Playing to a full house, the Allegheny Drifters perform at last year's January Ice Jam at the Butler Days Inn.

Gathering at this year's January Ice Jam once again will be people of all ages who enjoy bluegrass music.

The 16th annual event takes place Friday and Saturday at the Butler Days Inn, Route 8.

With more than 2,000 people in attendance yearly, the Jam offers listeners and musicians a hall where more than 500 chairs will accommodate the audience.

As many as 32 different bands will donate their time and talent, playing traditional, contemporary and gospel bluegrass music. Many even donate professionally recorded CDs of their own bands' music for raffles during the festival.

The Ice Jam will begin officially when the first band takes the stage at 7 p.m. Friday. The stage will again be alive with music starting at 1 p.m. Saturday. Bands will play 30-minute sets until midnight both nights.Admission is free. Food and beverages will be available.The Ice Jam originated 15 years ago as a way of bringing together hundreds of “bluegrassers” during the winter months. Typically, bluegrass festivals are held during the summer months in the outdoors just about every weekend.For more information, visit www.januaryicejam.com.

Playing in one of the impromptu jams that spring up in hallways and rooms are, from left, Vic King of Rivesville, W.Va., Terry Hall of Dawson, Dayton Holcombe of Grafton, W.Va., Joe Kisner of Windridge, and Bert Cochran of Webster County, W.Va., at last year?s Ice Jam at the Butler Days Inn.