The Dreibelbis Farm Historical Society will host a presentation of Pennsylvania German ice harvesting from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7.
The event will include a demonstration of antique ice harvesting tools and (weather permitting) cutting and harvesting ice blocks from the ice pond.
“We’ll explain how and why ice was hauled to and loaded in the farm’s ice house,” the farm society states in the event release.
The first presentation will begin at 1:45 p.m. and a repeat presentation will be held at 2:30 p.m. If thin ice prevents walking on the pond, a demonstration of tools and techniques will still be held.
Brian Dreibelbis of Downingtown cuts blocks of ice with an ice saw from the ice pond during the Pennsylvania German ice harvesting demonstration at Dreibelbis Farm in Virginville on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Ice is unloaded from the sled at the farm during the Pennsylvania German ice harvesting demonstration at Dreibelbis Farm in Virginville on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
The event features a bonfire, homemade soup, and hot chocolate, as well as marshmallows for toasting. The farm grounds and nature trail will be open to the public. Horse-drawn wagon rides will be offered for a small fee. If there are 4 inches of snow on the ground, the horses will pull a sleigh.
The event is free and will be held rain or shine, with only blizzard conditions or pouring rain cancelling. Those concerned about last-minute weather decisions may call Janine Dreibelbis at 610-451-1193 or visit www.Dreibelbisfarm.org and the Historic Dreibelbis Farm Facebook page for updates.
Attendees are encouraged to dress for the weather and be prepared to walk on an unpaved farm lane that may be icy or muddy.
Free parking will be available behind the Virginville Grange at 456 Main St., Virginville. Shuttle rides from the parking lot to the presentation area will be available for those who choose not to walk.
The Ice Harvesting Demonstration is the first of several events to be hosted in 2026 by the Dreibelbis Farm Historical Society to fulfill its mission to preserve and protect the historic Dreibelbis farm and to make it available to the public for educational, historical, and environmental purposes.
Upcoming programs include a Winter Nature Walk and preparation of wood duck nesting boxes on March 8 at 2 p.m. In April, a Native American Spring Celebration will be held with the help of the Hawk Mountain Chapter 31 of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology and descendants and associates of the Lenape Nation. In May, an evening walk into the farm wetlands will take visitors on a hunt for tiny and loud frogs, Spring Peepers, as well as a naturalist-guided Wildflower Walk. The annual Historic Farm Festival will be held on Aug. 22.
For more information, visit www.Dreibelbisfarm.org, Historic Dreibelbis Farm on Facebook, or contact Mark or Janine Dreibelbis at 610-451-1193.