Luminarias, ice sculptures highlight JT winterfest
The streets of Jim Thorpe will glow with luminarias and ice sculptures during the town’s annual Winterfest this weekend.
The Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency event transforms downtown into a winter wonderland with live entertainment, ice carving demonstrations and the popular mug walk.
Ice sculptors will demonstrate their craft outside the Mauch Chunk Opera House at 14 W. Broadway on Saturday, with additional live carvings scheduled for Sunday. The intricate frozen displays will be scattered throughout the downtown area.
Entertainment options span multiple venues over the three-day weekend. The ELO Tribute Show will perform Friday night at the Mauch Chunk Opera House. Saturday’s lineup includes Saints & Sinners, described as “a burlesque cabaret of divine desires,” at the Opera House, and Tommy James and the Shondells at Penn’s Peak.
Families can attend Shimmer: A Winter Cirque Reverie at the Mauch Chunk Museum Cultural Center, with shows Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Live music will fill Josiah White Park throughout the weekend.
The Luminary Walk kicks off the festivities Friday evening from 6-9 p.m. The event features candlelit luminarias lining downtown streets, with local shops and restaurants offering seasonal specials and Valentine’s weekend deals.
The Winterfest Mug Walk allows participants to collect treats from local merchants for $30. Each ticket includes a commemorative mug, map and tote bag. Mugs must be picked up Feb. 14-15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Jim Thorpe Visitors Center inside the train station at 1 Susquehanna St.
According to a JTTA Facebook post Tuesday, Saturday mug walk tickets are sold out, though some Sunday tickets remained available. The agency noted that items will not be shipped and tickets are valid only for the day purchased.
The Jim Thorpe Trolley Company will operate Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway will run Friday through Sunday with 70-minute round-trip rides departing at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The railway recommends advance tickets and arriving at least one hour early for parking and check-in.
The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile will make an appearance Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pocono Biking.
Parking is limited during Winterfest. The main lot is the Carbon County Municipal Lot at 1 Susquehanna St., north of the train station. Rates are $8 per day Monday-Friday and $25 per day on weekends and holidays, though pricing may vary during festivals.
Additional parking is available at the County Lot at 41 Susquehanna St. and at Immaculate Conception Parish on West Broadway via the ParkMobile app. Street parking is available through kiosks, Flowbird or text-to-pay.
Red permit-only zones on West Broadway carry a $75 ticket for violations.