Deer Park Winterfest Canceled

A Deer Park tradition since 1985 could be coming to an end. Winterfest 2027 was canceled and the event at large, which has been organized by the Kiwanis Club of Deer Park, could be at risk of not returning unless community volunteers can revive it. Rachel Warren, Kiwanis Club of Deer Park member, said the decision was made after the club struggled to find volunteers willing to take on leadership roles. “It could absolutely come back if someone wanted to be the chairperson and take it over,” she said. Warren had previously said Winterfest could potentially be combined with a Deer Park Chamber of Commerce event, such as Hometown Christmas, but that she’s not sure the organization would want to merge the two events. “It will most likely not be combined with another event; the chamber didn’t seem too excited about that,” she said, adding, “But who knows?”

Deer Park Chamber of Commerce President Kris Stoop said the board has had some internal discussions about a potential holiday collaboration. “We are currently in a board transition phase, and given the scale of Winterfest alongside current volunteer constraints, we need more time to evaluate,” Stoop said, adding that the chamber plans to have further discussions about it. Over the years, Winterfest has included live music from high school performers, 3-on-3 basketball tournaments, family-friendly dances, outhouse races, LEGO building contests, and more. The festival began as a way to bring the town together during the winter, similar to Settlers Days held in the summer, one of the event’s organizers, Bette Cox, said in a Jan. 16, 1985, Deer Park Tribune article. In a Jan. 23, 1985, article recapping the first ever Winterfest, organizers hoped that the event would become an annual festival. For more information, visit the Kiwanis Club of Deer Park Facebook page.