Penfield- Several programs have been planned at Parker Dam State Park during the month of February.
Saturday, February 1
Cross-country Skiing
10:00 AM—Park Office
Cross-country skiing basics: how to fall down, how to get up, how to turn, parallel stride, etc. Please call the park office to register for this program, as available equipment is limited. (814)765-0630.
Ice Skating Lesson
1:00 PM—Beach House
Always wanted to try ice skating, but were afraid (or didn’t have access to ice skates)? We should have your size in ice skates and an instructor who is always looking for an excuse to get out on the ice. And you don’t need to register—just show up at the beach house.
Sunday, February 2
Cross-country Skiing
1:00 PM—Park Office
Cross-country skiing basics: how to fall down, how to get up, how to turn, parallel stride, etc. Please call the park office to register for this program, as available equipment is limited. (814)765-0630.
Thursday, February 6
Wild Ways of Keeping Warm
12:00 PM—VIRTUAL
This is a virtual (on-line only) program. Sign up through the events calendar.
Wildlife have a variety of strategies to keep warm in the winter. Learn some of the unique ways they keep warm and apply some of them to keep yourself warm.
Saturday, February 8
Cross-country Skiing
10:00 AM—Park Office
Cross-country skiing basics: how to fall down, how to get up, how to turn, parallel stride, etc. Please call the park office to register for this program, as available equipment is limited. (814)765-0630.
Ice Skating Lesson
1:00 PM—Beach House
Always wanted to try ice skating, but were afraid (or didn’t have access to ice skates)? We should have your size in ice skates and an instructor who is always looking for an excuse to get out on the ice. And you don’t need to register—just show up at the beach house.
Saturday & Sunday, February 15 & 16
48th WINTER FESTIVAL
(47th with the COVID year cancellation)
Saturday, February 15
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Food Trucks (Stromboli Land & Ice House Café).
10:00 AM Ice Skate Rentals (until 3:00 PM) – at Beach House Friends of Parker Dam
10:00 AM Freeze Your Gizzard 5K Run – meet at Beach House. – Pre-register at YMCA.
Quin Zee Part 1
10:30 AM – Pavilion 3
A Quinzhee is a snow shelter that is easy to build and can provide a warm shelter from the winter’s cold. Since there is a measured amount of time required from the piling of the snow to the excavation of the shelter to allow the snow crystals to sinter (knit/bond) – usually several hours, we are doing this program as a “Part 1” & “Part 2” type of thing. Program is snow-dependent.
12:00 PM Cornhole Tournament – meet at Beach House. Pre-register at YMCA
Beavers
1:00 PM – Pavilion 3
Join guest naturalist Suzann Rensel for this interesting program about the park’s largest rodent – the beaver.
Quin Zee Part 2
2:30 PM – Pavilion 3
The Quinzhee mound will have solidified enough to allow us to excavate the shelter. Join us to finish our snow-shelter and learn how to make your own quinzhee safely at home.
3:00 PM Snow Sculpture Contest Judging – check at Beach House
Sunday, February 16
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM Food Trucks (Stromboli Land & Ice House Café).
12:00 PM Ice Skate Rentals (until 4:00 PM) – at Beach House Friends of Parker Dam
Historic Ice Harvesting
12:00 PM – on the Lake Near Spillway
My Grandmother used to call the refrigerator the “ice-box”. And I used to think she was being cute, not knowing that there was a long history of keeping food cold and preserved that involved ice. Come and learn how people got rich selling frozen water.
1:00 PM Kids’ Snow Box Derby – Avalanche Hill (sledding hill).
Ice Fishing Basics
1:30 PM – starts at Beach House Steps
Join guest naturalist Holly Dzemyan to learn all about ice fishing. Program begins at the steps but transitions out onto the ice if conditions allow.
2:00 PM Frozen Salami Sling – Beach. Pre-register at YMCA
2:30 PM Ice Skating Basic Lesson – Lake, near Beach by DCNR
3:00 PM Snow Sculpture Contest Judging – check in at Beach House
4:00 PM Polar Bear Swim – Lake, Ice Harvest Hole. Pre-register at YMCA
Saturday, February 22
Ice Skating Lesson
10:00 AM & 1:00 PM—Beach House
Always wanted to try ice skating, but were afraid (or didn’t have access to ice skates)? We should have your size in ice skates and an instructor who is always looking for an excuse to get out on the ice. And you don’t need to register—just show up at the beach house.
You can keep up on what is happening at the park by liking “Parker Dam State Park” on Facebook; and, you can find more information about state park programs and special events by logging on to the Bureau of State Parks website at www.visitPAparks.com, and clicking on “Events Calendar”.
