Winterfest lights up the night

POST FALLS — Ten-year-old Khloe Leonard and her 6-year-old brother, Karter, came to Winterfest early this year, their grandmother, Julie Berg, said. The kids were roasting marshmallows by one of the many campfires, looking for that perfect golden brown crust.

“This is fabulous,” Berg said. “But the kids are really looking for Santa.” The Post Falls resident said she attends Winterfest every single year.

Santa arrives promptly at 6:10, said City Hall employee Cody Dehn. “And it is the authentic Santa himself,” Dehn said. After the tree-lighting ceremony, eager children will gather around for photographs with the jolly fellow.

Dehn was putting last-minute touches on the beautiful lit display to welcome Mr. Claus. City Hall is magically transformed each year for the festival.

Though there was a slight nip in the air, everyone was bundled up and getting warmed by the free hot cider provided by the city, while several children danced in the soft light of Christmas trees. Festive Christmas music filled the air, adding to the happy holiday scene.

Santa's Workshop, hosted by city camp counselors, kept little ones busy with pipe-cleaner and beaded candy cane ornaments, letters to Santa and other creative activities.

Counselor Josie Golebiewski is in her second year of working with Post Falls children, something she loves. In addition to volunteering at Winterfest, she also coaches kids basketball teams and works with summer camp attendees.

“The kids are all so unique,” Golebiewski said. “They all say such interesting things, and when I hang out with them, I can just be myself.”

Winterfest is the perfect place to get some Christmas shopping done. Various booths of hand-crafted treats and hand-made goods abound.

Coeur d’Alene resident Karin Watson offered fleece scarves, knit hats, mittens and other wares. Part of the proceeds from all of her sales is donated to the Wounded Warrior Project to support severely injured veterans.

Local bakery Good N Baked was on hand offering its delicious caramel apple pie cinnamon rolls, among other treats.

The Serial Quiller, Eliya Jones, a Spokane craftsperson said she “comes to the land of the free to sell her wares.”

The fine art of quilling is an ornamental craftwork using paper, in Jones’ case. Small pieces are delicately folded to create works of intricate art. Jones, a mother of three, makes various ornaments, jewelry and framed pieces and said she picked up the art form from her grandmother.

“All of her quilled pieces are at home hanging on my Christmas tree right now,” Jones said.

The Kootenai County fire truck was on display and children eagerly climbed aboard to explore. Hayden resident Julie Moak attended Winterfest for the first time with her 7-year-old daughter Addy and 8-year-old Shaeleigh McDermott.

The girls approached firefighter Brett Lynch to receive a candy cane and check out the truck.

Lynch said this is the third year that Kootenai County Fire and Rescue has participated in Winterfest. The fire department was also collecting donations for local food banks.

“They used to do a candy cane run, I remember as a kid,” Lynch said. “The fire truck would drive around Post Falls when it was much smaller. They would hit the majority of the town and hand out candy canes and that was on Christmas day.”

Years later, Lynch joined the fire department and the practice changed as the city had grown too large for the department to cover it all in the same way, he said. Joining Winterfest is a way to carry on the tradition of celebrating Christmas joy with the city residents, Lynch said.

Postfallschamber.com offers a host of other holiday activities in the coming weeks.