Tom Glennon, of Shepherdstown, skates across the rink on Saturday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Frosty Fest returned to Jefferson County for its second year-in-a-row this past weekend. While some attendees had come to the first festival on the last weekend of Jan. 2023, a good number were trying out Frosty Fest for the first time, including Shepherdstown resident Tom Glennon; his teenage children, Emma and Charlie; and their friends, Ari Potts and Aaden Perrin.

“Yeah, I could see us doing this again next year,” Tom Glennon said, as he prepared to make his way off of the iceless skating rink behind the Market House on Saturday afternoon.

“This was fun, and I didn’t break anything yet!”

For Emma Glennon, the festival’s strong point was having events geared toward those of all ages.

“Shepherdstown rarely has fun and family-friendly things that aren’t either targeted toward old people or for small children and quirky and not enjoyable,” Emma said, noting the one exception to this rule was still hard to enjoy as a teenager, because, “Street Fest has drunk people.”

Ashley Davis, of Shepherdstown, helps her daughter skate around the rink on Saturday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston

“Especially for teenagers, there’s nothing to do around here, so having events put on in the town that are open to the public — ticketed or not — that have truly all-ages activities would be amazing!” Emma said, with vocal agreement from her peers.

According to Jefferson County Convention and Visitors Bureau (JCCVB) CEO Annette Gavin Bates, the festival had a noticeable bump up in participation and attendance this year.

“The support from the local businesses this year seems stronger, because we had already a year of experience in. We had over 43 businesses give discounts and specials throughout the festival. The Cocoa Crawl in Harpers Ferry was packed — a big hit. And the Wander Land Scavenger Hunt we have planned has a lot of people doing it, as well,” Bates said on Saturday afternoon. “We’ve had a really good day.

“It helps that the net proceeds go to CASA and the Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle and the Friends of Happy Retreat,” Bates said, referring to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of the Eastern Panhandle. “I think they see that there is a benefit to helping nonprofits by supporting an event like this.”

The force behind the festival’s growth from the previous year was largely due to Frosty Fest organizer Kim Tummolo, according to Bates. Tummolo, who runs event planning business Precocious Poppy, was hired on for the second year-in-a-row to run the festival.

Families use ice skating trainers and play with hockey sticks and pucks behind the Market House on Saturday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston

“We have done a number of events in the area — weddings, Old Tyme Christmas and events at Happy Retreat,” Tummolo said, noting one event, Frosty Fun in the War Memorial Building on Sunday afternoon, was inspired by her four-year-old daughter’s love for slime. “Kids love slime! My daughter is obsessed with slime, so I knew it would be a great thing to combine with the crafts and magic show in the event.”

Regardless of the changes to this year’s Frosty Fest, its purpose remained the same, according to Bates.

“The whole idea of it was to try to do some festival over a weekend that helps the businesses in a down time, when they’re not as busy,” Bates said. “I think that’s been its biggest success story.”

A father helps his daughter skate across the rink, behind the Market House on Saturday. Tabitha Johnston