Greg Pawluk walks his dogs on an ice-covered section of Lake Arthur in Moraine State Park during the park's annual Winterfest in 2022. Butler Eagle File Photo

Winterfest, the annual showcase of all that Moraine State Park has to offer, returns Jan. 31.

The event is hosted by the Moraine Preservation Fund, a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to financially supporting the park. The group also runs the Owlet Gift Shop on the park’s North Shore and organizes cruises on Lake Arthur during the summer on the Preston’s Pearl pontoon boat.

Winterfest features a wide assortment of activities and demonstrations, including chain saw carving with Damian Skal, disc golf demonstrations from Pittsburgh Flying Disc, guided hikes with the Butler Outdoor Club, and ambassador birds from Tamarack Wildlife Center.

The centerpiece of last year’s Winterfest, the soup competition, will return after its successful debut. This year’s contest will feature recipes from eight local restaurants.

Winterfest also features an annual photo contest, with winners in six categories: best plant life, best landscape, best activity, best sunrise/sunset, best wildlife, and best avian/waterfowl. Entries are due by Saturday, Jan. 17 at 5 p.m., and each participant can submit a maximum of two photos regardless of category. All photos must be taken within Moraine State Park.

Live music for Winterfest will be provided by The Chadd and Well Strung Bluegrass.

Winterfest is free to attend, and is a major draw each year for Moraine State Park. According to a news release, last year’s event drew around 3,500 attendees.

The park will open for Winterfest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Updated details on Winterfest will be posted on the event page on the Moraine Preservation Fund’s Facebook.