River City rings in holiday season

POST FALLS — The snow sparkled, the wood fires burned with a cozy warmth and the River City lit up.

Post Falls' 22nd annual Winterfest and Plaza Market drew masses of community members Friday evening to the Post Falls City Hall Plaza, where Post Falls City Councilman Joe Malloy led the countdown to light up the city's star-topped tree.

"A ton of work goes into this every year," Malloy said to the crowd before the countdown. "A very special thanks to all of you for supporting your Post Falls community. It really is all of you that make this city a great place to live."

Goody booths and vendor tables were sprinkled throughout the plaza, where homemade bird feeders, polished stones, hand-knitted mittens, quilling masterpieces and wood-carved items were among the offerings.

Beneath a festively lit tent filled with even more festively dressed volunteers were craft stations where little ones colored, made trinkets to take home and relished in the holiday activities.

Winterfest first-timers and Post Falls Middle School seventh graders Koston Warren and Griffin Carpenter helped smaller kids with applying colorful holiday-themed temporary tattoos.

"It's just the joy, making kids happy and stuff like that," Warren said.

"I'm excited that everyone's here, people I know," Carpenter said. "It's also really nice to have the warm apple cider. Everything is just fun."

In 25-degree-and-colder weather, people gathered around the burn barrels to roast marshmallows and warm their hands as their kids played oversized Jenga and Connect Four games.

Kootenai County Fire and Rescue firefighter and paramedic Shane Anderson brought smiles to faces as he handed out candy canes and welcomed attendees to the event.

"We always try to give back to the community," he said.

Brandi Mesbah of Post Falls and her two children were greeted by Anderson and his colleagues, who also gave out stickers.

"We had it on our calendar and we just wanted to check out our local Winterfest," Mesbah said. "We've never been to one before."

National Junior Honor Society students, decked in elfish apparel, volunteered at the selfie station.

"You come, you have cookies, it's fun to do with the family," said Post Falls Middle School eighth grader and honor student Ainsley Parker. "I came with my family last year. It was really colorful last year."

Post Falls Recreation manager Traci Stevenson, who created the event, admitted to just putting on heavier socks as the temperatures slowly dropped.

"I'm excited. I love this event," she said. "The lights, the excitement, just the energy."