Lack of snow may hinder Winterfest in Ohiopyle
The fate of this year’s annual winter-themed family day at Ohiopyle relies on Mother Nature, as a lack of snow could likely prevent it from happening Saturday.
According to Barbara Wallace, Environmental Education Specialist at Ohiopyle State Park, they will make a decision Monday or Tuesday as to whether they’ll keep or cancel Winterfest.
“If there’s snow, we’ll have it. But we don’t have snow now, and the forecast isn’t looking that great,” Wallace said. Winterfest is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday at the Sugarloaf Sledding Area.
“We’re still hopeful,” Wallace said with a laugh.
The annual event, which began in 2007, attracts thousands of people each year who come for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, horse-drawn sleigh rides for a fee, a raft race, outdoor educational activities and sled-dog demonstrations. The event is free, but donations are accepted to support the park and veterans programs.
Wallace said in all the years that they’ve held Winterfest, it’s only been canceled one other time.
“We had to cancel in 2016 because there wasn’t any snow,” Wallace said. She added that in 2010, they had to reschedule the event because of too much snow.
Last year, organizers of the event were again at the mercy of Mother Nature until a last minute blast of winter weather saved the event.
For this year, however, with the area experiencing above normal temperatures just one week before the event, it’s now a game of wait and see.
“We recommend that people call the park and ask,” she said. “Sometimes we have snow and others don’t.”