Wally Lake Fest

Lake Wallenpaupack — “Wally” to everyone who has spent a summer in the Pocono Mountains — turns 100 in 2026, marking a full century since the lake’s completion and official opening on July 31, 1926. Wally Lake Fest, the annual end-of-summer celebration organized by the Chamber of the Northern Poconos, could not have a more appropriate year to anchor its already deep community enthusiasm. The 2026 festival runs August 28 through August 30, with more than 60 scheduled events spread across the lake’s shoreline, downtown Hawley, and the surrounding communities. It is not a single-venue festival; it is a coordinated weekend activation of everything that makes Lake Wallenpaupack and Hawley worth visiting, compressed into three days.

On the Water: What You Can Actually Do

Wallenpaupack Boat Rentals (2487 Route 6) operates from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. through the weekend, offering pontoon boats, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards for independent lake exploration. Wallenpaupack Scenic Boat Tours, departing from the same location on the hour from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., runs a 50-minute narrated cruise covering the lake’s history and natural landscape at $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and $15 for children. The Paupack Sailing Club sponsors 1-hour sailboat rides on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The signature event of the entire weekend is Wallypalooza, held Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in front of the Tafton Dike — a floating concert on the open lake that draws listeners from both the shoreline and from boats, jet skis, paddleboards, and kayaks anchored offshore. It is the kind of performance setup that makes even recorded music fans reconsider live events.

On Land: Markets, Music, and the Mill

The Open Market Artisan Fair runs Friday through Sunday at the Lake Wallenpaupack Visitors Center (2512 US-6), covering pottery, photography, jewelry, specialty food purveyors, and regional crafts. The Hawley Farmers Market activates Saturday and Sunday in Bingham Park and CJR Memorial Park in downtown Hawley with fresh local produce and prepared foods. The Hawley Silk Mill (8 Silk Mill Drive) hosts an indoor shopping and dining experience through the weekend, with The Terrace at Cocoon Coffeehouse and Bakery running a midday cocktail service from noon to 6:00 p.m. The Boat and Outdoor Expo at Wallenpaupack Area High School (2552 US-6) runs both days with industry professionals covering the latest in recreational watercraft. Live music is genuinely everywhere: Wallenpaupack Brewing Company (73 Welwood Ave.) runs performers across all three days, Silver Birches Resort (205 PA-507, Tafton) hosts lakeside sessions each afternoon, and Jam Room Brewing Company in Greentown anchors the evening program.

Where to Eat During the Festival

The Settlers Inn (4 Main Ave., Hawley), open since 1989, is the most refined dining option in the area and an institution in Pocono lodging and cuisine. The kitchen runs a seasonal menu built on regional ingredients, and the Wally Lake Fest Brunch at The Settlers Inn is a festival tradition in its own right — book a table in advance, as the restaurant fills quickly on festival weekends. For something more casual, Ledges Restaurant (19 Falls Ave., Hawley) runs a Blues, Brews & BBQ program on Friday evening from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. featuring Dan Brother Band alongside BBQ specials and a featured craft pour from Runaway Train Brewery. Wallenpaupack Brewing Company’s Smash and Sip Night — build-your-own smash burger paired with a pint of their house beer for $18 — is the best value meal of the weekend and draws regulars who treat it as an annual festival ritual.

Points of Interest for Families

Lake Wallenpaupack was created by the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company in 1926 and covers 5,700 acres with 52 miles of shoreline — the 100th anniversary context gives the lake a historical weight that is worth explaining to children before arrival. The Palmyra Township Public Beach (2512 Route 6), directly adjacent to the Visitors Center, is the most family-accessible shoreline entry point and the site of Saturday afternoon live music programming. The Blooming Grove Township Volunteer Fire Department Blueberry Pancake Breakfast, a festival-within-the-festival that runs Saturday morning, is exactly the kind of small-town America event that children remember as adults. For a half-day activity away from the festival crowd, the Lacawac Sanctuary — a 550-acre nature preserve with a pristine glacial lake — offers guided walks and natural history programming that holds genuine interest for children aged 8 and up.

Book Your Stay on the Lake

Lake Wallenpaupack has a well-developed inventory of waterfront vacation rentals, including private dock properties, lakefront cottages, and larger homes suited to family groups. August is peak season on the lake and the festival weekend specifically moves quickly — search Lake.com for rentals on Lake Wallenpaupack well in advance of the August 28 start. Properties in the Hawley, Tafton, and Greentown areas place you within minutes of all major festival venues. For a quieter alternative, nearby Lake Wallenpaupack properties on the western shore tend to have less boat traffic than the main basin and work well for families with younger children who want calm water access alongside the festival activities.