8 Winter Festivals In Pennsylvania That Are Simply Unforgettable
Don’t spend your winter stuck indoors. Get outside and enjoy some of the amazing opportunities that a fresh season has to offer. Here are eight amazing winter festivals in Pennsylvania that will make your winter epic.
Celebrate everyone's favorite (or, not so favorite) marshmallow candy with the annual Peepsfest. This is one of those only-in-Pennsylvania festivals that everyone ought to experience at least once.
101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
Experience a community tradition as Somerset celebrates their annual Fire & Ice Festival. The three-day annual event boasts a jam-packed schedule that includes a 5K Walk/Run, live entertainment, and marketplace that features local artists and vendors. Of course, one of the highlights of the festival is the ice carvings. Watch as professional ice carvers create their winter masterpieces.
Uptown Somerset Historic District, 150 W Union St, Somerset, PA 15501, USA
Do you want to build a snowman? Well, you'll find no better place than the Snowman in the Forest Festival
that welcomes guests for winter activities such as ice skating, sledding, carriage rides, hiking, and more – including a visit from Smokey the Bear, a chili cook-off, and happy dog contest.
Cook Forest State Park Office, 100 PA-36, Cooksburg, PA 16217, USA
The Warren County Winterfest is held annually in January at Chapman State Park on 4790 Chapman Dam Road in Clarendon, Pennsylvania. Hailed as the biggest winter event in the Pennsylvania Wilds and a perfect opportunity for the whole family to chase away the winter blues, Warren County Winterfest features outhouse races, dog sledding races, ice skating, a polar plunge, and a plethora of other family-friendly activities.
4790 Chapman Dam Rd, Clarendon, PA 16313, USA
Visit the enchanting town of Ligonier for the annual Ligonier Ice Fest at the Diamond. Ligonier Ice Fest is renowned for its ice sculptures. Nearly fifty of these arctic beauties are put on display in the town square and they draw thousands of spectators. Professionally crafted and intricately detailed, these sculptures are sure to dazzle and delight. More dazzling still, is watching the ice artists work their chisels and saws right on the town diamond. Like the town of Ligonier itself, the display is at once industrious and elegant. Please visit the Ligonier Ice Fest event page for details on this year's fest.
Ligonier, PA 15658, USA
Enjoy a plethora of family-friendly activities at Chambersburg IceFest, including a scavenger hunt, a Snowball Ball, a chili cook-off, food, ice sculptures, and the opportunity to watch ice sculptors at work. This is, hands down, *the* best best winter festival in Pennsylvania, and it's absolutely one to add to your calendar!
100 Lincoln Way E, Chambersburg, PA 17201, USA
The most iconic winter festival in Pennsylvania, there's no event quite as unique nor delightful as Groundhog Day at Gobbler's Knob. Find out whether we're in for another grueling six weeks of winter or if we'll be treated to an early spring when Punxsutawney Phil emerges from hiding to give his prediction to a crowd of adoring fans at Gobbler's Knob. Punxsutawney is one of those charming towns in Pennsylvania that's worth a visit on its own, and it's sure to capture your heart with its quirkiness and friendly spirit!
The Gobbler's Knob Visitor Center, 1548 Woodland Ave Ext, Punxsutawney, PA 15767, USA
Another "only in Pennsylvania" gem, this annual festival is good, old-fashioned fun that invites all to enjoy a nostalgic day of fun in the snow. While sledding is certainly the highlight of the day, sledders can also enjoy steaming hot chocolate and snacks to keep them energized.
Pleasantville, PA 16341, USA
What would you add to this list of best winter festivals in Pennsylvania? Did we miss any of our favorite fests? After you’ve added these fun winter festivals in Pennsylvania, be sure to check out our winter bucket list.
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Winter Festivals in Pennsylvania
November 26, 2022
What are some other things to do during the winter in Pennsylvania?
The above list of festivals are certainly incentive to get out and embrace the cold-weather months in PA, but there are so many other fun things to do during the winter in Pennsylvania!
- Hit the trails on one of these best winter hikes in Pennsylvania. Lace up your boots and hit the trails! There are so many wonderful trails in our state that become true winter wonderlands with a dusting of snow! These include hikes such as the Golden Eagle Trail, Warwick North Loop Trail, Forest Cathedral Trail, and Minister Creek Trail.
- Check out some frozen waterfalls in Pennsylvania. If the temperatures dip for a spell (as they often do during the winter in Pennsylvania), be sure to visit some of our state's finest frozen waterfalls! These include places like Cucumber Falls, Jackson Falls, Ohiopyle Falls, Dingmans Falls, and Freedom Falls.
- Enjoy a cozy getaway at one of these cabins with hot tubs in Pennsylvania. Listen, it's going to be cold during the winter in Pennsylvania; that's just how it is. So why not embrace the season and jump in -- feet first?! There are some glorious cabins with hot tubs in PA that offer guests the opportunity to soak in a steamy tub while taking in the surrounding landscape. This is perhaps our favorite thing to do during the winter in Pennsylvania!