Winterfest brings a flurry of fun to Post Falls
CAROLYN BOSTICK | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 days, 2 hours AGO
Dressed as a snowman, Heidi Fisher, of Post Falls Parks and Recreation Department, peruses vendor booths at the winter market before heading over to the Christmas tree stand during Winterfest 2024.
CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press File
Ceirra Grieser prepares s'mores ingredients for Winterfest last year in the plaza at Post Falls City Hall.
Carolyn Bostick has worked for the Coeur d’Alene Press since June 2023. She covers Shoshone County and Coeur d'Alene. Carolyn previously worked in Utica, New York at the Observer-Dispatch for almost seven years before briefly working at The Inquirer and Mirror in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Since she moved to the Pacific Northwest from upstate New York in 2021, she's performed with the Spokane Shakespeare Society for three summers. | December 3, 2025 1:05 AM
POST FALLS — It’s been more than two decades since Winterfest began in Post Falls, but this year, the tree lighting ceremony will be getting a literal glow-up.
A new 32-foot Giant Everest will tower above the festivities Friday, welcoming participants to the winter market in the plaza outside City Hall.
“This is just another gathering point in the community for family and friends to celebrate the season,” Parks and Recreation Director Dave Fair said.
Recreation Manager Traci Stevenson said the artificial tree will serve the city for Winterfests to come, replacing the living tree that had served as a focal point until it grew too sickly to light.
"We will be planting in the near future to grow a replacement tree, but it’ll take many years to get to that point,” Stevenson said.
The plaza market and craft area opens at 4 p.m. Santa's dancing elves perform at 6, followed by a tree lighting and appearance by Santa at 6:20. A combined choir from Seltice and Mullan Elementary schools kicks off at 6:25. Bella Canto wandering carolers, Iain Fisher, Bing Sherwood, Dillon Haas and Lance Cox will serenade festivalgoers beginning at 6:45.
“The dream has always been to grow into a winter market," Stevenson said. "Our biggest thing has always been making it a free event where there’s Santa there for the kids to see."
Burn barrels will be set out in the plaza for people to warm up, trees can be purchased and treats will be available.
Kids can keep busy creating crafts while they wait for Santa.
“We’ve always wanted our crafts to be nice enough so a parent would want them to be decorations that can stay on their trees for many years,” Stevenson said.
Tours of the Post Falls Historical Museum will take place throughout Winterfest. Attendees are welcome to donate nonperishable food items to Kootenai County Fire and Rescue.
Ceirra Grieser prepares s'mores ingredients for last year's Winterfest in the plaza at Post Falls City Hall.ARTICLES BY CAROLYN BOSTICK
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