February 2013
I love small town festivals. I also love the winter. Therefore, Winterfest in Jim Thorpe, PA was the perfect way to spend a weekend. Besides exploring Jim Thorpe for the first time, we went to an Allentown Band concert, watched ice carving and chainsaw carving demonstrations. We visited almost every shop in the town as we participated in the Mug Walk. What's a Mug Walk? You buy a souvenir mug and then take it to a bunch of shops and each place gives you some small item. We got a wide variety of stuff including soap, candy, cookbooks, garlic knots and even a cup of wine.
Heading out of Philly on a cloudy and crisp winter day
We finally start seeing snow as we head north into the mountains
The Lehigh Tunnel
The Mauch Chunk/Jim Thorpe train station greets visitors as you enter the borough
Chainsaw wood carving demonstrations were part of WinterFest
The Mauch Chunk/Jim Thorpe train station greets visitors as you enter the borough
Civil war reenactors livened up the festival
A raccoon begins to take shape
Civil war reenactors livened up the festival
Civil war reenactors livened up the festival
The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company (LC&N) Building
Carbon County Courthouse
Dimmick Memorial Library
St Mark's Church
Thanks to the cold mountain weather, Christmas wreaths were still alive in February
We went to a performance by The Allentown Band at the historic Mauch Chunk Opera House
First Presbyterian Church building was turned into an art gallery
Nothing completes an Winter Festival like ice carving
Nothing completes an Winter Festival like ice carving
Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railroad car
The Mauch Chunk/Jim Thorpe train station greets visitors as you enter the borough
Chainsaw carved projects for sale
We drank no absinthe, but had a delicious meal at Crave
A wandering brass quartet added a festive air to the historic streets of Jim Thorpe
Horse and carriage rides
Nothing completes an Winter Festival like ice carving
Even the dogs were bundled up
It wouldn't be a WinterFest without ice carving
It wouldn't be a WinterFest without ice carving
The ice formations on the mountains were almost as spectacular as some of the carving
The view from our hotel
The view from our hotel
A completed ice eagle
The 130 year old Hooven Mercantile Company Building now houses a gift shop
Gazebo in downtown Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe War Memorial
The Asa Packer Mansion
The deer statue is dressed for the season
My mother stays warm in her down coat
The Harry Packer Mansion
Kemmerer Carriage House
One of many picturesque homes in Jim Thorpe
The Harry Packer Mansion
Day 2 of the WinterFest brought new ice carvings
Day 2 of the WinterFest brought new ice carvings
Homespun was a cool little shop run by a woman from the Philadelphia area who can tell you exactly where each item in her shop comes from. I highly recommened stopping in!
Old Stone Row consists of many historic buildings, many of which now house cool sops
Day 2 of the WinterFest brought new ice carvings
St. Mark's Church looks medieval
It's not only 2-legged creatures that like a carriage ride
It's not only 2-legged creatures that like a carriage ride
The Country Cottage has delicious pickles
Every home is unique in Jim Thorpe
Nothing had to happen somewhere
It's amazing what these guys can do with a chainsaw
It's amazing what these guys can do with a chainsaw
It's amazing what these guys can do with a chainsaw
We went to a performance by The Allentown Band at the historic Mauch Chunk Opera House
3 Towers was a school, but it's now an apartment building
Carbon County Prison is now a museum. Four alleged "Molly Maguires" were hanged here in 1877.
Carbon County Prison is now a museum. Four alleged "Molly Maguires" were hanged here in 1877.
This house may not be painted an historically accurate color
Phoenix Hose Company No 2
Marian Hose Company No 1
We tried to stay at The Inn at Jim Thorpe, but it was all booked up so we just ate there instead
Another completed ice sculpture adorns the park
This chainsaw carved fish would be perfect a cabin someplace
This chainsaw carved fish would be perfect a cabin someplace
The "before" version of a chainsaw carving
Carving an eagle
Carving an eagle
Finally some snow flurries!
Putting the finishing touches on the eagle carving
I didn't see this one being carved
The finished chainsaw carved eagle
These real gas lamps make my compact fluorescent bulbs seem sad
We went to a performance by The Allentown Band at the historic Mauch Chunk Opera House