Jim Thorpe is gearing up for another season of its renowned Fall Foliage Festival, which will take place every Saturday and Sunday in October.

A local tradition for over 30 years, the festival, according to event organizers, attracts thousands of visitors who come to enjoy the colors of autumn, the charm and history of the town, and the variety of activities and entertainment offered.

“I think we’re in great shape,” Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency President James Dougher said of the event. “We’ve had great planning meetings with the borough, Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau and a variety of other agencies. We’re hoping the weather holds out for us and look forward to a great event.”

Festival hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is free, but fees apply to some activities.

The festival will feature free live music on four stages scattered throughout the historic district, showcasing local and regional talent in genres ranging from folk and rock to jazz and blues.

Saturday’s entertainment includes the Hex Highway Blues Band in the downtown gazebo at noon, Shenanigans with Kim Rose on the Quarry Street stage from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. followed by Brad and Luke from 3 to 5:30 p.m., Peaches and Wine Bowie on the Race Street stage at noon, and Honey and Nuts on the Mauch Chunk Opera House steps at noon.

Sunday’s entertainment includes the PA Villagers Polka in the downtown gazebo at noon, EchoSphere on the Quarry Street stage at 11 a.m. followed by Len Brunson and The Humidors at 2 and Jam at 3:30 p.m., Alex and Naomi on the Race Street stage at 11 a.m. followed by John Ambrose at 2 p.m., and Teacher and the Poet on the Mauch Chunk Opera House steps at 11 a.m.

According to the Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency, which organizes the event, visitors can also sample a diverse selection of food vendors, with an emphasis on fresh and locally-sourced offerings. Vendors in Josiah White Park will offer crafts, souvenirs, and other items.

Other options for guests include a horse and carriage ride through the streets of Jim Thorpe, a trolley tour for an overview of the town’s attractions, or a historic train ride courtesy of the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railroad.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the peak foliage season in Jim Thorpe is expected to be around Oct. 13.

“The region is approaching best color,” according to a DCNR update on Thursday. “Sweet birch, red and sugar maple, poison ivy, Virginia creeper, and ash are all well into their transition for the fall.

Ash is currently changing to a distinct yellow-orange while staghorn sumac is vibrant red in some areas. Exposed areas are showing the most vivid fall colors.”

Options for festival parking include the Carbon County lot, 1 Susquehanna St., at a cost of $12 per day on the weekends, on-street parking along Broadway at $1 per hour from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., reserved parking at Mauch Chunk Lake for $25 per vehicle which includes two round-trip shuttle passes, Sam Miller Field on North Avenue (except Oct. 28) for $20 a vehicle including a shuttle, the Immaculate Conception Parish parking lot on West Broadway for $25 cash or $27 credit card per vehicle on weekends. Any vehicles in the parish parking lot past 9 p.m. will be towed.

“The county is helping with parking at the lake and that is a nice addition this year,” Dougher said. “They have 100 spaces. They are using three buses to do the loop. The goal is to have one picking up, one dropping off and one kind of in the middle.”