PALM COAST, Fla. – Kicking off the holiday season with the star-studded arrival of Santa Claus via fire truck courtesy of the Palm Coast Fire Department, Saturday night in Central Park was all about the families and the hometown vibe.
The celebration combined the annual lighting of the holiday Christmas tree by the City of Palm Coast and the lighting of the displays around Central Park by the Rotary Club of Flagler County.
Welcoming residents, Palm Coast Vice Mayor Teresa Pontieri was all about the families and the holiday spirit.
“This is when we, as a tradition, kick off the Christmas season, so I think it’s something exciting. Families are in town for Thanksgiving, it’s just a joyful spirit and a really good way to kick off the season,” she said before tossing kudos to the fire department team for delivering the night’s VIP, and inviting the children of the community to help flip the switch to light the Christmas tree.
“The Palm Coast Fire Department is integral to our city. They do so much more than answer calls and respond. They’re such a special part of the city,” she added.
Rotarian and co-chair of the Fantasy Lights event Charles Barbel was surrounded by his family, and beaming with delight over the success of the evening.
“It’s such an amazing time. I love having all the community and all the volunteers come together to make this such a beautiful event,” shared Barbel, who stepped into the co-chair role this year alongside founder Bill Butler, after the retirement of Mike Kuypers.
“Game on. This is what it’s all about,” said Barbel, with trademark enthusiasm, after spearheading the addition of the Taste of the Holidays food truck experience to the Fantasy Lights event several years ago.
During his address to the community, Bill Butler, founder of the Fantasy Lights event held back tears as he remembered his young daughter Tiffany and her dream to see the community enjoy the lighted displays as she had when she first discovered them on a family trip. Now, celebrating 20 years of hosting the event, Butler is grateful the community’s support has not only been sustained, but grown.
“As I get older it’s harder to do some of these things, and I lost my longtime co-chair, so we pulled Charles in. Charles has picked it up and trying to get younger members involved. We have a lot of younger new members joining our club and we’re training them to take the reins and continue it on for years and years,” said Butler.
Among the new, younger members is Rotary Club President Michelle Bartlome who was thrilled with the evening’s success.
“This is everything I thought it was going to be,” she said happily. “Being able to be part of this beloved tradition in Flagler County means a lot to me, a lot to our community, and a lot to our Rotary Club.”
In the Crowd
Attending with family and friends, Justin Plummer said they look forward to the event, before heading toward Santa’s Village to explore.
“It was an amazing light show. We come every year. I think it brings everyone together,” he said.
Longtime Palm Coast resident Linda Mahran was excited to see so many people out enjoying the holiday kickoff, noting the event’s new layout with the food trucks creating a food court destination, and excitement creating actual ‘traffic’ to attend.
“I’ve been a resident for 28 years and this is the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen at the Christmas tree lighting. It’s wonderful to see the families that are out here with all the kids to see the fantastic Fantasy of Lights put on by the Rotary,” said Mahran.
“Bill Butler’s story always chokes me up. He’s a tremendous asset to our community and always has been.”
Introducing his mother to the event, Matthew Verdi also noted the new layout for the Taste of the Holidays food truck area with appreciation.
“I like how they have the food court in one section back here. We’ve been coming here a couple of years now, so it’s really good,” he said.
Matthew’s mother Sandy Verdi, a new resident in Palm Coast, shared her admiration for the hometown feel events like this bring to the community and the nostalgia and sense of tradition it instills in generations of residents.
“This is my first year here,” she said. “I absolutely love it. I think the way they have everything here is wonderful for the whole community to experience, walk through and see the lights, it’s a beautiful night, and that they can come back again, and that they offer that for free. I think it’s wonderful.”
The Rotary Club of Flagler County Fantasy Lights, located in Central Park, Town Center in Palm Coast, will be on display nightly through the month of December. The event is free to attend and will host special performances and food trucks on select evenings. Visit Fantasy-Lights-Program-2025_map.pdf
