"Warm weather, snow and good food," is how Ginny Eaton, of Jamestown, accounted for the crowd of people at Winter Fun Days in Pymatuning State Park Sunday morning. The treasurer of the Pymatuning Trailblazers Snowmobile Club, which sponsors the annual event, also said snow was something nice to see at the winter sporting event.

"We haven't had snow the last several years. This is our first good snow in several years with temperate weather. I think that's why we had such a good turnout," said the outgoing 75-year-old, adding that the weekend festival yielded about 3,000 visitors each day.

"It's something to do in the winter time. It breaks up the winter blahs," said Mary Ann Filer, 28, of Mercer. "We have a 3è-year-old, and we thought we'd bring him up. There's really no activities in the winter time."

"My grandma brought me. It's my first time," said Rena Schultz, 15, of Sharon. "I like riding the snowmobiles and the good-looking guys. I think it's cool cuz I like the winter time."

Activities included free snowmobile rides for kids, dog sled demonstrations, rides on wagons pulled by horses or tractors, sled-riding, and ice fishing safety demonstrations.

Joe Russell with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission demonstrated how to save yourself if you fall through the ice. "Just because you go through the ice, it doesn't mean it's over," he said, adding that it takes three to five minutes before hypothermia sets in.

Before a large crowd on shore, Ross showed how a walking staff could save someone's life. When the ice began to break, he held the staff horizontally so its ends extended beyond the edges of the hole. That kept him from sinking under the surface. During one demonstration his staff broke, but he used the remainder as an ice pick to help pull his way out of the water.

Some safety tips included wearing a life jacket, letting someone know where you're going to be, and taking a cell phone to notify 911 if you see someone fall through the ice. "Ice fishing is a fun sport but it should be a safe sport as well," he said.

"I like the ice-fishing demonstrations. We usually come every year and I like to see the different snowmobiles and ride on the snowmobiles," said Tobey Black, 16, of West Salem Township. "I think it's a good way to get people out of the house, to get them to come out here and go to the park."

Jeanette Roberts, 60, of Hadley, agreed. "It's just a nice fun thing to do in the winter. I like the sports, I like the snowmobiles," she said.

And so did Kathy Brown, 60, of Conneaut Lake, who came with her husband and two grandchildren, ages 4 and 13, for the first time.

"I think it's excellent because it brings people together. Because it's something other than sitting inside doing nothing during the winter and just vegging," she said.