Zane Grey Days return to Lackawaxen

LACKAWAXEN, PA — The life and times of celebrated western novelist Zane Grey, who lived in Lackawaxen from 1905 to 1918, will be the focus of the Second Annual Zane Grey Days Festival, Saturday, July 16 and Sunday, July 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Speakers and presentations will focus not only on Zane’s life and work, but on the times in which he lived. Tim O’Malley of Steamtown, for instance, will give a talk on passenger service on the Erie Railroad, and the Pike County Historical Society will discuss Pike County as a flourishing early 19th century resort community.

Grey’s film production company and his connections with the film industry of his time will also be featured. Many of his novels were made into films starring well know actors such as Buster Crabbe, Shirley Temple and Randolph Scott. A centerpiece of the festival will be the area debut of one of these films, “Roll Along Cowboy” at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday evening. This film, starring Smith Ballew and Cecelia Parker, is a vintage sagebrush saga about a cowboy caught up by love and his efforts to save his lady friend’s ranch. Prior to the feature there will be a short film biography about the author.

In addition to the speakers there will be a variety of diversions during the day, including face-painting, Wild-West themed activities, and a fireman’s parade scheduled for Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Sunday morning at 11:30 a.m. there will be a walking tour of the Grey property, and visitors are invited to join staff for a game of lawn croquet and afternoon tea at 2:30 p.m.

For more information call 570/685-4871.