Editing Leavenworth, Washington (section)

==Culture and tourism==
[[File:9th Street (Alpen Strasse) in Leavenworth, Washington - 2019.jpg|thumb|right|9th Street (Alpen Strasse) in Leavenworth]]

Leavenworth was designed with an Alpine German theme from the 1960s onward, with most buildings modeled after Bavarian settlements and adopting stereotypical fonts and names.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Morton |first1=Caitlin |title=The 28 Most Beautiful Towns in America |url=https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/the-most-beautiful-towns-in-america |publisher=CN Traveler |access-date=14 August 2024}}</ref> However the town retains wide streets and large parking lots which are atypical of Bavaria.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} The Alpine German architectural theme is regulated by a design review board that approves plans for all new businesses, including chain establishments, leading to unusual designs for local [[fast-food]] restaurants and other retailers.<ref name="Times-Martinez"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Hale |first=Jamie |date=October 18, 2018 |title=20 reasons to love Leavenworth, a cute Bavarian village in the Pacific Northwest |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/life-and-culture/erry-2018/10/78e4ede34d1469/20-reasons-to-love-leavenworth.html |work=[[The Oregonian]] |accessdate=February 12, 2024}}</ref> Leavenworth's transformation into a theme town was inspired, and assisted, by [[Solvang, California]]. Later, the Washington town of [[Winthrop, Washington|Winthrop]] followed Leavenworth's example and adopted a Western town theme.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kirk |first1=Ruth |first2=Carmela |last2=Alexander |year=1990 |title=Exploring Washington's Past: A Road Guide to History |pages=80, 105 |publisher=University of Washington Press |location=Seattle |isbn=0-295-97443-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BNAYPXb22sYC |via=Google Books |access-date=September 13, 2009}}</ref>

The Bavarianization of the town waned by the 1990s but was revived through the establishment of annual events, including an [[Oktoberfest celebrations|Oktoberfest]] begun in 1998.<ref>{{cite news |last=Banel |first=Feliks |date=August 23, 2019 |title=All Over the Map: How Leavenworth became the PNW's own slice of Bavaria |url=https://mynorthwest.com/1488483/all-over-the-map-leavenworth-history/ |work=MyNorthwest.com |accessdate=October 6, 2021}}</ref> The Oktoberfest was later cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Washington (state)|COVID-19 pandemic]] before the original was moved to Wenatchee beginning in 2022, and the city's Chamber of Commerce started their own Oktoberfest event that remained in town.<ref>{{cite news |last=Craighead |first=Callie |date=October 6, 2021 |title=Leavenworth Oktoberfest to move to new venue in Wenatchee in 2022 after city denies permit |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/local/seattlenews/article/leavenworth-oktoberfest-moves-to-wenatchee-2022-16508349.php |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |accessdate=October 6, 2021}}</ref> A [[Krampusnacht]] celebration was held in December 2020 and 2021 but later moved out of Leavenworth following complaints from religious groups.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hoang |first=Mai |date=December 30, 2022 |title=Krampus' holiday frights proved too scary for Leavenworth |url=https://www.cascadepbs.org/culture/2022/12/krampus-holiday-frights-proved-too-scary-leavenworth |work=Crosscut.com |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lacitis |first=Erik |date=December 18, 2021 |title=In Leavenworth, Christmas skirmish breaks out over rebranding and Krampus Drink Crawl |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/the-war-on-christmas-rebranding-even-krampus-stirs-up-leavenworth/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref>

Leavenworth is home to the [[Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum]], which opened in 1995 and contains more than 7,000 [[nutcracker]]s dating from the 16th and 17th centuries to modern examples.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hale |first=Jamie |date=October 19, 2018 |title=Nutcracker Museum is an eye-popping attraction in Leavenworth |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/life-and-culture/erry-2018/10/af6da5688b3709/nutcracker-museum-is-an-eyepop.html |work=The Oregonian |accessdate=February 12, 2024}}</ref> The city hosts an annual [[Christmas tree]] lighting celebration in December that draws thousands of visitors and causes congestion on local highways.<ref name="Times-Martinez"/><ref>{{cite news |last=McDaniels |first=Nevonne |date=May 21, 2024 |title='Always on': Leavenworth switches festival strategy to avoid crowds, improve experience |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/always-on-leavenworth-switches-festival-strategy-to-avoid-crowds-improve-experience/article_03c20294-bce0-11eb-b1f1-6753d098906a.html |work=The Wenatchee World |url-access=subscription |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref> By 2001, Leavenworth had 19 annual weekend festivals and events,<ref>{{cite news |date=December 31, 2001 |title=In a Town Built Almost Entirely on Tourism, Business Booms |page=A9 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/us/in-a-town-built-almost-entirely-on-tourism-business-booms.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=February 12, 2024}}</ref> including a [[Maifest]] and Autumn Leaf Festival.<ref name="Times-Martinez"/>

