There is little question that shops, restaurants and lodging venues in downtown Jim Thorpe will see a major economic boom as the town’s Fall Foliage Festival kicks off its three-weekend run this Saturday and Sunday.

But what may be even more important, acting Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency President Michael Rivkin said, is the festival’s long-term impact.

“I think this is arguably our biggest event because of how it sets up the rest of the year here in Jim Thorpe when it comes to tourism,” Rivkin said. “Our members tell us all the time that they have customers who come back for things like Winterfest and during those times of the year you would associate with being slow because they were here for the Fall Foliage Festival. This, in many ways, is the introduction to Jim Thorpe for a large amount of people.”

Like many big events, the trickiest part about the festival is getting parked and safely downtown.

In fact, organizers have made festival access a priority and have added a second official VIP parking area at Sam Miller Field in the “Heights” section of the borough. Guests can pre-purchase a $25 parking pass for the field, 122 North Ave., or a $20 parking pass for the lot at Mauch Chunk Lake, 625 Lentz Trail and have a guaranteed spot with free shuttle access to the festival.

General admission access to the lots will be available on festival days for $15 as space permits.

“Having a second lot is going to be a really huge bonus for us this year as getting people in and out as efficiently as possible is the ultimate goal,” Rivkin said.

“We have free shuttle access from both locations, but it’s also a five-minute walk from Sam Miller Field down to the festival.”

Rivkin said the festival will have something for everyone whether it’s shopping at one of the nearly 50 downtown shops or galleries, taking in a concert on one of five stages around the historic district, enjoying live entertainment from coal cracker and rock ’n’ roll to belly dancing, or dining at one of the many food trucks or restaurants in the area.

Train rides on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway will be available as usual and visitors can also experience an Old Mauch Chunk Ghost Walk sponsored by the Jim Thorpe Rotary Club or a Halloween ghost tour at the Old Jail Museum. Other tours available include the Asa Packer Mansion, Mauch Chunk Museum and St. Mark’s Church, among others.

Music will be featured on five stages including the new Race Street location this year. Other stages include Josiah White Park, Quarry Street, Mauch Chunk Opera House and the Bedouin Tent at the Stabin Museum.

Performers include Becky and the Beasts, Bees Knees, Brad and Luke, Carbon Drifters, Coal County Express, Cover2Acoustic, Free Range Folk, Friends of Tom (Chris Younger), Jay Smar, John Ambrose, KJ Reimensnyder-Wagner, LeighAnn Burke and Company, Len Brunson and Doug, Shannon Marsyada, Matt Filer, Matt Miskie, Mike Pilgermayer, Oldies Rockin’ Duo, Pat McGeehan (of Coal County Express), Renard Cohen, Sisters Arcana Belly Dancing, Steve Brosky and Jimmy Meyer, The Sound Birds, Teri Strongheart, Timplistic and Tom & Clayton.

“We really try to have a nice blend of music so you can find something whether you’re interest in a local group or a more regional name,” Rivkin said. “There is something for everyone to jam to.”

Visitors can also vote on Jim Thorpe’s scarecrow contest, which kicks off Friday with a winner announced Oct. 20. The contest will be located on Broadway from the traffic light at Josiah White Park to West Broadway at the Old Jail and include all of Race Street.

Rivkin noted that the Mansion House Hill near Jim Thorpe will be open all three weekends and festival traffic will not be impacted by the ongoing rock reclamation project.

The fall foliage forecast from the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau lists the projected date for peak color in Carbon County as Oct. 19.

“With cooler temperatures and shorter days, the trees are beginning to give a great preview of what’s to come in the next couple of weeks,” the forecast states. “Upper canopy Black Birch can be seen very clearly with the brightest yellow on the mountainside. You can start to see the orange and red of the Black Gum and Red Maple joining in as well. Many vines such as Wild Grape with a yellow color and Virginia Creeper with a deep maroon color are visible. These do a great job of filling in the gaps from the forest floor to the top of the canopy.”

For a full list of activities and vendors, visit https://www.jimthorpe.org/fall.

The festival will continue on Oct. 12-13, and Oct. 19-20.