POTTSVILLE, Pa. — Bundled up in layers, people made their way to downtown Pottsville for Schuylkill Winterfest hosted by the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce to get people out and about during the dreary and cold time of year.
Vendors and food trucks set up shop for anyone who dared to brave the cold.
Everyone had a different way to describe the temperature.
"I would say not as cold as the North Pole, but I would say the North Pole," said Donald Jalbert.
"It's bitter for me, what would you say? Freezing! Freezing. Yes," said Jennifer Gagliardi, Port Carbon.
This is the first Winterfest since 2020 when the pandemic put the winter tradition on pause. People Newswatch 16 spoke with found ways to keep warm, like hanging around burn barrels or grabbing something hot to drink.
"Right now, we are drinking spiked hot chocolate we got over here. The heaters are going the barrels are getting hot. Hopefully, they stay hot. Besides that, I don't know, it's pretty cold out, the windchill is killing us," said Mitch Robinson, Pottsville.
The burn barrels will stay hot thanks to these Boy Scouts from Troop 622 who are getting in some community service hours.
"We're taking the side by side out and putting wood into the burn barrels first of all so they can stay warm and have a good time," said Hunter Saltzer, Boy Scout Troop 622.
People could also come inside and warm up at the chili cook-off and a boilo contest.