Moraine Winterfest embraces the cold with outdoor fun
MUDDY CREEK TWP — Temperatures were around -10 degrees in the early hours of the morning Saturday, Jan. 31. Yet by noon, people were embracing the temperatures at Winterfest at Moraine State Park.
The annual event, put on by the Moraine Preservation Fund, is never called off on account of weather. The event, which normally draws thousands, shows off the beauty of the outdoors during a time some would not think to explore a state park.
“I’ve been stuck inside for so long, it’s just nice to be out here. I try to come here often, I just haven’t too much lately,” said Wanda Couch, a local resident. “I love hiking. I love watching the boats. There’s so much to look forward to. The park has a lot of resources. It’s a beautiful park.”
Over one million people visit Moraine State Park every year, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resource’s website.
Cassandra Dixon, vice president of Moraine Preservation Fund, said attendance for Winterfest is normally weather dependent, with anywhere from as high as 5,000 people to as low as 1,500.
“The purpose of this event is not to fund raise, it’s to simply remind people the park is here all winter, and the park is a place to be even on days like this,” Dixon said. “As cold as it is, there’s over a foot of snow on the ground, the park is available all year around.”
Moraine Preservation Fund is a nonprofit organization with a mission of being a good steward of the park, and its members work to keep people engaged and interested in outdoor activities at Moraine all year, regardless of weather.
“People are out here all year round,” said Natalie Simon, environmental educator at the park. “Maybe they’ll change activities, but people are still hiking. They’re ice fishing when the ice is safe enough. People love to look at the lake and watch for birds. There’s still a lot going on in the winter.”
For those bundled up and embracing the outdoors Saturday morning and afternoon, Wintefest focused on activities happening in the park all year round. Visitors could learn fly fishing, or how to ride snow mobiles — when there’s enough snow in the park, the bike trail is actually groomed for snow snowmobiling, Dixon said.
Other activities like chain saw carving demos captivated others, while people on guided hikes go to explore the snow-covered state park.
Rich Thornhill, a member of the Butler Outdoor Club, said whether it’s kayaking or snow skiing down the trails, he tries to make it to Moraine State Park once a month, and he recommends the same for others.
“I think a lot of this is people who are outdoors people, and that’s why they come out on a day like this. We’re here doing two hikes today, one’s short and one’s long. People come out and like to do the hikes,” Thornhill said. “I tell new members to do some park programs, try things here before they invest money into it.”
Moraine also has one of the best flying disk golf courses in the area, said Laurie Merriman with the nonprofit Pittsburgh Flying Disc. She said there are even people who like to play in the winter.
“It’s a family-friendly exercise,” Merriman said. “It get’s you out, get’s your steps in, gets you out into the nature, anybody can do it.”
While people could check out craft vendors with ceramics and wooden engravings hot soups and stews kept people warm inside the pavilion, while live artists played bluegrass and acoustic guitar.
The beauty of the park, despite the frigid conditions, was at the center of everything. People could vote in a photo contest with pictures submitted by members of the public, taken within the park and showing off different resources and activities.
Winterfest is almost entirely run by volunteers who don’t mind the weather. They were just happy to be in the wonderful outdoors at Moraine, Dixon said.
“I think this time of year, people are really itching to do something,” Dixon said. “We give them this purposeful thing, we say ‘hey, we’re here from 11 to 3, come over and check it out, and maybe they feel a little more comfortable if they can talk to someone here about hiking trails or what they want to do.
“As cold as it is, people also want to see what the park looks like with 17 inches of snow.”
