Festival of Cheer to energize Cape Region with Winter Wonderfest

Christmas in Sussex County is going to be a lot brighter this year, thanks to the efforts of the newly formed Festival of Cheer Inc., a nonprofit organization committed to supporting the needs of Sussex County with its new Winter Wonderfest holiday venue in Lewes.

Winter Wonderfest activities will kick off Friday, Nov. 18, with Dashing through The Show, a community 5K fun run and walk in Cape Henlopen State Park. Participants will be able to see the area’s first holiday light show on foot.

“Our light spectacular show has over 60 larger-than-life holiday light displays as part of the two-mile drive-through installation in the park,” said Peter Briccotto, producer for Winter Wonderfest.

“The 5K will be the only opportunity to get up close and personal with these amazing holiday displays. Plenty of fun selfie photo ops for everyone,” said Briccotto.

Renowned for its holiday light shows throughout the East Coast, Brandano Displays has been contracted by Festival of Cheer to provide the light show. 

“It’s all part of our goal to give people in our community a place to create their own holiday memories, right here at home,” said Josh Grapski, spokesman for Festival of Cheer and first vice president for the board of directors which includes Dee Dee Montgomery, president; John Snow, second vice president; Brittany Danahy, secretary; and Amy Mault, director at large.

“Our efforts have an unlimited potential to impact our community,” said Montgomery, a dedicated mother and wife of Starboard owner Steve “Monty” Montgomery.

“We will not only create priceless holiday memories, but Winter Wonderfest will also extend the viable tourism season to keep more restaurants open, hotel rooms booked, shops bustling and local events packed,” said Montgomery, who is also a board member for Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation.

“The Festival of Cheer board members represent an enormous amount of professional and business experience to carefully craft this first-time event geared to the needs of Sussex County,” said Briccotto. “Their collective commitment and passion for our community is second to none.”

Black Friday weekend will also be the opening of the Winter Wonderfest Christmas Village at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal. The village will host a variety of family-centric weekend events both inside the terminal and outdoors. Carnival rides will be featured, including a full-size ferris wheel. Families will delight with nightly live entertainment, visits with Santa, outdoor skating on a special i-rink and a S’mores fire pit. Local charities may also participate in the Winter Wonderfest giving tree for joint fundraising activities. Inside the terminal, Santa’s workshop will offer a variety of fun activities.

Festival of Cheer’s mission is to create an inaugural event to provide a holiday venue that helps Sussex County residents and visitors create holiday memories locally while raising funds to support Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation and Beebe Healthcare, and provide grant funding for deserving nonprofit charities. Its mission is also to ensure that funding exists to make Winter Wonderfest an ongoing community venue next year, and for years to come.

For more information, go to www.wonderfestde.org or go to 302-727-0221.