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Winter Lights Festival grows into regional draw; organizer seeks continued support
Summary
Tough Guys Landscaping & Lighting manager Brian Wilpert reported strong volunteer and sponsor support for the Winter Lights Festival, cited rising costs (insurance, equipment, surveillance) and described charitable and community programming; organizers asked the city to continue partnership and assistance with event logistics.
Brian Wilpert, general manager at Tough Guys Landscaping and Lighting, described the Winter Lights Festival’s growth since 2022 and the event’s mix of sponsors, volunteer labor and nonprofit fundraising during the council’s work session on May 26.
Wilpert said the festival now features more than 80 displays and sponsors, various community nights (including first responders, veterans, seniors, and "Udub night") and a Whoville Cocoa Hut that raises funds for charities. He acknowledged vandalism incidents in past years and described investments in surveillance and insurance to protect the event. "There's a lot of good that comes from this," he said, noting stories of seniors and families for whom the festival has become a valued tradition.
On finances, Wilpert described sponsorship tiers that start in the hundreds of dollars and top "diamond" level packages that can run into the thousands; most sponsorship revenue is reinvested into equipment and display upgrades. He said Tough Guys does not typically realize long-term profit from the festival because revenue is plowed back into capital purchases (for example, large custom displays) and ongoing maintenance.
Council members praised the event as a community asset and welcomed continued collaboration; the fee-for-service agreement for the festival was scheduled to appear on the next full council agenda.
