Every year around this time, our holiday vibes kick into high gear when we get our first look at our favorite drive-through holiday light display.
Our friends at Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights – aka the Bando family – are always so kind to invite us to their media preview night in November. Our family has attended for years and the experience is always joyful.
This year, Z and I got our dogs dressed up in their Christmas finery and E drove us all through the lights in his truck. We had a blast!
Since Fantasy of Lights is celebrating 25 years in 2024, here are 25 things we love about this epic drive-through holiday lights experience.
25. Nostalgia. The entire drive through three miles of lights fills us with fun memories of Christmases past. Between the familiar holiday music, the holiday lights and the festive characters and themes, going through the Fantasy of Lights is like a trip down memory lane in the very best way.
24. Light tunnels. I can’t be the only one who totally geeks out driving through the light tunnels. Especially the rainbow light tunnel – that’s always my favorite part of the whole experience!
23. Family time. It can be HARD to get teens on board with family time activities, but Z knows driving through Fantasy of Lights won’t take all night (especially on a weeknight, when lines are shorter) and is close to home. She’s usually on board for a festive cruise through!
22. Close to home. We’re a little spoiled to have Fantasy of Lights literally 3 miles from our front door. We could literally ride our bikes there if that was a safe thing to do on busy roads in winter weather! Which, of course, it’s not… so we’re happy to drive.
21. Sing-along time. If you love belting out Christmas carols and holiday songs, this is your jam. The BEST way to drive through Fantasy of Lights is with the radio on top volume while singing out your Christmas cheer for everyone to hear!
20. Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head. So many of the light displays bring me back to my childhood, but this one takes the cake. They’re so delightfully random! You’re driving along and vibing on the holiday sights… Peace on Earth, Joy to the World… and then, there are Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, all decked out in lights! I just love them. I don’t need an explanation – they’re a blast from the past and I’m here for it.
19. The Twelve Days of Christmas. Who else sings the words of this old holiday banger while driving past the corresponding light displays? I can’t be the only one. Anyone else?
18. The Blue Jackets and the Johnny Gaudreau memorial lights. Fans of hockey will love the CBJ light display, which this year has an added light-up number 13 to honor the memory of Johnny Gaudreau, the young player who tragically lost his life along with his brother this year when the two were struck and killed by a drunk driver. May their lights shine forever.
17. Weather-proof. One of our favorite things about the Fantasy of Lights drive-through is that it is literally weather-proof. If it’s raining, the lights look even prettier. If it’s snowing, the whole experience turns absolutely magical. If it’s pelting down an ungodly icy, wintry mix, the lights look respondent. There’s simply no way to rain on this parade!
16. Christmas PJs. Just when you thought that Fantasy of Lights couldn’t get any better, dress the whole family up in coordinating holiday jammies and then drive through. Now you have leveled up, my friends!
15. Photo Opps. Not only is the whole drive-through light display one big, fun opportunity to capture your kids looking adorable under sparking light tunnels, but also there’s a parking lot at the end of Fantasy of Lights which is the ONLY place you’re allowed to get out of your car, walk up to the light displays and take pictures. There, you’ll find gorgeous holiday lights as photo backdrops that say “FAMILY” and “JOY” and “LOVE.” You know you want to!
14. Santa living his best life. Be sure to watch the light displays for the ones that depict Santa living it up, including going fishing, relaxing on a tropical beach and riding a motorcycle. Santa’s a wild and crazy guy, at least in the Fantasy of Lights drive-through!
13. Locally owned and operated. Oh, you like supporting small community businesses? Me, too. That’s just another reason to love Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights!
12. Student involvement. Fantasy of Lights gets local students involved in everything from working at the light show, to helping to create certain show features. And, they work with student photographers to help capture photos and videos of the lights each year – check out these awesome shots.
11. Mrs. Claus and Santa Mail. Kiddos will delight in meeting Mrs. Claus at the light show. She can also help deliver letters to Santa at the North Pole, so be sure to bring those letters when you drive through the lights!
10. Run the Lights 5K. Did you know that you can sign up to run or walk a 5K right through the festive light displays at Fantasy of Lights? I’ve never done this but I really want to! Maybe this is the year.
9. Always open and never closed. From the day their season opens on November 22, 2024 until their last day of the season on January 1, 2025, Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights is open every night – even on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve! I just love the consistency, babes.
8. The view from Cheshire bridge. You want to see a gorgeous view that never gets old? Drive across the Cheshire Rd. bridge toward Fantasy of Lights and you’ll get an amazing, free preview of the light show reflected in Alum Creek lake. It’s a must-see, especially when there’s some snow or ice on the ground to amplify the reflections!
7. Surrounded by nature. You may not realize it as you’re driving through in the dark, but Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights is located at an absolutely gorgeous place: the Alum Creek State Park campgrounds. Come back in the summertime to see lush woods, lakefront views and wildlife sightings galore. You may even spot a wild deer or two while cruising through the Fantasy of Lights. Bambi likes holiday lights, too!
6. Minutes from Cheshire Market. If you’re not a Lewis Center or Galena local, you may not realize that amazing and unique pizza is just moments away from Fantasy of Lights. Cruise across the Cheshire Rd. bridge and you’ll find yourself at Cheshire Market, a one-stop wonder featuring traditional convenience store fare plus live bait and some of the best pizza and subs you’ve ever tried. I know, you’ve never eaten at a bait shop before – neither had I – but you won’t regret a stop here!
5. The more, the merrier. The cost to drive through Fantasy of Lights is the same whether you have a duo, trio, quad or the whole gang. So load up the car or van! Invite all the cousins, friends or neighbors to join you for a festive evening. Connection through holiday traditions is good for our mental health and Fantasy of Lights is the perfect outing everyone can enjoy together.
4. Military appreciation. The Bando family clearly has great respect and appreciation for the military and their families, offering a special free week for active-duty military and their spouses, plus a discount for veterans. There are also several star-spangled light displays within Fantasy of Lights to show appreciation for those who commit to serving our country.
3. The oldest and original central Ohio light show. Fantasy of Lights invented the drive-through holiday light show game, at least as far as Columbus is concerned. They have entertained and enthralled families for 25 years as the O.G. local drive-through light show. When something is this great, it lasts for generations.
2. The people! The Bandos and their amazing staff and volunteers are SO friendly and truly embody the Christmas spirit. They are also extremely generous, donating to many different causes throughout the season and also sharing epic swag bags with local bloggers like yours truly. We just love the Bandos!
1. Free ticket giveaways! That brings me to our #1 favorite thing about Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights: getting to give away free tickets each year and put a smile on the faces of my friends and followers! If you’re interested in a free ticket for your family, simply leave me a comment below or on Facebook or Instagram. I’ll have Z pick our winners before December 10th.
What did I miss? Is there anything you’d add to this list? Be sure to leave a comment below, on Facebook or on Instagram under this post to be entered to win our free ticket giveaway courtesy of Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights!
