LACKAWAXEN, PA — The 11th annual Zane Grey Festival will take place on Saturday, July 18 on the grounds of the Zane Grey Museum in Lackawaxen, which was once this Western novelist’s residence. Doors open at 10 a.m., and festivities continue until 4 p.m.

The museum is located at the naturally beautiful convergence of the Lackawaxen and Delaware rivers, which are said to have drawn Grey to the area in the first place because of his love for outdoors and fishing.

Many area visitors and residents may not realize that the father of the Western novel genre lived for a while right at their doorstep. Although Grey eventually moved to the West, where most of his stories are set, many of them draw on his experiences on the Upper Delaware River where he liked to fish and hunt. Indeed, his first published article was titled, “A Day on the Delaware.” He lived on the river from 1905 until 1918.

On offer at the festival will be exhibitions on arts and crafts, river safety, river ecology, a cowboy dentist, spinners and weavers, and a Civil War camp.

Music will be provided throughout the day by the Steamtown Ramblers and the Delaware Valley Opera.

Activities for children of all ages include panning for gold, a guided walk on Dolly’s garden path (a short walk around the property highlighting where the Grey’s garden was located), scavenger hunts and a ring of fire. There will also be puppets from around the Upper Delaware region performing, as well as two presentations, one on the history of the Erie Railroad and another on the history, culture and games of the Lenape People.

The museum and site are managed and owned by the National Park Service, and educational material will be available to learn about Zane Grey and the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. The museum will be open for all to roam the permanent exhibits that depict Grey’s life.

The Zane Grey Museum is located at 135 Scenic Dr. For more information, call 570/685-4871.