Thursday, March 28, 2024

Alefest to remain in Manson, Lake Chelan Chamber announces

Posted

MANSON - Tuesday was a win for the city of Manson and their business owners as the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce (LCCC) announced that they will keep the second week of Winterfest in Manson. 

“We have decided that for 2018 there will be no change,” LCCC Board President Lester Cooper announced to a crowd of Manson attendees at their meeting on June 20. “What that means, however, is that we still want to grow this event. That’s going to require us putting our heads together in order to figure out what we need to do.” 

The decision has been weighing on the minds on Manson business owners since Cooper first stated they were going to reevaluate the second week at a Chelan City Council meeting in April. 

As a response, Manson business leaders gathered at the LCCC meeting in May to voice their concerns about the potential move. 

Although Cooper announced that the festival would stay, he explained that the Wish Lantern Ceremony, the highlight of the evening and a popular event, might be in limbo because of a new county ordinance that prohibit lanterns. 

Cooper and Executive Director of LCCC Mike Steele said they “fully intend to try and look for a solution with the County that would allow for that tradition to continue,” but are looking at alternatives, including fireworks, if no solution for the lanterns is found. 

“We have to think of more than just an Alefest,” Cooper stated, “I don’t think anything is off the table.” 

Cooper announced at the meeting that LCCC Director of Membership Phil Moller will be taking on former Winterfest Coordinator Erin McCardle’s role in organizing the event, and be in charge of reevaluating each event from its bast to determine its viability. 

Will there be a committee?” Manson Chamber of Commerce Board President Judy Dai asked. “(Because) one thing I can tell you about the business members and the community of Manson is that there definitely is a desire to have a bigger voice and play a greater role in the events that take place in Manson, on all levels.” 

Cooper said he anticipates multiple committees to handle Winterfest in Manson and that the community will be invited to take part in those committees when they are established. 

The next Lake Chelan Winterfest is scheduled for January 2018. 

 

Zach Johnson can be reached at lcmeidtor@gmail.com or (509) 682-2213

 

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here