The 2012 Jim Thorpe Olde Time Christmas Celebration

The Annual Christmas Parade and tree lighting at 6:00 on Friday night, November 30th starts the festivities. Then join the fun with our Christmas play, Historic District Ghost Walks, Gingerbread House Contest, expanded shopping hours, seasonal dinner specials at our many restaurants.

In addition, the mansions are open for tours and decorated for the season and ticketed entertainment takes place each Saturday night of Olde Time Christmas at the Mauch Chunk Opera House, one of the finest downtown music venues in Pennsylvania.

Enjoy a trip back in time

Jim Thorpe's streets bustle with the sounds and joy of the Christmas season, just like a scene from a Dickens novel. This year is Dickens 200th Birthday so we have added a few surprises!

Street carolers sing in chorus while horse-drawn carriages transport riders through the beautifully adorned Victorian streets. Decorated store fronts invite visitors inside to discover unique items and ideal gifts for their loved ones. Visiting Jim Thorpe during the holidays is like taking a step back in time to relive festive childhood memories—it's a Christmas of yesteryear.

Jim Thorpe’s popular Olde Time Christmas Celebration is spread out over three weekends: December 1-2, 8-9, 15-16. Grab your family, friends and loved ones and come to Jim Thorpe for lots of yuletide fun and merriment!

Jim Thorpe was just named one of the top Ten Small Towns in America by USA Today and Rand McNally and Christmas is a wonderful time of year to celebrate in a small town. The decorations, the cozy accommodations, the sounds of the trains and carolers, and relaxed strolling through our downtown will transport you to a different era.

Please check our news, events and sponsors tabs for more info on this year's Olde Time Christmas Celebration. We are updating everyday!

Friend us on Facebook and don't get left out of the updates!

Open House and Caroling

St. Mark's and St.John's Episcopal Church on Race street will hold an open house from 5PM to 9PM on November 30th.

There will be caroling after the tree lighting ceremony and refreshments.

Bring your Christmas cheer and enjoy the warmth of the holidays!

For more information contact Cheryl at 570 392-1447

Dimmick Memorial Library’s 5th Annual Gingerbread House Contest

Start planning now to enter your culinary masterpiece in our 5th Annual GingerbreadHouse Contest. Round up your family and friends, and spend some quality time in the kitchen creating a culinary work of art. Let your kids explore their creative talents and challenge their imaginations, or take some time out for yourself this holiday season and build the “house of your dreams.”

Categories: Child (12 & under); Adult (13 & Up): Group (Scouts, Class, Family,etc.)

Prizes (supplied by the Old Jail Museum):
$25 for first place in each category.
$10 to first 2 runners-up in each category

To Register: Click here to view/print registration form

Scrooge dollar redemption

If you have a Groupon, Living Social, Dealyo or SweetJack for Scrooge Dollars please bring the voucher to the Gazebo from 10 to 4 on Saturday or Sunday 12/1-16 to tread the voucher for your Scrooge dollars. They can then be used anytime at all participating merchants through 12?16.

Local Charities Looking for Donations

Card donations...

Our local Charities are looking for card donations for our men and women in uniform.

Please help those who keep us safe by spreading holiday cheer.

Drop off card donations to the train station before December 15th.

Mittens and Hats....

The Lionesses need mittens and hats for children. They can be dropped off  at the Train station.

Toys......

Toy Box for needy kids will be at the Train Station. All donations welcomed.

Open your heart and share the joy of the season  !

Festival of Lights Franklin Twp

The Franklin Township Lions 2012 Festival of Lights
A walk-through display of lights and music

Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays
5 P.M. – 9 P.M.

November 23, 24, 25, 30
December 1,2,7,8,9,14,15,16,21,22,23

Santa appears nightly.
Join us in the Christmas Cafe for great food and fellowship.

Admission
$4 Adults
$2 Children 4-12
Under 4 years of age free

We have a half million lights on display with 2 areas with a photo op. There is a covered bridge and 3 ponds one of which has a fountain. Come and join us for a great night of fun.

Trees, Trees, Trees

Trees, Trees, Trees!
Yes, this year we will have beautiful, local evergreen trees for sale starting on Friday before the parade.
Jim Thorpe is one stop shopping for everything Christmas; buy a beautiful wreath, get your tree, shop 'til you drop, tour the decorated mansions, take in the sights and sounds of the holiday and grab a bite to eat. This is the anti-mall experience, come share the holidays in one of the most beautiful small towns in America (thanks USA today and Rand McNally for the award!)
We'll see you all there!

Santa Show

Santa and Robert the elf entertain and interact with your children. Lots of fun for all! Skits, games, prizes, singalongs, jingle band North Pole fashion show and more. Each child will receive a reindeer bracelet from Santa . Don't forget your camera lots of memory moments!

Date: Saturday Dec. 1, 2012
Time: 12 noon and 2 pm
Place: Tolman House, Race St., Jim Thorpe
Admission: $5 for 3 years and up

Pet Parade Registration

Interested in signing up for Our Third Annual Christmas PAW Pet Parade? Click here to download the registration form.

