The WinterFest event hosted primarily at the Deer Park High School Commons area drew a reasonably large crowd despite the extreme cold.

Winterfest 2024 defied the freezing weather with a vibrant celebration that included opening ceremonies, vendors, an art show, and family-friendly activities. Outdoor events were moved to a later time or canceled due to weather conditions. 

Winterfest 2024 kicked off amidst sub-zero temperatures, challenging even the hardiest of participants. Despite the bitter cold, the community rallied to make Winterfest 2024 a memorable occasion. 

Held at the Deer Park High School commons stage, the opening ceremonies set the tone for the day’s events. The Deer Park Kiwanis Club members present at the event were acknowledged, receiving well-deserved recognition for their contributions in organizing the event with the Winterfest Committee. The Civil Air Patrol members did the Flag presentation. A significant highlight was the presentation of the Honored Citizens Award to Jay and Amy Lindh. The award included a brief biography, providing attendees with insights into the remarkable contributions of these individuals to the Deer Park community. Cory Jacobs was brought forth as the winner of the logo design competition. The Mayor’s Rock and Proclamation added an official touch to the event, emphasizing the city’s support for community celebrations. The Miss Deer Park Royalty, a source of pride for Deer Park, was also introduced, adding a touch of regality to Winterfest.

The community’s resilience and enthusiasm prevailed despite challenges such as canceling outhouse races and rescheduling the Frostbite 5k Footrace and 1 Mile Fun Run. Twenty-nine courageous individuals defied the cold to participate in the two different races. The 5K Frostbite attracted twenty runners; nine joined the 1 Mile Fun Run. The 1-mile race had the youngest runner at seven years old and the oldest at seventy-five.

Art Show

At the Art Show and Sale put on by the Tri-County Association of the Arts (TCAA), Denny Lippert was named the “People’s Choice Award” winner. Lippert is a TCAA & Bear Creek Mercantile Co-Op Member; his photograph is below.

The WinterFest Scholastic Chess Tournament

The Inland Chess Academy meticulously organized the tournament, concluding with the announcement of its outstanding winners across various sections.

In the Bishop Open Section, the top performers were: 

• 1st: Ben Patterson
• 2nd: Karl Keener
• 3rd: Aiden Davis
• Upset: Matthew Dybdahl

The Knight Section witnessed exceptional play, with the following results:

• 1st: Ryan Bell
• 2nd: Kelby Wang
• 3rd: Christopher Lee Anderson
• Upset: Ryan Hetnar

The Pawn Section showcased remarkable talent, with winners declared as follows:

• 1st: Melody Ji
• 2nd: Caleb Edlund
• 3rd: Peter Higgins
• Upset: Silas Albert

The TEAM Winners achievements, the overall team winners were:

• Open: Addy Classical
• Elementary: Skyline Elementary

The Parent-Student Team Winners were Archer Wang and Kelby or Kelin (as stated on the website), both earning 4 points each. 

The Spokane County Library’s Lego Contest

The talented builders are as follows:

Age group 1 – 4:

• 1st place: Kaiden Miller
• 2nd place: Travis Gillis

Age group 5-8:

• 1st place: Colton Schaefer
• 2nd place: Sharene Ashby

Age group 9-12:

• 1st place: Kameron Towery
• 2nd place: Elisa Stapp

Age Group 13-17:

• 1st place: Owen

Age Group 18+:

• 1st place: Tim Cole
• 2nd place: Lori Dougherty