Brandy Maglione, right, of Little Blessings Farm introduces Penelope the goat to Chloe Hatok, 8, at Saxonburg Winterfest Saturday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle

SAXONBURG — A chill was in the air and even some snow was on the ground — a perfect setting for Saxonburg’s Winterfest.

The event, which was noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, attracted crowds looking to beat the wintertime blues.

Food, craft and clothes vendors lined Main Street, free carriage rides were offered, chainsaw ice carvings were sculpted, and many people, especially children, spent time at a petting zoo, courtesy of Little Blessings Farm and Mobile Petting Zoo of Avonmore.

“Considering we had just six weeks to put it together, I couldn’t have asked for it to turn out any better,” said Miranda Virone, owner of Blue Jar Candle Co., 231 W. Main St., and one of the event’s organizers. “I was pleasantly surprised when I woke up today to see some snow on the ground. It was like a touch of magic.”

Doreen Blackburn of Blackburn Farm in Sewickley Hills drives a horse-drawn carriage down Main Street during Saxonburg’s Winterfest Saturday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle

It was in early January when a comment from a patron, Kristin Green, got Virone thinking.

Abbie Watson, 8, of Freeport pets a Highland cow from Little Blessings Farm at Saxonburg’s Winterfest on Saturday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle

“She said that wintertime around here is so boring, and she wished there was an event that people could look forward to,” Virone said. “A committee made up of local residents and business owners began planning this, and we got a ton of sponsors.

Visitors walk down Main Street in Saxonburg during the town's first Winterfest on Saturday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle

“They just ran with it and it skyrocketed. I hope this becomes an annual event,” she said.

Virone was anxious to spread the news that the event’s “Souper Bowl,” which was at the Saxonburg Memorial Presbyterian Church from noon to 2 p.m., had raised nearly $1,000 for Lighthouse Foundation. For $5, people could sample 12 different soups made by local residents, with beverages and bread provided.

The petting zoo featured lambs, goats, rabbits, chickens and two Scottish Highland cows, one a 525-pound female named “Fancy.”

Middlesex Township resident Joe Hlebiczki and his wife, Janet, brought their 18-month-old daughter, Violet, who took a fancy to Fancy.

“She loves animals, so this is really nice for her,” said Joe. “And it’s good to see the small stores in town open. Since we were already walking up and down Main Street, it gave us the opportunity to check them out.”

Almost all of the businesses had their doors open, and people filtered in and out for much of the day.

Nancy Alberth stood just inside the door to her business, Red Door Antiques, 257 W. Main St., as potential customers continued to enter, she took a moment to give her thoughts on Saxonburg’s Winterfest.

“They planned it very well,” she said. “It is a huge success and is great for the town.”