The Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency will host the 23rd annual WinterFest Presidents Day Weekend on Saturday and Sunday.

The celebration will feature train rides, family activities, special shopping and dining promotions, and popular Opera House performances.The weekend features an Amazing Jim Thorpe (formerly the Jim Thorpe Chamber of Commerce) fundraiser Mug Walk. Purchased mugs may be filled for free at approximately 20 participating shops.Mugs can be reserved online at

www.jimthorpe.org and then picked up either day at the downtown Visitors Center at the train station.Winter stocking caps will also be available this year.Magician Eddy Ray will present free shows for children at 2 p.m. both days at the Opera House on 14 West Broadway.Trains operate three times daily from the Jim Thorpe Visitors Center/Train Station into Lehigh Gorge State Park, at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Saturday from Jim Thorpe Station. Train rides are 70 minutes round trip. Operated by the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, more information is available on

www.lgsry.comIce and wood carvers will ply their trades in the downtown Josiah White Park next to the Jersey Central train station and also give demonstrations two blocks up the street at the Mauch Chunk Opera House Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Visit IceWork.net and Chainsaw.net for more information.The Mauch Chunk Opera House feature concerts on both Friday and Saturday evenings.On Friday, the opera house features the fine Steely Dan tribute band, Hey Nineteen, while that Saturday, Dead On Live, the popular Grateful Dead tribute, performs their unforgettable show.Tickets can be reserved by calling SoundCheck Records at 570-325-4009, the Opera House box office at 570-325-0249 or visiting

www.mcohjt.com where tickets can be ordered online.For more information call 570-325-5810 or visit

http://www.JimThorpe.org for more details.