Commissions, parks staff weigh Winterglow future as volunteer base shrinks; town hall and joint subcommittees planned

Commissioners and parks department staff spent a major portion of the meeting discussing the future of Winterglow, Liberty Lake’s seasonal holiday-light display, after city council raised questions about scale and staffing. Volunteers who historically ran and supported the event have thinned in recent years, and park staff told commissioners they are preparing a “transition year” that assumes minimal volunteer help.

“Winter glow for 2025 will be smaller than it was in 2026. Let’s be let’s be honest. The manpower or woman power or people power will not be there,” a long-time Winterglow volunteer said, describing volunteer shortages and the event’s technical needs.

Parks staff project that, if volunteers do not return in numbers, the city will need to supply substantially more staff time and budget. “What staff is preparing…