December is one of the busiest months in the Poconos. Jim Thorpe turns into a Victorian Christmas town, the Santa trains run most weekends, the farm at Quiet Valley puts on its old-fashioned Christmas, and the ski resorts start opening as soon as it's cold enough to make snow.
Christmas Eve is Thursday, December 24 and Christmas Day is Friday, December 25, 2026. Here are the dates confirmed so far, plus what to know about this year's train changes after the October rockslide.
Jim Thorpe at Christmas
- Festival of Trees: Tuesday, December 1, 5:30 PM, in Memorial Park (the borough's 5th year).
- Tree Lighting Ceremony: Friday, December 4, the start of the holiday season downtown.
- Jim Thorpe's Olde Time Christmas: the first three weekends of December (5–6, 12–13 and 19–20), 2026, with horse-and-carriage rides, carolers and holiday shopping in the Victorian downtown. More details are still being posted.
- Getting there: Jim Thorpe is about 25 to 30 minutes from Albrightsville. Route 209 between Jim Thorpe and Nesquehoning closed after the October 31 rockslide, so check the road before you leave.
Sources: Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau: Jim Thorpe Christmas & winter · Jim Thorpe Borough: fall events (Festival of Trees) · American-Rails: rockslide and Route 209 closure (Nov 1, 2026)
Santa trains and the rockslide
On Saturday, October 31, 2026, a rockslide near Jim Thorpe reached the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway's tracks, and the railroad stopped its trains for a time. As of early November, trains are running again but leave from 1 Iron Horse Way in Nesquehoning instead of downtown Jim Thorpe while the tracks are repaired. Tickets for Jim Thorpe departures are honored in Nesquehoning, and you can exchange or refund them at 570-325-8485.
Santa Claus Special tickets for 2026 are on sale. The plan could change again as repairs go on, so check the railroad's website the week of your ride.
- Dates: November 27, 28, 29 and 30; December 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24.
- Departures: 10:30 AM, 1 PM and 3:30 PM.
- Arrive at least an hour early for parking, and pick up your tickets at the ticket booth with your email confirmation.
Sources: Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway: holiday trains · Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway home page · Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau: Nesquehoning boarding note
Quiet Valley's Old Time Christmas
Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm, at 347 Quiet Valley Road near Stroudsburg, holds its 36th Old Time Christmas on December 5–6 and 12–13, 2026. Guided tours of the decorated farm leave every 15 minutes in the afternoon and early evening. Gate prices are $18 for adults and $10 for ages 3 to 12, and tickets went on sale November 1. Groups of 20 or more should call ahead (570-992-6161).
Sources: Quiet Valley: Old Time Christmas 2026 (first weekend) · Quiet Valley: Old Time Christmas 2026 (second weekend)
Santa visits and resort holiday events
- Breakfast with Santa at Skytop Lodge: Sundays, November 29 and December 6, 13 and 20, 2026, 9 to 11 AM. $55 for ages 10 and up, $30 for ages 3 to 9, free for 2 and under.
- Great Wolf Lodge's Snowland: its holiday season (listed as November 23 to January 5) includes Santa visits on select days and activities for lodge guests at no extra cost. A 30-minute light show is part of a separate Snow Globes package you reserve ahead.
- Camelback: its winter events page lists Santa appearances through the holiday season, and its Hemispheres restaurant has served Christmas Eve and Christmas Day buffets in past years (2024: Christmas Day 3 to 10 PM, $59.99 for ages 13 and up).
- Kalahari has hosted Santa breakfasts and holiday buffets in past seasons. We hadn't seen 2026 dates yet when we checked, so look at the resort's events page.
- Light displays change from year to year. We couldn't confirm any 2026 drive-through light show dates in the area in early November, so check the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau holiday calendar closer to your trip.
Sources: Discover NEPA: Breakfast with Santa at Skytop (2026) · Great Wolf Lodge Poconos: Snowland · Camelback: winter happenings · Camelback holiday dining (2024)
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
- The last Santa train of the year runs on Christmas Eve, December 24.
- Many local restaurants and shops close on Christmas Day or close early on Christmas Eve. Resort restaurants are the safest bet for a meal out, so reserve well ahead.
- Buy groceries for the holiday by December 23. If you're cooking a big meal, ask your host about the oven, pans and how many people the table seats.
- If the ski resorts are open, Christmas week is one of their busiest. Buy lift tickets online in advance; Jack Frost and Big Boulder say tickets will be limited this season.
Sources: Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway: holiday trains · Jack Frost Big Boulder
Ski season in December
No Pocono resort had announced its 2026-27 opening day by early November. OnTheSnow's projections: Jack Frost December 4, Blue Mountain December 10, Camelback December 11, Shawnee Mountain December 11 and Big Boulder December 12. Opening depends on cold nights for snowmaking, so check each resort's website.
Jack Frost and Big Boulder are the closest mountains for the Lake Harmony, Blakeslee and Albrightsville homes; Camelback is about 20 minutes from Emerald Lakes.
Sources: OnTheSnow: projected openings
