One of the more enjoyable events of the season Jim Thorpe’s Winterfest 2026, which took place Saturday in the Historic District.

The fun began Friday night with the annual Live & Light Luminary Walk, sponsored by Horizons at 105 Race St.

The walk featured luminarias and other lights set up along Broadway and Race Street. Many local businesses, shops and galleries joined in the fun in lighting up the streets.

“This is all about the whole town coming together and putting together something that’s beautiful,” exclaimed Kate Troxell from The Y on Broadway. “It’s about enjoying the magic of the town together.

“It’s our first time participating in the mug walk; so, I’m excited to see how many people come through the doors.”

Duke Blauch, owner of the Y on Broadway, echoed Troxell’s sentiments.

“We’ve been ready for this. This is one of our busiest weekends of the year. The Opera House has a couple of good performances, we have the mini Cirque de Soleil at the (Mauch Chunk) Museum, ice carvings ... just a nice weekend,” Blauch said.

On Saturday, Winterfest kicked off in grand style with the annual Mug Walk. Participants ordered special mugs ahead of time and picked them up along with a passport and tote bags at the Mauch Chunk Train Station.

The passport gave them a chance to visit various business, shops, restaurants and galleries and get special discounts or gifts at each of them.

The Mug Walk is what drew Regina Sefing and Daniel Bakerofskie, both of Pottsville, to visit Jim Thorpe.

“This our third time visiting Winterfest,” Bakerofskie explained. “We love checking everything out. Pottsville is so close; but, we don’t get a chance other times of the year to get here.”

There were other events to help celebrate Winterfest. The trains were busy with tours, as were the trolleys. There were ice carving demonstrations, and ice sculptures on display around town and in Josiah White Park.

“Shimmer,” a winter themed circus, had shows set up at the Mauch Chunk Heritage Museum Saturday and Sunday.

The Mauch Chunk Opera House featured “Calamity Chang Presents: Saints & Sinners: A Burlesque Cabaret of Divine Desires.”

And a very special guest visited Winterfest: the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.

“We’re here in Jim Thorpe, we’re so excited,” exclaimed Maggie Dawson, one of the Wienermobile crew. “We’re going to be setting up some tours today, maybe try to make some valentines.”

Also parked nearby, PETA held a counterdemonstration with their “Hell on Wheels” truck. The truck’s driver, who asked not to be identified, indicated they would be at Winterfest to kick off their tour, then head to Allentown Sunday.

The warmer temperatures brought the people to Jim Thorpe for the celebration.

“We actually just bought a house about fifteen minutes way from here, near our family, and this is our first time coming into Jim Thorpe,” said Paige McCormick, visiting Winterfest with her husband, Jason, and their infant child, Sutton. “We had never been to Jim Thorpe, and we wanted to come and check it out.”