College Place cancels Winterfest fireworks, expands family events and holiday market

College Place parks staff outlined event plans for this fall and winter at the Oct. 24 Parks Board meeting, including a trunk-or-treat, a larger retail-focused WinterFest with a holiday market and a decision to cancel the WinterFest fireworks display.

The trunk-or-treat will be held next Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. at City Hall and will include pumpkin-decorating contests, a mini monster maze from the police department, games and food. Parks staff said they intend to expand next year into a full fall festival.

For WinterFest the city plans a more retail-focused holiday market, a gingerbread-house contest, a Santa station and a lighted parade capped by a tree-lighting ceremony led by the mayor. Parks staff said they are planning to hire a professional caroling group and to partner with the high school choir director for performances. New elements include a community-centric holiday market and expanded kids’ activities run by the high school cheer team.

Staff told the board the WinterFest fireworks show will be canceled in response to community concerns about animals, veterans and public safety; the fireworks budget — which staff said had been expected to exceed $6,300 this year because of tariffs — will be reallocated to other holiday programming and to local nonprofits.

Board members discussed options such as drone shows and snow-making machines but noted those were substantially more expensive than traditional fireworks. Staff asked for volunteer engagement and suggested working with local nonprofit organizations and school programs to amplify events and reduce costs.