Winterfest is offering free, fun, family-friendly snow and no snow, and no ice events this Saturday, Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hills Creek State Park at 111 Spillway Road, eight miles from Wellsboro
 
Visitors with specific interests should check the event schedule. Some programs are ‘drop-in’ and others are at definite times.
 
Two small storms are forecast for this week and should provide enough snow for sledding, and hopefully, cross country skiing, according to organizer Tim Morey. “We will make the call this Friday when the second storm is forecast.”
 
If snow conditions allow, there will be Winterfest tubing, tobogganing, and sledding on Beach Front Hill from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 
Between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. there will be 30-minute cross-country ski mini-clinics for all ages. Those who have their own equipment are encouraged to bring it.
 
Free hot dogs and hot chocolate will be available to everyone from 11 a.m. until gone. Fire rings and burn barrels will help visitors stay warm.
 
Each family can build one bluebird box to take home for free from 10 a.m. until the boxes are gone. 
 
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., families will enjoy a free ‘make and take’ craft, including the ever-popular pinecone bird feeder.
 
During on-land, 30-minute Get Started Ice Fishing demonstrations led by Tackle Shack staff from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and again from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m., learn some tips and tricks to pull fish through the ice and find out how much fun and rewarding it can be.
 
A Hot Tent demo by Scott Lee will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Camping in winter doesn’t need to be cold. With the right gear and a small woodstove, find out how to rough it in style.

Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., meet the dogs and their owners involved with Laurel Mountain K9 Search And Rescue, a non-profit SAR team comprised of volunteers dedicated to assisting fire, EMS and law enforcement agencies in incidents involving lost or missing individuals. During a 30-minute presentation, from 11:30 a.m. to noon learn what it takes to turn a dog into a search dog, how the team trains and is deployed.
 
The Tioga County SAR team was formed in 2017. The group was well on its way to being a deployable resource when they obtained non-profit 501(c)3 status in 2018.
 
The team now consists of 5 certified K9s and their handlers with three more K9s at various stages in their training. The certified K9s include golden retrievers Patriot (dual certified in trailing and human remains detection) and Freedom, better known as “Little Dude” (live find air scent), bloodhound Tatum (trailing), border collie Rayne (live find air scent) and German shepherd Gideon (live find air scent). K9s in training are Australian shepherd Andie (live find air scent/HRD), mixed breed Luna (trailing) and Labrador mix Ice (HRD).
 
Laurel Mountain K9 Search And Rescue has been requested and/or deployed on over 80 searches since its inception and credited with bringing several individuals home to their families. The team has been beneficial locally and as a member of the Pennsylvania Search and Rescue Council assisting other teams in Scranton, Allentown, etc. They are always looking for individuals prepared to serve their community. Stop in and visit with the team and meet the K9s this Saturday.
 
Free one-hour tree identification walks will be from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on nearby park trails.
 
Join members of the PA Wilds Astronomy Club for safe viewing of the sun from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
 
Learn about life at a lumber camp in winter from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and get hands-on with some essential lumber tools.
 
From noon to 12:30pm stop by the Wild Teas table display to discover what can be used from nature to make a warming winter beverage. Taste samples of wild foraged teas, and take home recipes. 
 
Schedules and updates on conditions, such as confirmation of skiing conditions, will be posted at www.stepoutdoors.org and on Facebook pages at Step Outdoors Tioga PA and Hills Creek State Park.