PALM COAST, Fla. – The Rotary Club of Flagler County pulled out all the stops to get the Fantasy Lights displays assembled over the weekend ahead of the kickoff weekend on November 29. It’s the 20th anniversary of the free holiday display in Palm Coast, and organizers are giddy with excitement in anticipation of this season’s program.
Opening with the traditional event coinciding with the City of Palm Coast’s annual tree lighting ceremony, the big night will welcome the arrival of Santa to northeast Florida, escorted by his personal friends from the Palm Coast Fire Department and flipping of the big switch, lighting up the night for all.
More than 100 volunteers over the weekend gathered to help ensure this special night goes off without a hitch. Founder Bill Butler, the heart behind the Rotary Club of Flagler County’s efforts was hard at work on Saturday, maximizing every volunteer hour he could squeeze out of the area’s student athletes.
Club President Michelle Bartlome kept spirits high with her enthusiasm for the event. New to the area, she’s embraced the community’s traditions with a fervor, and her enthusiasm has been contagious. Not only growing the volunteer support for this year’s Fantasy Lights, she’s also taken the lead on growing the Rotary Club’s membership base with the area’s young professionals stepping up to become the next generation of Rotarians.
“We had high aspirations asking 100 volunteers to come out here and help us set up – it’s a lot of work and it takes a lot of time,” said Bartlome. “We got 100 volunteers from our community. It is amazing. Thank you so much to all of our community members who are out here today and tomorrow helping us set up. We appreciate it,” she said on Saturday as the first shift of JROTC and student athletes was winding down and the second shift preparing to step up.
Even her young daughter is pitching in to help make Fantasy Lights a success with a Girl Scout project that will feature a second greeting area and a handmade donation box on the east side of the park, which will collect donations for the Rotary Club.
“Only the weekend, we’re going to have two entrance points. So she has made a donation box that’s all wood, for them to get donations into, for her Girl Scout Bronze Award,” shared Bartlome.
In addition to the 57 animated lighted displays around Central Park’s lake, the Santa’s Village complete with fire pit, smores, tiny houses, a miniature train for the kids, and of course, Santa on select evenings welcomes little children as a place where they can experience the magic of the holiday season while immersing themselves in the community spirit.
Photo ops around the lake and in the Santa’s Village provide the perfect backdrop for the holiday family photo, and Bartlome hopes families will come out and enjoy the season.
A special holiday market is set for December 20 when the club will officially commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Fantasy Lights displays starting at 6:30 p.m., with donuts and hot chocolate donated by Swillerbee’s and Sweet Melissa’s Ice Cream as part of the celebration.
Food trucks will be available on select nights including the weekends. As part of the 20th anniversary celebration on three special evenings the Rotary Club will hold a $20 for 20 campaign* – for each $20 donation given, the donor receives a jingle bell on a red ribbon.
“It’s special this year, just for the anniversary,” said Bartlome. “Everything we raise goes right back out into the community, and that’s what it’s all about.”
Fantasy Lights opens on November 29 at 6:00 p.m. and runs through the month of December. The event is free. Donations are accepted, and since inception more than $375,000 in donations have been distributed to the community, thanks to the Fantasy Lights events. If you are interested in volunteering for the event, please visit https://signup.com/go/tDbmTZd.
*$20 for 20 nights (Jingle Bell Nights): November 29, 2025 (opening night), December 6, 2025 (Starlight Parade night), and December 20, 2025.
