| Event | When | Where | Good to Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stroudsburg Tree Lighting | Expected Fri, Nov 27, 2026, 5:30 to 7:30 PM | Courthouse Square, Stroudsburg | Free, Santa around 6 PM, tree lit at 6:30 PM |
| Poconos Lights Drive-Thru | Expected Thanksgiving to Dec 31, 2026, Thu to Sun, 5 to 9 PM | Poconos Park, Bushkill | Holiday lights from your car, Santa breakfasts on select dates |
| Santa Claus Train | Expected late Nov to Dec 24, 2026 | Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, Jim Thorpe | Weekend departures sell out, book early |
| Olde Time Christmas | Weekends in early Dec, tree lighting expected Fri, Dec 4, 2026 | Jim Thorpe | Tree lightings, Santa and holiday markets |
| Ski and snow tubing season | Usually early to mid Dec into March | Camelback, Shawnee, Jack Frost, Big Boulder, Blue Mountain | Our homes are 5 to 20 minutes from the slopes |
| New Year's Eve | Thu, Dec 31, 2026 | Resorts, casinos or your rental | Holiday weeks book up first |
| December weather | All month | Poconos | Highs around 40°F, lows in the mid 20s, about 8 inches of snow on average |
Yes. Winter is one of the best times to visit, with skiing and snow tubing at Shawnee, Camelback, Jack Frost and Big Boulder, holiday events from Stroudsburg to Jim Thorpe and fewer crowds than summer weekends. A big rental with a hot tub and game room makes the cold nights part of the fun.
Usually, but not every day. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for East Stroudsburg show about 8 inches of snow in December and 11 inches in January, with roughly 42 inches a season, and the higher elevations around Mount Pocono tend to get more. The ski resorts also make their own snow.
Pocono ski resorts usually open in early to mid December and stay open into March, depending on snow and temperatures, with snowmaking to back up the natural snow. Our homes are 5 to 20 minutes from Shawnee, Camelback, Jack Frost and Big Boulder, so you can ski all day and be back in the hot tub by dark.
The main Pocono ski resorts are Camelback Mountain in Tannersville, Shawnee Mountain near East Stroudsburg, Jack Frost and Big Boulder near Lake Harmony and Blue Mountain in Palmerton. Our East Stroudsburg homes are about 20 minutes from Shawnee, and our Tobyhanna homes are about 15 minutes from Jack Frost and Big Boulder.
It depends on where you will ski. Stay around East Stroudsburg for Shawnee Mountain, around Tobyhanna for Jack Frost and Big Boulder, or near Pocono Summit for Camelback. For a group, a private home beats a hotel: browse our Poconos rentals with hot tubs or our large group rentals in the Poconos.
The Poconos are about 1.5 to 2 hours by car from both New York City and Philadelphia, depending on traffic and which part of the mountains you are heading to.
Yes. Many of our Poconos homes are still available for Christmas week and New Year's Eve 2026. Enter your dates in the search above to see what is open, and book early, since holiday weeks fill first and can have longer minimum stays.
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