The first full weekend in October means one of the largest seasonal events in the area, the Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival, is set to begin.

Held Oct. 7-8, 14-15 and 21-22, the event features scenic train rides, handmade arts and crafts, food, free live music, children’s activities, spooky ghost tours, headline acts at the Mauch Chunk Opera House, and seasonal specials from local restaurants, shops and galleries.

The times of the festival are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Music performances are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

According to the Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency, which runs the festival, “a nice selection of artisans and crafters” will be located in Josiah White Park as well as numerous food vendors.

Train rides will be available on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway. Wine tastings will take place at wineries throughout town.

Fall foliage visitors can vote in a scarecrow decorating contest taking place at various locations in Jim Thorpe. Votes can be placed at https://www.jimthorpe.org/vote.

The entertainment lineup includes Lexi Martinez & Skyler Stabin, Free Range Folk, Ben and Clara, Shannon Marsyada, Matt Filer, Steve Brosky & Jimmy Meyer, Coal County Express, Brad and Luke Local Mauch Chunk Boys, Li’l Anne and Hot Cayenne, Len Brunson + Doug, Johnny Cash Experience, Matt Miskie, Sharon Plessl School of Dance, Wes Holmes, Becky and the Beasts, TimeWhy? s, Timplistic, Shana Flynn Belly Dancing, Oldies Rockin’ Duo, Hip-Hop Belly Dance, Friends of Tom (Chris Younger), Renard Cohen and Bees Knees.

Stages are located at the Josiah White Park gazebo, Dimmick Memorial Library, the Mauch Chunk Opera House and Quarry Street.

Ghost walks are a large part of the festival.

“Ghost Walks in Old Mauch Chunk” depart from the Inn at Jim Thorpe on Broadway. A full schedule is available at http://www.jimthorperotary.org/GhostWalks.cfm.

“Old Jail Ghost Tours” will be held Oct. 14, 21 and 28 leaving from the Old Jail Museum, 128 W. Broadway, every 20 minutes from 6:15 to 9 p.m. No children under 12 are allowed.

Logistics are also in place, according to JTTA Vice President Michael Rivkin, who said the county is bagging meters near the train station along Lehigh Avenue to create an additional traffic lane in and out of the county parking lot.

Depending on the day, three or four shuttles will be running between downtown Jim Thorpe and Mauch Chunk Lake Park.

Shuttles will run continuously to the Mauch Chunk Lake parking area from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. VIP parking with a guaranteed spot is available for $20 per car.

A general admission lot on a first-come, first-served basis will cost drivers $15 per car.

“Since the county parking lot now extends out beyond the new Route 903 bridge, we have arranged for a shuttle to make two or three stops throughout the parking lot as well for the convenience of visitors.”

Scouts will be stationed at the main intersections downtown to help get visitors scheduled and assist with directions.

“Anything we can do to try and take the load off local police we will do so they can focus on traffic control,” Rivkin said.

Jim Thorpe Borough Council briefly debated Thursday night whether to close Race Street to vehicle traffic for the festival.

Councilmen Jay Miller and John McGuire both cited the narrowness of the street and viewed it as a possible safety concern if a large number of pedestrians are using the thoroughfare.

Because Thursday’s meeting was a workshop, no formal vote was taken, but the option to keep it open for local access only, meaning Race Street residents, or keep it open for the first weekend of the festival as a trial run still remain.

Visitors should get a good look at fall foliage, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

“The central region of the Pocono Mountains is beginning to show some good fall foliage colors,” states DCNR’s most recent fall foliage report. “Areas populated by northern hardwoods should be getting close to peak this coming week. Oak and hickory forest types still have a couple weeks until they hit their peak. Significant changes are occurring in the wetlands where red maple is showing different shades of red and some orange. Ash, birch, and sugar maple are showing brilliant shades of yellow and orange.

“Some of their leaves have turned brown and fallen early. Sumac, dogwood, and black gum have also started to show varying shades of red.”