Cheney festival exceeds hopes

Cheney’s first Winter Festival “went better than I ever dreamed,” said coordinator Ashley Davis.

Almost 50 parents and children attended the Dec. 3 breakfast and games at Willow Springs Restaurant.

Shoppers browsed among the items displayed at the Wren Pierson Building.

For sale were beeswax candles, jewelry, soaps, Christmas items, horseshoe figurines, massages and works by local artists.

Mayor-elect Allan Gainer read the proclamation for Cheney’s First Winter Festival at the evening tree-lighting ceremony.

More than 100 people listened as Police Sgt. Dave Mather read “How The Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Dan Waud directed 20 students from the Cheney Middle School choir in three Christmas songs. They concluded with “Winter Wonderland.”

The firetruck that Santa Claus rode to the scene sparkled with lights and a “Happy Holidays” banner.

“This was my special project for my senior year at EWU,” said Davis.

“I spent about a hundred hours planning the whole event.”

She may also help plan spring and summer events in 2006.

Already she has her eye on next year’s Winter Festival, envisioning a parade.