“It’s just a great way to break the winter blues and just get out of the house and have a good reason to be outside.”

That’s how Aki Susko of Mauch Chunk Events described the Winterfest Mug Walk, and really the theme of Winterfest in Jim Thorpe, held Saturday and Sunday in the historic section of town.

The signature event returned this year after a COVID break.

The first of the larger communitywide events in historic Jim Thorpe, thousands of people braved the chilly weather, the winds, and even a rather wild snow squall on Saturday as the entire town embraced the magic of the winter season.

The Mug Walk is a tradition with Winterfest. This year, for the first time, it was held both Saturday and Sunday. Mugs are ordered in advance for $30, and people stopped by the Mauch Chunk Opera House to pick up their mugs.

“We invite people to come and to purchase mug and a Mug Walk Map,” Susko explained, “and we provide a map of different shops that are participating. They go into these stores, and the stores have an option to give them a treat or a souvenir or something fun. It’s really nice because people come to town and get to go to stores that maybe that hadn’t been in before, and explore the town on a self-guided tour and get treats. We do it every year and it’s a lot of fun.”

People also were able to take horse and carriage rides courtesy of Crystal View Carriage Services, enjoy a 70-minute train ride through the Lehigh Gorge State Park, ride the Jim Thorpe Trolley, visit the many shops, galleries, and museums, and enjoy plenty of food and drink at the park and at various pubs, restaurants, and other eateries throughout the town.

Another crowd favorite was the variety of ice sculptures on display at the Josiah White Park and along Broadway.

Several artists carved the sculptures on location as onlookers crowded around to watch. In the park was a sculpture of a throne with the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway theme, and many people paused to have their photo taken sitting on the chair sculpture.

Further up Broadway at the Marion Hose Company, Marion Hose and Galen Glen Winery had an entire bar carved out of blocks of ice.

Events for children included face painting, photo booth (props will be provided for parents to take pictures of the children), movies, a giant floor maze, indoor snowball fight and more.