The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Fantasy of Lights in New Haven marks 25th year
NEW HAVEN — For a quarter century, Lighthouse Point Park has twinkled throughout the holiday season during Goodwill of Southern New England’s Fantasy of Lights.
Each year, officials say they anticipate about 200,000 people will view the extravagant fairy lightlike displays in an estimated 15,000 vehicles.
“It’s a big event and a lot of people turn out and have a really good time doing it,” said Nancy Shapiro, special events manager for Goodwill of Southern New England.
Each year, hundreds of volunteers — including Local 478 and Local 90 and New Haven’s Project More, as well as other groups seeking community service hours — set up the displays along a mile of the park and keep the event operational.
Shapiro said the funds raised through admittance augment Goodwill of Southern New England’s multiple programs for people with disabilities and other challenges. This includes case management and employment services, among others. The organization notes that, since 2008, it has served more than 10,000 individuals with its programs, and assisted participants with obtaining more than 3,000 jobs
After this year, the event’s 25th consecutive year of operation of the Fantasy of Lights, Shapiro said Goodwill of Southern New England is exploring additional attractions and options to generate more interest or bring in more displays, but “nothing is set in stone.”
For those who have not yet witnessed the display this year, it will remain in place until New Year’s Eve and it will be open to guests from 5 to 9 p.m. Regular passenger vehicles are admitted for $10, vans with 15 or more passengers are admitted for $25 and full buses are admitted for $50. The event takes about 15 minutes from start to finish.
brian.zahn @hearstmediact.com