Fourth of July by Lake Wallenpaupack: 2026 Mini-Guide

Fireworks and parades

Four shows within a short drive over two nights, so you can pick a spot or catch more than one.

Friday, July 3, Honesdale marks America’s 250th at Central Park, 901 Church Street, starting at noon, with vendors and music through the afternoon and fireworks from Irving Cliff around 9:30, rain date July 11. Hosted by the Greater Honesdale Partnership, 570-253-5492.

Also Friday, July 3, the Lake Ariel Volunteer Fire Company holds a parade at 7 p.m. and fireworks at dusk at Lake Ariel Beach, 1381 Lake Ariel Highway, with food and drink for sale at the fire station beforehand, free, rain date Sunday, July 12.

The Lake Wallenpaupack fireworks go off at dusk on Saturday, July 4, around 9 p.m., over the lake, run by the Chamber of the Northern Poconos since 1975! Seating and parking is available at Wallenpaupack Area High School, 2552 Route 6 in Hawley. The parking lots open at 6:30. No parking is allowed along Routes 6, 590, or 507. Classic Hits 105.3 carries the music, the rain date is Sunday, July 5, and it is free.

The Hawley Independence Day Parade steps off at noon on Saturday, July 4, from Spring Street down Main Avenue to Bingham Park, followed by a community picnic with free hot dogs and live music. Easy to walk.

For a full day of it, Silver Birches on Lake Wally (aka Wallenpaupack) will be hosting an all-day celebration on July 4 from 2 to 10 p.m. with live music, vendors, food trucks, and tiki boat tours, plus an awesome lake view for the fireworks. The resort is at 205 Route 507, Hawley, 570-226-4388.

Want more options? The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau lists more 2026 fireworks displays around the region.

Live music

Harmony in the Woods, an outdoor stage in the trees at 19 Imagination Way in Hawley, has a busy week ahead. Bywater Call, southern soul and roots rock, on July 3; an ABBA tribute on July 4; Sam Reider and the Human Hands on July 10. Shows tend to sell out, so buy ahead. 570-503-6685.

The Dorflinger Wildflower Concert Series opens this holiday weekend at the Dorflinger-Suydam Sanctuary in White Mills. An Eagles tribute convert will start the 2026 season. Concerts are at 6 p.m. in the outdoor amphitheater, you can bring a lawn chair or a blanket. Bring your own food and drinks; the series runs various evenings into mid-August. 570-253-5500.

The Friday Farmers Market

The Hawley Farmers Market is at Bingham Park on Friday, July 3, from 2 to 5, same as every Friday through October. Find produce, eggs, baked goods, honey, maple syrup, flowers, and crafts. A good first stop before the holiday cooking starts.

Out on the water

Lake Wallenpaupack is the main event any summer week, and you do not need to own a boat to get on it.

Lake Wallenpaupack Boat Tours and Rentals runs 50-minute scenic tours and rents pontoons, kayaks, and paddleboards, down by the dam next to Gresham’s Ice Cream Shoppe.

New Wave Marina (formerly Pine Crest Marina) rents pontoons, deck boats, and speedboats, with captained options if you would rather not drive. 570-857-1850.

1st Klas Marina in Tafton has pontoon rentals and has been on the lake for decades. 570-226-6276.

Pocono Action Sports, at Lighthouse Harbor Marina in Greentown, has pontoons, slide boats, and more, captained if you want.

Two places to stretch your legs

Promised Land State Park in Greentown, 100 Lower Lake Road, has two lakes, a swimming beach, boat rentals, and roughly 50 miles of trails with the surrounding state forest, open sunrise to sunset. 570-676-3428. Dogs must be leashed.

Shuman Point Natural Area near Hawley is another option, a roughly three-mile loop along an undeveloped stretch of the Wallenpaupack shoreline. Trailhead parking is at 1237 Purdytown Turnpike (Route 590) in Lakeville. It is rocky in spots, so wear real shoes (like sneakers, not sandals or flip flops!). Leashed dogs are welcome. It should go without saying, but please pick up after your doggo and bring the waste with you for disposal off the trail.

There is almost always something fun to do in Northeastern PA’s Pocono Mountains. Visit Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau for more ideas.

Common questions

When are the Fourth of July fireworks around Lake Wallenpaupack in 2026?

The Lake Wallenpaupack fireworks are Saturday, July 4 at dusk, around 9 p.m., at Wallenpaupack Area High School in Hawley, with a July 5 rain date. Honesdale and Lake Ariel both hold their shows the evening of Friday, July 3.

Where can I rent a boat on Lake Wallenpaupack?

Several operators rent pontoons, kayaks, and paddleboards in season, including Lake Wallenpaupack Boat Tours and Rentals, New Wave Marina, 1st Klas Marina, and Pocono Action Sports. Many also offer captained trips if you would rather not drive.

What is there to do around Lake Wallenpaupack besides the holiday events?

Plenty year-round: scenic boat tours and rentals on the lake, hiking at Promised Land State Park and Shuman Point, live music at Harmony in the Woods and the Dorflinger Wildflower series, and the Hawley Farmers Market every Friday through October.

Dates, times, and hours shift, especially around a holiday, so confirm with the venue before you head out.

Thinking About a Place of Your Own on the Lake?

Up for the weekend or looking to make it permanent, I am happy to answer questions about specific properties or communities around Lake Wallenpaupack and the Northern Poconos.

Own the View. Love the Life.