Jim Thorpe is well-known as a tourist destination, but organizers of a new monthly event hope to draw out residents a little closer to home.

The Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency and Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corporation have created a joint promotion, "Third Thursday," to encourage local residents to shop, enjoy attractions and dine in the county seat.Each third Thursday of the month, starting in April and running through September, participating businesses will extend their hours until 8 p.m. and offer certain specials."We really wanted to think of something to do to say thank you to our local residents," said Third Thursday committee chairwoman Marianne Rustad, of Conjured Soap Boutique."Tourism is great but our locals deal with a lot in terms of traffic and crowds, so we decided to take a weeknight and encourage businesses to stay open so people can come after work and kind of have the town to themselves."According to Rustad, a farmers market, courtesy of Foothill Farm and Blue Mountain Farm Market, will be located in Josiah White Park.An art show featuring artwork from the Jim Thorpe School District is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mauch Chunk Ballroom.According to the event's website, participating businesses include Conjured Soap Boutique, Stonekeep Meadery, Harry Packer Mansion, Pocono Biking, Marianne Monteleone Designs, Nature's Trail, Dimmick Memorial Library, Black Diamond Gallery, Sellers Books & Fine Art, Mauch Chunk Ink, Somersault Letterpress, Through The Looking Glass, Mauch Chunk Opera House, Dreisbach House, Big Creek Vineyard, Mauch Chunk 5 & 10, Shears2You Organic Hair Salon, Naturally Yours, Broadway Pub, Down the Rabbit Hole, The Gem Shop, Rosemary Remembrances II, Jim Thorpe Massage and Wellness, and Mulligans.Participating businesses pay $60 if they are a member of the Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency or Carbon County Economic Development Corporation and $75 otherwise.All of the fees paid by participating businesses go toward advertising and promotional items.The event has a theme each month including Spring Fling, Hometown Heroes, Cruisin into Summer, Christmas in July, Dog Days of Summer, and Haunted Jim Thorpe."I think it's important to show people you don't have to go to Allentown to shop or eat or even get a haircut," Rustad."We have such a wide variety of businesses right here in Jim Thorpe. We're hoping to turn this into an annual event."For more information visit the Third Thursday website at

https://www.jimthorpe.org/third-thursdays.