In November 2007, ''[[Good Morning America]]'' went to Leavenworth for ''Holiday Gifts for the Globe'' where GMA helped light up the town for the Christmas Holiday. Leavenworth was named the Ultimate Holiday Town USA by [[A&E Network]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/ChristmasCountdown/story?id=3926427&page=1|title=Holiday Gifts for the Globe|work=ABC News|date=19 February 2009}}</ref>

The city has also focused on outdoor recreation to draw tourists, including skiing, hiking, and mountain biking. The increased reliance on outdoor tourism has brought non-themed businesses to Leavenworth.<ref name="Times-Martinez"/> The [[Leavenworth Ski Hill]] north of downtown was designated a [[Historic districts in the United States|U.S. historic district]] in 2013 due to its significance as a [[ski jump]]ing area and its surviving [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] architecture.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 17, 2013 |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Leavenworth Ski Hill Historic District |pages=1, 15–16 |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/53dd8633-ca38-4b9e-8e88-a4a30362ee1a |publisher=[[National Park Service]] |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref> An adventure park that comprises a climbing wall and [[alpine coaster]] with {{convert|2,700|ft|m}} of track and opened in 2023 on a hill on the southwest side of the city.<ref>{{cite news |last=Phair |first=Vonnai |date=June 1, 2023 |title=WA's first alpine roller coaster opens in Leavenworth |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/was-first-alpine-roller-coaster-opens-in-leavenworth/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref> {{As of|2021}}, Leavenworth had a total hotel capacity of 4,288 rooms.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kiley |first=Brendan |date=December 1, 2021 |title=To reduce tourist rush hour, Leavenworth makes changes to annual Christmas lights festival |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/events/to-reduce-tourist-rush-hour-leavenworth-makes-changes-to-annual-christmas-lights-festival/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref>

===Media===

The city's weekly newspaper, the ''[[Leavenworth Echo]]'', was founded in 1904 and independently operated until it was acquired in 2023 by Ward Media.<ref>{{cite news |last=Riggs |first=Dee |date=February 22, 2010 |title=The Worm: Digital program gives old Echoes new life |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/the-worm-digital-program-gives-old-echoes-new-life/article_a0d88971-e0c8-59a7-bc72-e99e6edff1fd.html |work=The Wenatchee World |url-access=subscription |accessdate=November 24, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Dudley |first=Brier |date=August 16, 2023 |title=Leavenworth-area papers held on long enough to find new owners |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/leavenworth-area-papers-held-on-long-enough-to-find-new-owners/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=November 24, 2024}}</ref> Jazz radio station [[KOHO-FM]] was founded in 1999 and broadcast from Leavenworth until it switched to [[Northwest Public Radio]]'s feed in 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ramella |first=Sueann |date=April 23, 2022 |title=NW Philanthropist and Founder of KOHO Harriet Bullitt Dies |url=https://www.nwpb.org/2022/04/23/elementor-122133/ |work=[[Northwest Public Broadcasting]] |accessdate=November 24, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=April 11, 2022 |title=Wenatchee's KOHO radio switching to an all-jazz format |url=https://www.ncwlife.com/news/wenatchee-s-koho-radio-switching-to-an-all-jazz-format/article_e5d48d8f-4d1e-5856-8c0f-da89a9932137.html |publisher=NCWLife |accessdate=November 24, 2024}}</ref> Leavenworth is also part of the [[Media in Seattle|Seattle–Tacoma]] television [[media market]] as defined by [[Nielsen Media Research]].<ref>{{cite map |year=2018 |title=Nielsen DMA—Designated Market Area Regions, 2018–2019 |publisher=[[Nielsen Media Research]] |url=https://thevab.com/storage/app/media/Toolkit/DMA_Map_2019.pdf |via=Video Advertising Bureau |accessdate=November 24, 2024}}</ref>

Leavenworth's [[public library]] is operated by the [[NCW Libraries]] system, which serves five counties in Central Washington. The library occupies {{convert|3,000|sqft|sqm}} inside the [[city hall]] building on U.S. Route 2; a study to move the library to a closed elementary school was approved by the Leavenworth city council in 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last=Garcia |first=Gabriel |date=February 9, 2024 |title=Leavenworth Public Library could find new home in old elementary school |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/leavenworth-public-library-could-find-new-home-in-old-elementary-school/article_4fbd95fe-c77e-11ee-9b63-e3a5826ada27.html |work=The Wenatchee World |url-access=subscription |accessdate=November 24, 2024}}</ref>