The first day of winter was a week away, but Bob Thomas, Pottsville, felt like he was in the thick of the season on Saturday.
"Every year you have it in the back of your mind that you're going to get snow since Christmas is coming up. But this is the first time in the six years we're doing this event that we really encountered it," Thomas said.
He's the chairman of the sixth Schuylkill Christmas Gala, run by the Pulaski Masonic Lodge No. 216 at the Pottsville Masonic Building.
The event, slated for two weekends this month, had to close early on two of its four nights because of snow, Thomas said.
"In the past five years, we never had to shut down early because of weather," said Thomas, secretary of the lodge.
"And it's not even winter yet," said Waltraud "Wally" Foose, Schuylkill Haven, one of the vendors there Saturday.
The first day of winter is Dec. 21, according to the website for The Old Farmer's Almanac at almanac.com.
The gala began last weekend, but snow stopped it short on Sunday.
"We opened at 3 p.m. last Sunday and had to close around 6:30 or 7 o'clock," Thomas said.
The event continued this weekend.
On Saturday, the event was supposed to run from 3 to 8 p.m., but the snowstorm, which blew in Saturday morning, forced the volunteers to shut down at 6 p.m.
"Maybe we had 20 to 25 people here today, not including vendors," Thomas said.
"If it wasn't for the weather, we'd be doing a lot better," Zane Rist, a member of the lodge, said.
Today is the last day of the Gala at Second and West Norwegian streets and it will be open from 3 to 8 p.m. Admission is free.
"We don't do this to make money, so it doesn't affect us. It's just unfortunate because the vendors do come out and the volunteers spent a lot of time decorating the trees. It's the first time in the six years we've held this event that we've had weather problems like this," Thomas said.
Vendors, a train display and 26 Christmas trees donated by local tree farms and decorated by high school students are among the attractions, Thomas said.
"We had four show up tonight. It's because of the weather," Thomas said Saturday, adding that he had expected 12 vendors that night.
Meanwhile, hot dogs and soups, pierogies and barbecue were among the menu items cooking in the kitchen, said Mike Weres, the lodge's worshipful master-elect.
"Food sales help us pay for the lights, water and heat to do this event," Thomas said.
The trees were donated by local growers, including DPS Trees, Pine Crest Tree Farm and Sunny Acres Tree Farm, New Ringgold; J.C. Hill Tree Farm and Halabura Tree Farm, Orwigsburg; Fidler's Tree Farm; and D. Kramer Tree Farm, Schuylkill Haven.
The trees were decorated by students from area schools, including Blue Mountain, Pottsville Area, Nativity BVM High School and St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School in Minersville, according to Thomas.
The decorated trees will be donated to "families in need" in Schuylkill County who would not otherwise be able to purchase and decorate a Christmas tree, Thomas said.
The trees included an 8-foot blue spruce donated by J.C. Hill Tree Farm and decorated by students from Pottsville Area High School. Decorations included children's toys, including a palm-sized teddy bear and a spring toy, reminiscent of the classic Slinky.
"I think this one's going to a home in Pottsville," Thomas said.