POTTSVILLE -- Hot drinks and cool ice sculptures at the 2025 Schuylkill Winterfest at Alvernia University Pottsville CollegeTowne will help families chase away winter blues.
Sponsored by CACL Financial, the festival is set for Saturday, Jan. 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the CollegeTowne parking lot and building at 500 Progress Ave. It's hosted by the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce for the second year.
January can be blustery and dull, so the festival is a great chance for children and adults to get out of the house and have a good time, said chamber spokeswoman Samantha Chivinski.
Featuring both indoor and outdoor activities, Winterfest helps support local businesses and non-profit organizations, she said.
"Schuylkill Winterfest creates an opportunity for residents and visitors to enjoy all that Schuylkill County has to offer. It creates opportunities for local businesses and nurtures a sense of community pride," said Robert S. Carl, Jr., Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, in a press release.
Activities for children include a snowball throwing contest from 11 a.m. to noon, and a tallest marshmallow tower contest from noon until 1 p.m. in the parking lot. Free airbrush tattoos will be available.
The Yuengling Beer Bar goes from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with commemorative Schuylkill Winterfest mugs available for sale.
As for live entertainment, contestants from the Greater Pottsville Winter Carnival will have a meet-and-greet from noon until 12:30, and local rock band Hooligan performs from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Horse-drawn carriage rides will be provided every 20 minutes by Leiby's Carriage Services from 1 to 3 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are available online, and check-in is inside CollegeTowne at the information center. Rides will be along Progress Avenue to Barefield and back.
Craft vendors and informational booths, meanwhile, will be set up inside the CollegeTowne building from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
An ice sculpture demonstration, from 11 a.m. until about 2 p.m., will be set up in the CollegeTowne parking lot, where visitors can find a variety of food trucks.
Speaking of eating, Mrs. T's Pierogi Eating Contest is open to contestants and spectators from 1 to 1:45 p.m. To become a contestant, contact Tony Merchlinsky at [email protected] or call 570-622-1942.
For the boilo contest, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., contestants will show off their traditional and non-traditional boilo recipes. Competitors can contact Cierra Abrachinsky at [email protected]. Ten traditional and 10 non-traditional entries will be allowed. The competition will be held inside. A limited number of tickets for tasting will be sold for $10.