Callaway Gardens’ Fantasy in Lights celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. It features 14 holiday scenes with more than eight million lights along a five-mile stretch. Guests drive their cars or take trolley rides along the Gardens’ roads to view the light displays.

“We are so excited to be celebrating the 20th anniversary of Fantasy in Lights and look forward to having those who love Fantasy in Lights, as well as those who will attend for the first time,” said Rachel Crumbley, the Callaway Gardens public relations manager.

Crumbley said the lights will be brighter and more colorful because the Gardens is transitioning to the more energy-efficient LED lights.

Once a year the roads are closed to motorists and open to walkers for the March of Dimes Night Walk, now in its 19th year.

The Night Walk began when March of Dimes executive director Linda Szabo met with Bo Callaway, the chairman emeritus of the Ida Cason Callaway Foundation Board.

“We just brought up the idea of possibly walking through Fantasy in Lights,” Szabo said. “It just came to fruition.”

The Night Walk started with about 2,000 walkers and last year more than 6,000 walkers participated.

“It’s a family tradition of the Valley area and now in the Southeast,” Szabo said. “Now, we have walkers from Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida and all over Georgia come to walk. It’s a great event to kick off the holidays and it’s a great way to raise money for the March of Dimes and our mission.”

The Christmas Village has added the Christmas Cafe this year and will offer specialty food items, Crumbley said. “We’ll have more sophisticated sandwiches and wraps and artisan pizza. We’re also adding more holiday merchandise at multiple price points.”

As usual, Santa Claus and his elves as well as costumed characters will be in the Christmas Village.