Vandals Damage Laramie Holiday Displays, Community Rallies to Repair

On December 17, 2025, organizer Brian Welper of Tough Guys Landscaping and Lighting reported that five to six of roughly 83 displays at Laramie s Winter Lights Fest in Washington Park were damaged by vandals in early December. The displays are part of a multi year community project run in partnership with local businesses, the city and nonprofit groups, and the festival runs nightly through January.

Welper said some power cords were cut and several larger displays were damaged. His crew patched and repaired the affected pieces so visitors could continue to see the lights. He said crowds and social media helped identify the likely timeframe of the incidents and turned up camera footage, and he is weighing whether to involve law enforcement. Welper also said he hopes the episode will become a learning moment if youths were responsible.

Mayor Sharon Cumbie called the vandalism disappointing and stressed the event s importance to the community. The Winter Lights Fest has become a local tradition that draws families, supports small businesses that contribute displays and sponsorship, and relies on volunteer labor and municipal coordination. Officials and volunteers moved quickly to assess and fix damage so the display schedule would not be disrupted for holiday visitors.

The vandalism highlights operational and policy questions for public events that depend on community resources. The festival s vulnerability to deliberate damage exposes maintenance costs and volunteer time that shift away from other civic activities. It also underscores trade offs between open access to parks and the need for deterrence, surveillance and community engagement strategies to protect shared assets.

For Albany County residents the incident is a reminder that local traditions depend on active stewardship. Repair work kept the lights visible while organizers decide whether to pursue a formal police inquiry. City leaders, event organizers and community partners will need to weigh improvements to security and outreach, while balancing the goal of keeping the park welcoming and accessible during the holiday season.