ll be a book sale, and local authors will talk about their own work. 

And in the realm of “you never know”—if the weather cooperates and gets cold, the ice rink will be open for business, Herzog said.

There’ll be horse-and-carriage rides on Saturday and Sunday (12 noon to 4 p.m.; meet at Miss Elly’s Antiques & Such, 518 Church St.) and horse-and-wagon rides on Saturday, same time and meet at the same place. Just for that old-time feeling, and a chance to see Hawley at a slower pace.

See “Want the full schedule?” at upper left for a link to the full details. 

Because this makes a difference

Just listing everything doesn’t really express the meaning of small-town events such as Winterfest. 

Winterfest is about what really matters. 

“It’s about tradition,” said Herzog. “It’s about bringing in holiday cheer.” 

And about bringing people together.