There is a reason Jim Thorpe’s annual mid-February celebration is called WinterFest.

Bundled up visitors took to the downtown streets Saturday and Sunday watching ice and wood carving demonstrations, taking in a magic show at the Mauch Chunk Opera House and moving briskly from warm shop to warm shop.Despite the subzero temperatures when you factored in the wind chill, organizers with Amazing Jim Thorpe were pleased with the turnout.By 1 p.m. Sunday, the tourism organization had raised around $5,000 in large part to mugs it was selling inside the Jim Thorpe Train Station, Rainbow’s End on Broadway and Horizons on Race Street.“People buy the mugs and then go to one of around 20 participating businesses and if they show them the mug, they’ll get things like chocolate, candy or coffee,” Dan Hugos said. “I’m actually a bit surprised at the numbers given how cold it is. This is a very family-friendly festival. We offer a magic show at the Mauch Chunk Opera House. The ice and wood carvers have been rotating between Josiah White Park and the Opera House.”Those hoping to catch a ride on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway were in luck Saturday, but a malfunctioning train generator Sunday left them inoperable.The Valentine’s Day train from Port Clinton to Jim Thorpe did make it into town, however, and Shamokin’s Jim Reeser was one of the passengers on board.“We are having a great time and just had a meal at Molly Maguire’s Pub,” he said. “I’ve been walking around and the sculptors are really amazing. It’s a great place to be and I think if you get inside every now and then to warm up, the cold really doesn’t bother you.”Hugos estimated 1,000 to 1,500 people attended the festival over the two days.Neil Trimper, of Sculpted Ice Works in Lakeville, Pennsylvania, once again put his talents on display sculpting an Indian head and other designs out of ice.On Sunday afternoon, he prepared to try his hand, or saw, at a unicorn.“I’ve been sculpting for 20 years,” Trimper said. “I was working as a cook and I saw one of the chefs carving ice. I asked him if he would show me how to do it and I picked it up.”Practice makes perfect for anyone hoping to take up the hobby.“It’s like anything else, if you’re determined and you keep at it, you’ll become good at it,” Trimper said. “It’s just like learning to dance or playing a sport.”WinterFest is all about marketing, Hugos said, and he feels the event continues to accomplish its goal.“Specifically with the Mug Walk, you want to get people in the businesses, because you never know when they’ll come back,” he said. “They might not spend a lot of time today, but maybe they’ll come back when it’s warmer. I think what a lot of people are finding out though is that Jim Thorpe is a nice place to come any time of year.”