The 22nd Annual Fantasy of Lights opens next Tuesday, November 22nd, one day earlier than in previous years, so that Christmas Lights traditionalists can attend the downtown lighting ceremony. Fantasy of Lights opening day will include some very special guests.

To kick off the season, Fort4Fitness will be holding the inaugural Fantasy of Lights 5K through the lighted Franke Park drive on November 19th. All proceeds benefit Fort4Fitness. On December 9th, NeighborLink Fort Wayne will host their Night Moves 5K race raising money for a neighbor in need’s furnace repair. Then later in the season, Fantasy of Lights officials are planning something special for the last evening on New Year’s Eve.

The Fantasy of Lights is an important tradition for thousands of families who use the event to kick off the Christmas season each year. This time-honored tradition continues in 2016 with dozens of colorfully animated light displays that reflect the unity, peace, and joy of the Christmas season. The event continues every night through December 31st, including the holidays.

Those who attend Fantasy of Lights will drive through a magnificent display of local creativity, manifest in more than 90 larger-than-life animated holiday light displays, exhibiting 6 new displays this year. For more information, visit www.fwfantasyoflights.com.

Visiting the Fantasy of Lights this year will make guests eligible for prizes that are given away every Sunday on the Fort Wayne Fantasy of Lights Facebook Page.

Blue Jacket is working with the Fort Wayne Parks Department on expanding the footprint for 2017 to help reduce traffic congestion. The first step is to reduce the bottleneck of vehicles on the weekends with the sometimes 2 hour-long wait. They are trying to redirect traffic to the weekdays, which has one third the amount of visitors versus weekend nights. The same 22-yearlong rate for cars will remain $5 Sunday through Thursday then increased to $10 per car on Fridays and Saturday. Vans will be charged $10 Monday through Thursday and increased to $15 on Friday and Saturdays. Fees for busses and trolleys will remain the same every night at $25, hoping this encourages more carpooling.