CHELAN COUNTY, Wash — Recent winds and a widespread power outage have cast a shadow over the Christmas capital of Washington, leaving Leavenworth’s half-million Christmas lights turned off since late Wednesday and most stores closed around Front Street Park.
Highway 2 remains closed across Stevens Pass, blocking both directions due to mud, trees, and rocks littering the roadway. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), there is no estimated time for the highway to reopen, complicating travel to Leavenworth.
SEE ALSO | Leavenworth and nearby areas in the dark as crews work to restore power
Leavenworth city officials announced that the “Village of Lights” display on Front Street will go dark this weekend, a setback for Leavenworth’s annual Christmastown Festival, though the holiday spirit persists.
“It’s a little disappointing, but we certainly understand the crap that they’ve had to go through,” visitor Justin Myers told KOMO News. “{My family is] playing tourist and trying to find some good food.”
Generators are helping keep some doors open, while others like The Addition set up one light and they’re collecting customer payments with a cell phone.
“We want to be here for our guests. We saw people walking around town and said, Let’s just get those doors open and get one flashlight going, and people can come in if they want to and enjoy the town,” The Addition Owner Alissa Autenreith told KOMO News. “Normally this weekend is just people thriving out in the streets, and we just wanted to keep a little bit more holiday spirit and allow people a space to come into.”
The city on Friday was still assessing damage to its iconic “Village of Lights” display, which draws countless visitors for the Christmastown Festival. Some lights were damaged by the storm’s extreme wind and flying debris, according to Chamber of Commerce officials.
Chelan PUD was working to restore power to more than 3,500 customers as of Friday afternoon, mostly in Leavenworth, as crews cleared downed trees and power lines.
“With so many crews in a concentrated area, we just want folks to understand that there’s going to be more traffic congestion, there could be delays and lane closures as our crews bring in that heavy equipment and power poles and other big supplies to make that work happen,” Chelan PUD Senior Communications Strategist Rachel Hansen explained. “Our restoration plan is to work outward from the Leavenworth substation, so that restoration will happen sequentially, neighborhood by neighborhood. Customers will get electrical service first, followed by fiber internet.”
Hansen stated the priority was to restore vital community services first, including Cascade Medical. She said a “significant” number of customers were expected to have power restored by Friday night. For drivers, there could be delays or road closures while crews complete their work. That includes impacts at Chumstick Highway, East Leavenworth Road, North Road and some of the neighborhood roads in and around Leavenworth.
Mayor Carl Florea in a statement emphasized the priority is the community’s safety and recovery, while he highlighted Leavenworth’s “Willkommen spirit.”
Crews expected cleanup to continue through the weekend, and there is hope for a return of Christmas lights next weekend.
