Snow a no-show at Volo Bog Winterfest, but fun prevails

Children made faux snowmen Sunday at the Volo Bog State Natural Area's Winterfest.

They weren't real snowmen because there was hardly enough residual snow on the ground to fill a teacup. Instead, snowmen were fashioned out of rocks and markers in the visitor center as part of the festival's indoor activities.

Temperatures in the 30s meant the cancellation of such outdoor activities as the snow sculpting contest, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing at the annual event in Ingleside, which

But visitors didn't mind at all, as they enjoyed the great outdoors and crowded the paths for hiking tours.

Dave and Colleen Zeiger of Wonder Lake stood near a bench and sipped cocoa while soaking in breathtaking views of trees and sky, the scene bathed by beams of sunshine.

"This is a very special, unique ecosystem here," Colleen Zeiger said. "We are lucky to have this so nearby."

For Sarah Zeien of Antioch, the milder weather afforded a welcome leisure to the meanderings of her and her two children, who were lounging on a pier beside a frozen pond and tossing chips of ice across the solid surface.

"I like the snow, but without the snow, it does make it a little bit easier to walk without getting so exhausted," Zeien said. "The snow last year was deep when we came."

The festival was well attended, with cars outpacing parking spaces.

Guests who stayed indoors listened to live music and worked on crafts. The festival also included a photo contest.

Stacy Iwanicki, natural resources coordinator with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, said it was the 25th Winterfest. Regarding the absence of winter weather, she joked that "we fired winter years ago."

"We celebrate with or without actual winter," Iwanicki said. "It's been an indoor-outdoor event for quite a few years now."