LEWISBURG -- While some people are not enjoying the cold weather, many folks in Lewisburg are embracing it! The chilly temperatures are perfect for this weekend's Heart of Lewisburg Ice Festival.
An ice carver had an audience as he sawed away at one of almost 40 ice sculptures. The sculptures line Market Street in Lewisburg as part of the 12th annual Heart of Lewisburg Ice Festival.
"We started it because people have cabin fever and we wanted to bring life back into downtown at a time when it's after Christmas, everybody's in a slump. Now 12 years out, I'm like wow we did that," Linda Sterling said.
The ice festival brings hundreds of people to Lewisburg, including Diana Konkle of Muncy. Konkle says she enjoys looking at the ice sculptures in front of the businesses.
"One of the fun things is Brushstrokes has an ice sculpture of a dog out front and she just rescued a dog," Konkle said.
Speaking of the businesses, most offer 15% off coupons to people who attend the ice festival.
"The ice festival is one of our biggest weekends every year. Really? Yeah it is. Last year it was a really great day, especially Saturday," Kate Zelazny said.
One of the highlights of the ice festival is the Polar Bear Plunge. Some brave souls will jump into the icy Susquehanna River.
"Tomorrow it's supposed to be much warmer so it will be balmy," Sterling said.
Probably not "balmy" weather. In fact, most people say this is perfect weather for an ice festival.
"Could it be better to preserve ice? I mean, hello! You don't even have to think about it," Konkle said.
Even I got to participate in one of the best parts of the ice festival!
In addition to all of the ice, there is a Frosty 5K, chocolate tasting and more. The event runs through Saturday night in Downtown Lewisburg.
