CARBON COUNTY, Pa. — The trains are running, and downtown Jim Thorpe is decked out with pumpkins and corn stalks.
Visitors are making their way to the area to take in the fall views.
"We just wanted to come check it out. I heard some really good things over the years and thought now would be a good time to check out the foliage, enjoy the beautiful weather, and take a train ride," said Cathy Methot of Long Island.
The first weekend of October marks the first of three Fall Foliage Weekends.
The Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency expects thousands of visitors to flock to the area for the festivities. One popular attraction is the trolley rides. Owner Ed Humphreys says to be prepared for large crowds all month long.
"Traffic can be quite challenging, and if you have a booking, if you want to do the train or the trolley or some of the events, I highly recommend you try to get down here at least an hour before whatever you have planned here," said Humphreys.
"I think we have 30 million people within a 3-hour drive of Jim Thorpe, and in the fall, it feels like they are all here. It'll be busy with bands playing, vendors, stuff like that," said Randall Sellers.
Business owners like Randall Sellers at Sellers Books say the summer months were booming, and the borough is gearing up for the next season of tourism.
"It carried on into September, and we had a week or two where it slowed a bit during the week, but we are already into our fall foliage season, and it is busy busy," explained Sellers.
With all of those visitors, business owners say the big thing for visitors to plan is where to park.
"The county parking lot will probably be jammed up at 9 or 10 in the morning. However, they are parking people at the lake up at Mauch Chunk Lake, and white water rafting is offering parking up at their facilities and then bussing in for $5 per person," said Humphreys.
Fall Foliage Weekends will be held October 5th and 6th, 12th and 13th, and 19th and 20th in Carbon County.
You can find additional details here.