COOKSBURG — People were doing just about anything imaginable with snow Saturday during the 28th annual Snowman in the Forest event at Cook Forest State Park.

There were people sledding, skating, having snowball fights, building snow forts, taking carriage rides, eating hot dogs and even just walking to take in the winter wonder.

“This has been great weather for the Snowman in the Forest,” said Matt Kaye, chairman of the Cook Forest Bureau Saturday.

“This is the largest crowd I have seen here,” Kaye added. He estimated between 500 and 600 people attended the event.

Many snowman enthusiasts were from the Pittsburgh area and have camps in the area. Others arrived Saturday morning in spite of the terrible road conditions.

One feature of the event, the Happy Dog Show, continued to gain in popularity this year, with about 60 dogs signing up. Competitors included pups of all shapes and sizes, from toy dogs to Golden Retrievers, Grant Danes, Huskies and even an Alaska Malamute.

Another special treat was the open-air carriage pulled by a pair of jet-black horses. The carriage’s route took passengers down River Road along the Clarion River through freshly fallen snow.

Though there was much for adults to enjoy, the day truly belonged to the kids. Ice from the recent storm made the sled-riding track extremely fast and, for the first time in several years, the ice skating rink was fully frozen, allowing skaters a chance to show off their skills.

For additional information about other events in the state park, contact the Cook Forest Vacation Bureau.

RANDY BARTLEY reporter for The Derrick and The News-Herald, can be reached at 814-715-3093 or at randybartley.thederrick@gmail.com

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The property that had been home to Venango Catholic High School — a fixture in local education for more than 60 years before its closing at the conclusion of the past school year — is changing hands.

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