Fee in $5 for the first pet, and $2 for each additional pet.

Our judges will be on the steps of the Opera house for the walk on the pet carpet. Strut your stuff in a Christmas Costume Parade and take home one of our many prizes.

Date: December 9, 2012
Time: 1 PM
Place: Mauch Chunk Opera House

Bach and Handel Chorale

Randall D. Perry, renowned composer of the Mass in B Minor, founded the Bach and Handel Chorale in 1984 to commemorate the 300th anniversaries of Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frederick Handel. They continue to perform the works of Bach, Handel, Perry and other masters. In addition to its two principal concerts each year and its seasonal Christmas and Lenten-Easter programs, the Chorale frequently presents special performances and benefit concerts throughout eastern Pennsylvania.

Best of the Road to March in Parade

The Town of Jim Thorpe was honored this year by being named one of "The Most Beautiful Small Towns in America" by USA Today and Rand McNally.

The people who helped make that possible, with their time and energy, will be marching in the parade at 6PM on November 30th down our beautiful main street. They will then be thanked for their efforts at the tree lighting in the park at 7PM. Come out and enjoy the celebration.

Jim Thorpe is the "most beautiful" in every season but really sparkles during the holidays!

St. John's Lutheran Church-5th Annual Creche/Nativity Display

St. John’s Lutheran Church, 319 South Avenue in Jim Thorpe cordially invites you to attend their 5th annual indoor crèche/nativity display being held Saturday, December 8 from 12 noon to 5 p.m. and Sunday, December 9 from 12 noon to 5 p.m. in their social hall at the church. There will be on display over 300+ different nativity items in a wide variety ranging from new to very old and many types of material such as pewter, wood, ceramic, bees wax, tin, cloth, celluloid and many more. Featured also are nativities from many different parts of the world. Please join us for this very uplifting event sure to add to the “Reason for the Season”. Light refreshments will be served and admission is free. A chair glide is also available. For a map to the church please go to our website at www.stjohnsinjimthorpe.org See you there!!

Olde Time, Dickens of a Christmas, Celebrates With Wreaths!

Deck your halls with live,  hand decorated, one of a kind spectacular wreaths! Our area businesses and organizations go all out to decorate their wreaths so they are truly amazing!

Holiday wreaths will be  ready to purchase at the Olde Time Christmas information center in the Gazebo at the Train Station on November 30th at 4PM before the parade and each weekend 10 AM to 4PM until we sell out!

You can also reserve yours online.

Prices are $15 with a bow, $25 decorated, $50 deluxe wreaths and we will also have a select few designer wreaths!

If you are an area business, organization or just a group of friends and you would like to decorate a wreath and join in the wreath decorating party on November 27th at Bear Appetit from 4 to 7. Please email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will send you the information on how to get involved.

Scrooge Dollars

Scrooge Dollars

What is a Scrooge dollar?

It is  legal tender in Jim Thorpe good during Olde Time Christmas

for you to spend in our sponsors businesses.

all the participating businesses are all listed on the back of the dollar.

How do I get in on it?

Come dressed as a Victorian Character and get rewarded

for helping us have a Dickens of a Christmas.

Bring an ad or press release to the OTC information center at the Gazebo, in the park, in front of the train station and get a Scrooge Dollar, one per person please.

The Mug Walk

The Mug Walk 12/1,12/8,12/15!

Grab one of our limited edition collector's mugs for $10.00 at the Gazebo at the Train Station from 10 'til 12

or until we sell out. update.. The mugs are now completely reserved but those not claimed by 12 noon

on 12/15 will be available for sale!

This year's mug is second in our Olde Time Christmas Collector's series. It is absolutely beautiful!

The mug is snow white with a lovely portrait of Charles Dickens in green print

Then stroll around the Historic District and get great treats from the participating businesses plus every mug has a  Scrooge dollar that you can redeem at our sponsors.

Wonderful things will be given out and great discounts for participating merchants and attractions from 11am to 5pm the first 3  Saturdays.

The list as of 11/24 is...

All American Kettle Corn

Antonio's

Chatalaine

Dreisbach House

Dugan's Store

Everything Nice

Galerie B

Gandy Dancer

Grammy Bea's

Libations Lounge

Harry Packer Mansion

Indian River Art Guild

Molly Maguire's Pub

Naturally Your's

Opera House Square Giftque

Rainbow's End

Rosemary Remembrance II

Scentimental Journey

Sellers Book Store

Soapathecary

Sound check Records

Swartz's Etchings

Through the Looking Glass

A card with a list of participants will be given to you along with the mug.

We always sell out, so you can pre-purchase on line at the website. Sorry on line sales are now closed, all are reserved.

Mug Walk: 11 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, December 1st, 8th and 15th.

If you are a Jim Thorpe business and would like to be a part of the mug walk, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .