Richmond cancels lavish holiday party after $120K taxpayer-funded Costco bash

A $120K Costco feast and missing gift cards forced Richmond’s hand. Now, city workers face scaled-back celebrations—with no budget transparency.

, and Administrator

2025 November 10 . 11:15 AM

1 min read

In this image there is a conference in which there are people sitting in chair and listening to the... — In this image there is a conference in which there are people sitting in chair and listening to the people who are on the stage. It seems like an event in which there is a conversation between the media people and the owners. At the background there is a big hoarding and the wall beside it.

Richmond cancels lavish holiday party after $120K taxpayer-funded Costco bash

The City of Richmond has announced it will not host its annual holiday staff party this year, following a review of the event's growing complexity and cost. Last year's 'Jingle' event at the Richmond Oval, which was catered by Costco, cost taxpayers $120,000.

The 2024 bash included lavish spending on catering ($80,000) by Costco, liquor ($7,000), and entertainment ($10,000). This covered a photo booth and photographer, adding to the festive atmosphere. Even late-night snacks didn't escape the indulgence, with $1,800 spent on McDonald's burgers. However, the city has faced criticism for not publishing the official costs of the event on Eventbrite.

In response to these high costs and previous spending scandals, such as missing gift cards worth $300,000 and an $118,000 boozy Christmas party last year, city managers have been instructed to organize smaller, informal end-of-year celebrations. The budget for these has not been disclosed.

The decision to cancel the large-scale holiday staff party this year reflects Richmond's commitment to fiscal responsibility and learning from past spending issues. The city aims to maintain a festive spirit among employees while keeping costs under control.