The Rotary Club of Flagler County‘s “Fantasy Lights” is a beautiful tradition and a holiday gift to the community to bring people together, light up the night, and makes a difference through fundraising to be distributed back into the community.
Back in 1997, in Evansville, Indiana, a little girl named Tiffany Butler dreamed of creating something magical: a light show that would spread joy. In 2002, Tiffany passed due to a heart condition. In 2006, her dream found a new home here in Flagler County with the help of her father, Bill Butler, who launched the Rotary Club’s very first Fantasy Lights event.
“It was incredible to see this idea turn into a reality,” Bill Butler said. “We started with just 16 displays at the Indian Trails Sports Complex. We had about 2,000 to 3,000 people attend that first year, and the funds we raised were modest, under $5,000. But, the heart behind it was always big.”
Fast-forward to 2024, and this modest dream has developed into the premier holiday event in Flagler County.
Last year, the event welcomed over 30,000 attendees and featured 55 dazzling displays, raising more than $30,000 to support local non-profit organizations and scholarships for deserving high school seniors.
“Every year, it is humbling to see how the community rallies behind this event, and to know that the funds we raise go on to help so many,” Butler said. “Fantasy Lights is a holiday tradition that the entire community looks forward to.”
This year promises to be just as magical, with some exciting new features.
The event is featuring a new display, an angel tossing a dove, along with the return of a fan favorite, the Startled Deer display. New additions to the Rotary Club’s event from last year, like expanded food truck options and the “Taste of the Holidays,” ensure there is something for everyone.
“Fantasy Lights is a way for us to come together as a club and as a community,” said Jeanette Loftus, Rotary Club of Flagler County, Club President. “We bond over putting this together, we laugh and enjoy each other’s company, and ultimately, we know that what we’re doing is making a real impact.”
“It is just incredible to see all the smiling faces, especially knowing that this started with a little girl’s dream. Now, it’s a reality that benefits so many,” Butler said.
Opening night is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. at Central Park located at 975 Central Avenue in Palm Coast. The City of Palm Coast will hold its annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6 p.m. Rotary’s Annual Taste of the Holidays featuring local cuisine and food trucks will be there. Hot chocolate and marshmallow roasting will be available in Santa’s Village. And it is guaranteed to snow that night!
The Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Holiday Marketplace will be Dec. 7. Also, the City of Palm Coast’s Starlight Parade is scheduled for Dec. 14.
Fantasy Lights continues nightly from 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. through Dec. 30. The train will run every night, beginning on Friday, Dec. 6.
For more information on Fantasy Lights and the performance schedule, along with possible sponsorship opportunities for next year, head to the Rotary Club of Flagler County’s website at www.flaglerrotary.org.
