Hawley Winterfest 2021 is bound to be the biggest one yet! Because they are making up for last year when the weekend festival was canceled.
The Downtown Hawley Partnership decided to expand the event. From one weekend-to a 10 day celebration.
“This event is so important for our community it really helps the small businesses the local restaurants the other establishments, our non-profits. We just have a lot of our community partners who have come together," Chair of Hawley Winterfest 2021, Kate Hayes said.
There will be many things to do in Hawley throughout the festival. From Horse and carriage rides, beer tours and concerts.
The festival is the kick off to the holiday season in the Poconos.
A large part of the week is used to showcase the history of Hawley.
The opening ceremonies were held at the Dorflinger Glass Factory Museum.
The glass factory brought many people to the area during the industrial revolution and helped build up Wayne County.
“It’s a rich part of the history of this community especially here in Wayne County. The Dorflinger Factory was the largest, but there were 30 different cutting shops, glass factories in this area. That sprang up as a result of the Dorflinger factory being here," Founder and Director of the Dorflinger Factory Mills Museum, Jim Asselstine explained.
On display at the museum during the festival are white house Christmas cards throughout the years. Dating back to the Nixon administration.
“We thought that was a wonderful way to help celebrate Winterfest. There is an interesting history to celebrating Christmas in the White House,” Asselstine said.
Family owned businesses are a large portion of the history in Wayne County
Many local shops in Hawley are looking forward to visitors during the festival.
“Basically we are all mom and pop shops in this area and to keep us going we need to keep the people here,” Owner of B. Madigan Jewelry, B. Madigan explained.
Business owners and Volunteers with the Downtown Hawley Partnership encouraging visitors to shop small all season.
“To help promote business for the shop owners plus keep Halwey going let people know Hawley is a place that they can come they can visit they can have a good time and there is something for everybody," Madigan said.
Winterfest kicked off today, but there will be many things to do in Hawley until December 12th.
The Inaugural Hawley Winterfest Parade will step off tomorrow, December 4th at noon.