MILTON, Del. - The drive-through light display, Winter WonderFEST, at Hudson Fields in Milton will not return for the 2023 holiday season due to financial setbacks.
"Not only did our event entertain thousands of people, it assisted so many charities that are the backbone of our communities," says Co-Founder Peter Briccotto. "However, we are not immune to the challenges many small arts & entertainment nonprofits have faced in recent times.”
Briccotto says a culmination of a decrease in drive-through attendance in 2022 and unexpected costs due to shipping delays in electrical equipment in 2021, led to the decision to suspend this year's attraction.
According to the organizers of Winter WonderFEST, the nonprofit founded in 2016 has since welcomed over 340,000 visitors and raised over $840,000 to support Sussex County charitable efforts. Over 15,000 hours of volunteer hours went into the last seven seasons of operating WonderFEST and sponsors supported the festival with over $650,000 of monetary sponsorships and donated services says the organization.
“We assure the community, we’ve asked Santa to help find a way forward for WonderFEST. We are so fortunate to have shared 7 holiday seasons creating memories with your families, and hope we will make more together in years to come,” says Briccotto.
Organizers hope to resume operations with a reimagined concept in 2024.