Have you ever wondered why Americans commemorate Independence Day with fireworks? One year after the Declaration of Independence was signed, Philadelphia officials sanctioned a public reading of the document on July 3, 1777, followed by a night of entertainment that included bonfires and fireworks. Today, nearly every Pennsylvania town hosts at least one pyrotechnic display.
This year, Skytop Lodge is celebrating freedom with a red, white and blue July Fourth Weekend featuring family-friendly activities including outdoor games, movies, picnics and our signature s’mores marshmallow roast over a roaring campfire.
The fun begins on Friday, June 30, with a Wild West Dinner at our Horse Stables. Watch outlaws and lawmen saddle up in our authentic frontier town, then whip out their six-shooters for a duel straight out of an old Clint Eastwood movie. The accompanying buffet is a “best parts” re-creation of food in the Wild West, from grilled meats to comfort foods like a tater bar with all the fixins.
Monday, July 3, is the heart of Independence Day weekend at Skytop. Join us after sundown for live Dixieland tunes, barbecue treats and a fireworks spectacular that’ll light up the sky for miles around. Families from across the Poconos are welcome to come see the sights, but our Skytop guests are guaranteed the best seats in the house. Spring for the VIP Overnight Package and you’ll enjoy a nighttime stay in one of our luxurious king rooms, plus a welcome greeting and private reception with a bird’s eye view of the fireworks from our observation deck (beer, wine or champagne and hors d’oeuvres included).
If you’re looking to pack the weekend with extra pyrotechnics, here are a couple of other local fireworks displays to help you celebrate freedom with a bang:
Sunday, July 2
If one night of pyrotechnics isn’t enough, get a sneak preview on at Honesdale’s annual Fantastic Fireworks display at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 2 in the city’s Central Park. It’s only a 50-minute drive from Skytop Lodge, and includes merchandise vendors, live bands and craft activities for little ones.
Tuesday, July 4
The second day of East Stroudsburg’s 2017 American Freedom Festival features food trucks, live music, kid-friendly entertainers and fireworks after dusk. Admission is free, and the festival runs from 3-11 p.m. in Dansbury Park (about 30 minutes from Skytop). The Lighthouse Harbor Marina and The Chamber of the Northern Poconos will also light up the sky above Lake Wallenpaupack at 9:15 on Tuesday, July 4. The event is free, and parking/seating is available at nearby Wallenpaupack High School.
Whether you decide to spend the entire weekend fishing, playing games and dining at Skytop Lodge or explore the local community, there are plenty of July Fourth activities to keep you and your family entertained. Contact us today for more information on spending your Independence Day vacationing in the Poconos—just two-and-a-half hours away from where the Declaration of Independence was signed!