HONESDALE, PA — Harvest and Heritage Days are back to celebrate autumn and agriculture—not to mention the shopping available in the borough.

The event takes place on Saturday and Sunday, October 7 and 8, in and around Main Street.
“It’s a fun two days for people to check out the town,” said Sandi Levens, executive director of the Greater Honesdale Partnership.

The partnership works with nonprofits and local government to promote and encourage business development in the community.

Thirty-six vendors will set up their wares along Main Street—they’ll be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.—and “there are food trucks, artisans and crafts.”

“We encourage everyone to shop and support the town,” Levens said.
But there’s more.

You can hop on for the annual hayride. It’s happening all weekend between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. starting at 7th Street and Main.

Axe throwing shows off skill and strength. Now an international sport, axe throwing probably started with lumberjacks—of which the area had plenty.

You can admire the skill of local woodcarvers all weekend.

And on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., “There’s a corn-shucking contest for the kids,” Levens said.

Need a decorated pumpkin? They’ll have pumpkins to paint.

And there’s live music all weekend at the pavilion in Central Park.

The borough, haunted

Don’t forget the Ghost Tours, which also take place that weekend.

“Honesdale has such a great history,” said Levens. And some of it is kind of spooky.

The candlelit ghost tours happen between 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Each tour lasts between 30 and 45 minutes. “It’s a guided walk,” Levens said. “The guides tell stories about Honesdale’s fires and floods, the haunted buildings. And the guides are people who are really familiar with Honesdale.”

“There are all-new stories,” she said. “And the Old Stone Jail will be open.”

Don’t forget to ask about Hotel Wayne, where some of the guests and staff might have lingered after death.

“We’re doing so much fun stuff this year,” said Honesdale Rotary president Dana Scott.
Rotary’s popular Pet Paw-rade is back, and this year it takes place in Central Park on Saturday, October 7, making it part of the borough’s celebrations. Setup begins at 10 a.m., registration and lineup start at 11 a.m., and the parade kicks off at 11:30 a.m.

The cost is $15 for one pet, $20 for two and $25 for three or more. The proceeds benefit the Dessin Animal Shelter.

“It’s so much fun,” said Scott. The pets dress up and can compete in contests such as the Cutest Couple and Best or Funniest Costume.

This year, Scott wanted to add games.

Who knew that pets could be convinced to play games?

“I know!” she said.

But her dog proved her wrong in a contest benefiting a dog rescue group. “I didn’t think he’d bob for apples—but he won.”

So the Pawrade this year will take the concept and run with it. Your pets can try the best treat-toss catch, the longest sit-stay and the best butt wiggle.

Prizes have been donated, and the whole Pawrade endeavor has been sponsored by Fins and Feathers, Pet Central, Wayne Memorial Hospital, Tractor Supply, Chewy and Honesdale Agway.
“It’s in a good cause,” Scott said, “and it’ll make a difference. That’s what Rotary’s all about.”

As the leaves fall
All in all, Harvest and Heritage Days “is a fun two days, and people can check out the town,” Sandi Levens said. “Honesdale has so much to offer.”

How’s business?
HONESDALE, PA — “There’ve been some shifts,” Sandi Levens, executive director of the Greater Honesdale Partnership, said. “Investors have purchased buildings, new shops are opening.”
Indeed, change is afoot. She especially cited the new Runaway Train Brewery at 2 Chapel St., and the new Wayne County Arts Alliance building at 959 Main St. The craft brews and train-themed restaurant have powered the old Irving Cliff Brewery, and the new business “is such an asset,” she said—great for Honesdale and its visitors.
And the arts alliance is another change for the better. “It’s so wonderful to have art on Main Street.”

Then there is the Route 6 Mall. T.J. Maxx is now in the old Kmart space, and Planet Fitness is opening where the movie theater had been.

Change is ongoing in the borough too. “There’s the revitalization of Main Street,” she said. “Honesdale is still up and coming.”

The Greater Honesdale Partnership is working on a large-scale project to improve the downtown area, as well as a gateway project (for which the borough unanimously agreed to apply; see Owen Walsh’s story, “Revitalizing Honesdale’s Gateway, August 10-16)—and other changes are in the works.

A $311,000 grant from the Commonwealth Finance Authority will improve conditions for pedestrians, plus provide connections between the Lackawaxen River Trail and Main Street.
A sidewalk will be added and lighting will be improved—critical in an area where walkers have worried about safety for some time. A bike lane will be added too.

The project design, according to the RFP, would also include benches and bike racks.
“There’s a lot going on,” Levens said. “We’re very excited about everything that’s happening.”
—Annemarie Schuetz