It's a first for the Timber and Balloon Festival at Shawnee Mountain.
"Unfortunately this weekend mother nature has not dealt us the best hand," said manager Jim Tust. He is talking about the mid-October snow that is covering some parts of the mountain. "We love snow in this business so it is just a little early and we had about four inches at the top of the mountain."
Which would be great if it were ski season but hot air balloons, lumberjacks and fall foliage are the themes of this weekend's festival.
Fortunately the fest's balloon meister said the snow shouldn't be a spoiler.
"This is October and it is unheard of but it is something different so it is a challenge and we will make the best of it," said balloon meister Bob Dicks.
Organizers said the snow made setting up for the festival a little difficult.
"Areas that are normally dry are a little wet and we had to wait til the snow melted and some muddy areas but we're cleaning it up," said Tust.
One person not bothered by the early winter storm was lumberjack Geno Cummings who is from Wisconsin. "We've had snow since Saturday. It was 23 degrees when I left so snow does not bother me," said Cummings.
Venders from out of town couldn't believe their eyes when they saw snow on the ground in the Poconos this early.
"We live in Vermont and we came all of the way down here and all of a sudden it is snowing so I think when we are done I'll go skiing on the slopes here," said John Garrison of Vermont-based Garrison Creative Glassworks.
Organizers said rain or shine, Snow or no snow, the festival will go on. The Timber and Balloon Festival runs from Friday to Sunday at Shawnee Mountain.
"Unfortunately this weekend mother nature has not dealt us the best hand," said manager Jim Tust. He is talking about the mid-October snow that is covering some parts of the mountain. "We love snow in this business so it is just a little early and we had about four inches at the top of the mountain."
Which would be great if it were ski season but hot air balloons, lumberjacks and fall foliage are the themes of this weekend's festival.
Fortunately the fest's balloon meister said the snow shouldn't be a spoiler.
"This is October and it is unheard of but it is something different so it is a challenge and we will make the best of it," said balloon meister Bob Dicks.
Organizers said the snow made setting up for the festival a little difficult.
"Areas that are normally dry are a little wet and we had to wait til the snow melted and some muddy areas but we're cleaning it up," said Tust.
One person not bothered by the early winter storm was lumberjack Geno Cummings who is from Wisconsin. "We've had snow since Saturday. It was 23 degrees when I left so snow does not bother me," said Cummings.
Venders from out of town couldn't believe their eyes when they saw snow on the ground in the Poconos this early.
"We live in Vermont and we came all of the way down here and all of a sudden it is snowing so I think when we are done I'll go skiing on the slopes here," said John Garrison of Vermont-based Garrison Creative Glassworks.
Organizers said rain or shine, Snow or no snow, the festival will go on. The Timber and Balloon Festival runs from Friday to Sunday at Shawnee Mountain.
