Hearing the exclamations of delight from young and old alike as they ride through the country-side as Christmas scenes come to life with sparking lights, holiday music and animation. Toy soliders line the roadway, a giant poinsettia archway goes across the pathway and the 12 days of Christmas come to life before your eyes. Visitors join with the others on the Holly Jolly Trolley to sing classic Christmas carols as they take in the sparking lights and Christmas scenes.
Watching a 4-year-old hug Frosty the Snowman and dance with him at the Christmas Village before he heads over to visit with Father Christmas and tell him what he wants for Christmas. With a smile, the little one tells Santa he wants “some presents” for Christmas.
Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Ga., offers something every season but Christmas is especially magical with Fantasy in Lights, which is featured through Dec. 30. More than eight million sparkling lights and more than one dozen holiday scenes make up the spectacular Fantasy in Lights.
Fantasy in Lights offers the opportunity to drive through in your own vehicle or ride on the trolley. The trolley is a great option because you hear the narration with details on the scenes, as well as Christmas carols. You also get an up-close and personal look at the scenes. Blankets are located on the trolley for those colder evenings.
Each of the scenes has musical accompaniment and many of the characters are animated. The scenes are located along a seven-mile drive through Callaway Gardens.
Some of the scenes you will see along your journey through Fantasy in Lights are:
•March of the Toy Soldiers, taking you back to your childhood as you drive through the soldiers lining the road. The trolley passes by two large soldiers and then a line of soldiers with other toys, including a teddy bear and rocking horse, coming up next.
•Snowflake Valley is especially magical with snowflakes all around you as you pass by.
•Magical Christmas Garden, which you enter by passing under a huge wreath archway. Christmas flowers and doves of peace are also a part of this scene.
•The newest scene, Enchanted Rainbow Forest, depicts spring flowers and winter as the seasons change.
After the one-hour drive through the lights, head to the Christmas Village, for shopping, dining, photos with Father Christmas and visits with Frosty the Snowman, the Gingerbread Man and a Reindeer. The 22,000 square foot heated Christmas village also offers entertainment and special activities, including a presentation on the Birds of Prey show. Collegiate gifts, ornaments, the wonderful Callaway Gardens jellies and preserves, jewelry, T-shirts and stuffed animals are just a few of the gifts to be found in the village. Kettle corn, hot chocolate, pretzels, pizza and sandwiches are some of the food items offered.
New this holiday season at Callaway Gardens is “A Diva’s Christmas” Presented by Serenbe Playhouse,” a jazzy holiday cabaret and dinner.
The evening begins with dinner prepared by the culinary team of The Gardens Restaurant led by executive sous chef Chris Smith. After dinner, guests will enjoy lively holiday entertainment presented by the Serenbe Divas of Serenbe Playhouse of Chattahoochee Hills, Ga. These three divas will sing an eclectic mix of Christmas standards and contemporary favorites while engaging the audience with clever repartee and rip-roaring sing-alongs.
“A Diva’s Christmas” has limited show dates – every Friday in December. Each show begins at 7 p.m. The dinner and show are $60 per person.
Menu options include pan seared corvina, grilled flat iron beef steak and pumpkin orzo pasta. Starters and dessert are also offered.
It’s the 20th year for Fantasy in Lights and it has become a tradition for many families. It’s a great way to celebrate the Christmas season. Check it out and it will most likely become a tradition for your family.
VISITING THE GARDENS
While at Callaway Gardens, be sure to catch a performance of the Birds of Prey show and visit the Discovery Center, Butterfly Center, Pioneer Log Cabin, chapel and other wonderful attractions that make the gardens such a special place to visit.
There are lots of dining options at Callaway Gardens, with the Country Kitchen being our favorite. Great breakfast choices include the country ham and biscuits and omelets. For lunch and dinner, the fried chicken is a must. Another great choice is the catfish.
Accommodation options include the inn and cottages. For families, a great choice is a stay at the Southern Pine Cottages. They are very spacious and surrounded by the wooded countryside. The two-bedroom cottages have two beds in both bedrooms with a large kitchen and living room in the middle of the two rooms, as well as two bathrooms. The cottages also have a large screened-in porch.
Check the website for special overnight holiday packages, as well as the special rate for military. For more information, call 1-800-225-5292 or go to the website at www.callawaygardens.com. The special military rates start at $69. Family packages are also offered with overnight stays and tickets to the lights included.
Callaway Gardens also offers special events year-round, including a hot air balloon festival and gardening and photography workshops. Check out the website for a schedule of events.
Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.
